I use them all the time and don't have a problem but I have an old school type pencil sharpener and keep them sharp. I tried a new white marking pan but I'm not happy with that. You don't see the white for a few minutes. I've also used the yellow ones, Pounce, and the chalk markers. It all depends on what I am doing. All I can say about the pencils is that I have to keep them on the sharper side but not so thin that the points break off.