Nitram Sharpening Bloc - 80 x 230mm

This Nitram Sharpening Bloc is ideal for shaping & sharpening charcoal & other drawing media. It has a wooden handle and comes with an extra set of replacement pads.

Nitram produces its charcoal using a unique process that maintains the wood’s cell structure which increases the charcoal's durability and helps prevent breakage. Nitram charcoal doesn't break like willow or vine do, and feels much less brittle.

Because of its solidity and strength, the charcoal can be sharpened to a fine point with the Nitram Sharpening Bloc. Working in expressive technique produces less dust than willow or vine charcoal. The solid charcoal allows for deep dark shades while still being easily erased for luminous light effects.

The unique manufacturing process produces a high-grade rich black charcoal that is neither compressed nor reconstituted. Unlike other charcoal, Nitram is less prone to breaking, splitting or excessive dusting. Nitram comes in different grades in colour-coded packs: B, HB and H, as well as Extra Soft grades in a variety of larger sizes.

To learn how to sharpen your charcoal, click this link - YouTube Nitram Charcoal

Features:

• Timber Charcoal Sharpening Tool

• Double Sided - Grit Grain: 180

• Pad Dimensions 7.5 cm x 12 cm approx.

• Replacement sanding pads supplied

• Comes in a velcro pouch to keep it clean in the studio

• Paddle shaped for comfortable use

• Wooden Handle 23cm long

• Suitable for pastel pencils and other media

• Refills available

• Made in Canada

About the Brand

Martin Gros was born in Spain in 1914 and moved to France just as WWII started in 1939.  Working on a local farm, he started making charcoal in the forests of L'yonne, France. He did this until 1962 when the new owner for a very old charcoal manufacturer (Luxor) hired him.

He worked there until 1965 when he decided to open his own factory. The new charcoal Company was called NITRAM, which is Martin spelled backwards.

To begin with, demand was small, and production was not very consistent. However, in 1968 an important client placed a large order that could not be met using current production methods and techniques. This required a new approach, quality wood and specialized equipment.

In 1981 Martin Gros retired, and his son came to continue manufacturing Nitram. With a larger property as well as new machinery helped assure a cleaner manufacturing process, while maintaining quality. Over the years the process has been further refined with newer and larger equipment.

The Nitram methodology and the spirit of Nitram Fussains has been passed on to Jerzy Niedojadlo, who as a practicing artist has shown a great passion for Nitram charcoal. Jerzy has what it takes to maintain the quality of Nitram Charcoal and continue to make it available to artists worldwide, and they also now have a manufacturing plant in Canada to service the Americas, and the pacific region.