Pencil Carved From Pencil: 15 Steps Behind the 18 Million View Micro Carving

A pencil carved from pencil sounds like a riddle, but one artist turned it into a video that has been watched almost 19 million times. Imagine taking an ordinary yellow pencil, the kind rolling around in every kitchen drawer, and slowly carving its tip into a tiny, perfect pencil. Then imagine doing it again, one level smaller. That is exactly what YouTube creator Bobby Duke did, and he jokingly called it pencil inception. The result is so small you need a magnifying glass to really see it, and that is part of the fun. Below we walk through the whole build step by step, explain why tiny carvings are so hard to stop watching, and share three simple pencil projects you can try at home with a little patience..

Meet Bobby Duke, the Artist Behind the Pencil Carved From Pencil

Bobby Duke runs the YouTube channel Bobby Duke Arts, where he shares creative builds with a big sense of humor. In January 2018 he posted I carve a pencil from a pencil from a pencil, and viewers could not believe their eyes. The video has close to 19 million views and more than half a million likes. In his description he simply asks if science has gone too far. Ready to see how a plain pencil became a pencil inside a pencil..

You will need: A regular wooden pencil, a sharp craft knife, a cutting mat, a magnifier and a lot of patience.

How to make it: 1. Watch the video once just for fun. 2. Watch again and notice each stage of the carving. 3. Follow along with the steps below.

Step 1: The Pencil Inception Idea

The idea is simple and a little silly, which is why people love it. A pencil has a graphite core, so why not carve that core into its own tiny pencil? And if that works, why not carve an even smaller one from that? It is like nesting dolls, but with school supplies. Bobby Duke leaned into the joke and named it pencil inception. Sometimes the best projects start with a question that makes you laugh. What silly craft question have you always wondered about?

You will need: Curiosity, a sense of humor and a few spare pencils for practice.

How to make it: 1. Look closely at a sharpened pencil and its graphite tip. 2. Sketch how a tiny pencil could fit inside it. 3. Pick a fresh pencil with a centered core.

Step 2: The Tools for Tiny Carving

Micro carving needs very few tools, but each one matters. A sharp craft knife with fresh blades does most of the work. A self healing cutting mat protects the table, and a magnifier helps you see details smaller than a grain of rice. Fine sandpaper smooths the surfaces, and tweezers help with tiny pieces. Good light is just as important as any tool. Always cut away from your fingers and keep spare blades in a safe container. Do you have a craft knife in your supply box?

You will need: A precision craft knife with spare blades, a cutting mat, a magnifier, fine sandpaper, tweezers and a bright lamp.

How to make it: 1. Set up a well lit desk with your cutting mat. 2. Put in a fresh blade. 3. Keep the magnifier and sandpaper within reach.

Step 3: Starting a Pencil Carved From Pencil by Shaving the Wood

The first job is removing wood. With slow, shallow strokes, the outer wood and yellow paint are shaved away from the end of the pencil. Thin curls drop onto the mat as more of the dark graphite appears. Going slowly here matters, because graphite is brittle and can snap if it is pushed too hard. It is calm, quiet work that feels almost like peeling an apple. Could you keep your hands this steady?

You will need: A pencil, a sharp craft knife and a cutting mat.

How to make it: 1. Hold the pencil firmly on the mat. 2. Shave the wood with shallow strokes, always away from your hand. 3. Turn the pencil a little after each stroke.

Step 4: Freeing the Graphite Core

Once enough wood is gone, a long section of graphite stands free. This is the raw material for the tiny pencil. Graphite is soft and slippery, so it carves easily, but it also breaks easily. The core needs to stay straight and thick enough to shape. You can see why Bobby Duke worked so slowly here. One wrong move and you start over with a new pencil. How many tries do you think it took?

You will need: A pencil with an exposed core, a craft knife and a gentle touch.

How to make it: 1. Remove the last bits of wood around the graphite. 2. Check that the core is straight and has no cracks. 3. Support the graphite with your finger while you work.

Step 5: Giving the Pencil Carved From Pencil Six Sides

A real pencil has six flat sides, so the tiny one needs them too. Using the very tip of the blade, the round graphite core is shaved into a little hexagon. Each flat side has to match the others, or the tiny pencil looks lopsided. This is where a magnifier becomes your best friend. It is amazing how much a few flat facets make the graphite look like a real pencil. Would you have the patience for six perfect sides?

