OK, I should have realized that the Back To School deals on Pencils were unlikely to provide the superior marking and writing and sharpening I didn't realize were so important to me until I found myself with a few dozen of these "specials" so damn difficult to sharpen, use w/o breaking the point, etc etc etc
I am using Office Sharpeners - and they do make a longer, finer point than may be essential to the task - but I had a couple and they are motorized and relatively quick.
But they produce a tip that - with these cheap pencils, breaks off too early, too often and with too little pressure.
If any of you have experienced similar issues and resolved them with a particular brand, I would appreciate hearing of , as well as of a source for, same.