Review on 🖍️ YOUSHARES Aluminum Pencil Lengthener – Colorful Pencil Extender Holder for Colored Pencils (6 Pcs) by Amber Bennett

I bought these extensions to use with Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils but was unaware that they are a bit small for some pencils. As a result, their installation ripped at least a little paint off the pencil bodies. The loss of paint was barely noticeable on some pins, while others were ripped off to reveal the underlying wood. One pencil (Cadmium Orange #9201-111, not shown) was almost completely stripped of lacquer. When mixing the pens, I found that the problem was not only in the pens extensions, but also in a slight discrepancy between the shank diameters of different pens within the same line. I expect slight differences with different colors in other pencil lines as well. This can make it difficult to adjust if extensions on the smaller side are what they are. I should also note that while these extenders will work (albeit just barely) with Polychromos 3.8mm core pencils, I have a set of Derwent Drawing 4mm colored pencils which these extenders certainly won't fit. Depending on the pins used, they may or may not fit! I'll have to look elsewhere for extensions that fit 4mm pencils as they definitely won't fit. These fit issues can be addressed by increasing the size of the body and cap to accommodate a few extra millimeters of pin diameter. And my main issue with these extensions is the fit because otherwise they work well. They hold the pen securely, are fairly light in hand, and feel good in the hand. I don't find them impractical to use. They also look very pretty and the different colors make it quick and easy to identify the pen you are looking for. However, one of the six extensions I received (orange) had a small defect just below the threads on the rim of the barrel that was easily visible in the finish even when the cap was fully on. It is also more difficult to put a cap on this holder, especially after inserting a pencil into it. I saw another comment that it is not possible to remove short pencils to sharpen them. With a tight-fitting pencil, getting in and out becomes more of a challenge. However, in most manual sharpeners, pencils don't need to be removed to sharpen, and I find that short pencils are easier to sharpen when I have an extension handle to hold them. Trying to twist a very short pencil in a sharpener is a chore in itself and for me it actually makes things easier. Your experience may vary. I've included a photo of these extensions with some of my Polychromos pins to show what the extensions look like and how the pins are once inserted into them. The photo shows that the amount of paint removed from the pens varies from one to another, but in all cases it is at least slightly noticeable. I would give these pencil extensions 3 1/2 stars, deducting 1 star for the fit and 1/2 star for a broken holder in my set, but that's not an option. I give them 4 stars assuming the broken mount I received is not a common problem. While I'd rather use holders that don't wash my pens off, I would definitely consider buying them again if I can't find a set of extensions that offer a better fit. For me, the ability to get the most out of the pens I use most often outweighs the loss of color from their barrels. However, I really wish they were a bit larger so that they not only fit these pens better, but generally fit better with other brands of pens that have a thicker core or body. ** If you found this review helpful, please click below to let me know. It also helps other customers! =