When buying school supplies for your kid, know that not all wooden pencils are created equal. Some break constantly. Others have erasers that smudge whatever they touch. The worst ones are basically sticks of agony that deserve to be left deep in the junk drawer along with those godawful knock-off crayons.

Ever walk into an art supply store and wonder what all the different kinds of pens and pencils are for? Is there a "correct" one to write with? What's the best pen for lefties? Watch our simple video guide to the best uses for ballpoints, gel pens, and roller ball pens.

David Rees thinks he knows how to sharpen pencils. He says people have entrusted 1500 pencil points to his sharpening business. I know a little something about working with sharp pencils, and let me tell you, if you send your pencils out for sharpening you're an amateur.