Two steps. One sharp point.

Designer Toolkit is a new weekly series on Sketchbook B that will highlight an analog tool that designers should be using.

Why designers will love the Blackwing Sharpener:

Compact and convenient. If you decide to start using wooden pencils, you'll also need a sharpener. I assumed all handheld sharpeners were garbage because I've never had a good one. The Palamino KUM Blackwing pencil sharpener is a convenient little sharpener that does a great job.

Two holes. The Blackwing Sharpener features two holes — not for two different sized pencils — but instead because sharpening is a two step process. Step one sharpens only the wood. Step two sharpens the lead. The result is a clean, sharp and long point.

Auto stop. You know how electric pencil sharpeners have "auto stop" to keep you from grinding up your pencil. The Blackwing Sharpener has auto stop, too, making it impossible to over sharpen your pencil.

Things to know:

Spare blades. The Blackwing Sharpener ships with an extra set of blades. So if you ever feel like your blades are getting dull, you can easily replace them.

Different colors. The Blackwing Sharpeners are available in black and orange. They are also essentially the same as another sharpener by KUM that comes in blue and red, but without the Blackwing branding.

Obviously. The Blackwing Sharpener will work on any pencil, not just Blackwing pencils.

How much?

The Palamino KUM Blackwing pencil sharpener is available from Jet Pens for $7.40.

Bob Wertz writes about design, technology and pop culture at Sketchbook B. Bob is a Columbia, South Carolina-based designer, creative director, college instructor, husband and dad. He’s particularly obsessed with typography, the creative process and the tools we use to create. In his spare time, he wonders why it took him so long to rediscover wooden pencils. Follow Bob on Twitter and Instagram.