You will need: A craft knife with a fresh blade, a magnifier and fine sandpaper.

How to make it: 1. Shave one flat side along the graphite. 2. Turn and repeat until there are six even sides. 3. Smooth each side lightly with fine sandpaper.

Step 6: The Tiny Sharpened Tip

Next comes the point. The end of the graphite hexagon is tapered into a tiny cone, just like a freshly sharpened pencil. Because it is so small, even a breath of extra pressure can snap it off. Under a magnifying glass, the little tip looks just like the real thing. This is the moment many viewers say they gasped. It is also a good reminder to work slowly and take breaks. Can you picture how small this tip really is?

You will need: A craft knife, a magnifier and good light.

How to make it: 1. Mark where the cone will start. 2. Taper the end with tiny, gentle cuts. 3. Check the shape under the magnifier and stop before it gets too thin.

Step 7: The Tiny Eraser End

No pencil is complete without an eraser. To finish the mini pencil, the other end gets a tiny band and a dab of pink, so it looks just like the big pencil it came from. Little details like this turn a clever trick into a piece of art. It also makes the joke land, because now the tiny pencil really looks like a copy of its parent. Which detail would you add first, the eraser or the band?

You will need: A fine paintbrush, a little pink and silver paint and a magnifier.

How to make it: 1. Carve a small step near the end for the band. 2. Paint the band silver and let it dry. 3. Add a dab of pink for the eraser.

Step 8: Going One Level Deeper

Here is where the video earns its name. After the first tiny pencil is done, the process starts all over again on an even smaller scale. More shavings, more careful cuts and even more patience. A pencil carved from pencil carved from pencil is so small it is hard to photograph. Piles of shavings like these show just how much material comes off to reveal something so tiny. Would you stop at one level or go for two?

You will need: The same tools, plus extra patience and a steady surface.

How to make it: 1. Start with the graphite of your first tiny pencil. 2. Repeat the shaving, hexagon and tip steps at a smaller size. 3. Rest your hands often between cuts.

Step 9: The Big Reveal of a Pencil Carved From Pencil

At the end of the video, the original pencil, the tiny pencil and the even tinier one are lined up together. Next to a regular sharpened tip, it is hard to believe they all came from the same piece. Viewers flooded the comments with amazement and a lot of jokes about pencil inception. A pencil carved from pencil is the kind of thing you have to see to believe. What would you name your own nesting carving?

You will need: Your finished pieces, a plain background and a good light for photos.

How to make it: 1. Line up the original and the tiny pencils. 2. Photograph them on a plain background. 3. Use a magnifier or macro lens to show the details.

Why a Pencil Carved From Pencil Goes Viral

Tiny carvings grab our attention because they mix something familiar with something impossible. Everyone knows what a pencil looks like, so seeing one shrunk down to the size of a grain of rice feels like magic. The slow, careful work is also calming to watch. A magnifying glass makes every detail feel like a discovery. If you love art that looks too real to be true, check out our realistic clay crafts. Why do you think tiny things are so fun to watch?

You will need: A magnifying glass and a curious eye.

How to make it: 1. Look at a few everyday objects under a magnifier. 2. Notice the small details you usually miss. 3. Pick one simple shape to try shrinking down.

His Channel Is Full of Playful Builds

The pencil inception video is only one of many creative projects on Bobby Duke Arts. His channel mixes art, building and a lot of jokes, and many of his ideas start with a simple question like this one. That is a great lesson for any crafter. You do not need fancy supplies to make something people remember. A clear idea, a few good tools and a sense of humor can go a long way. What simple object on your desk could become your next project?

You will need: A tidy workbench, a cutting mat and a few basic hand tools.

How to make it: 1. Clear a small workspace with good light. 2. Pick one everyday object to play with. 3. Write down three fun ideas and try the easiest one first.

Try It: Carve Initials Into a Pencil

You can start much bigger than a graphite pencil. Carving initials into the painted side of a pencil is a sweet beginner project. Draw the letters lightly, then use a craft knife to scrape away the paint inside the lines so the pale wood shows through. Tie a few with a ribbon and you have a thoughtful little gift. Kids should only use a craft knife with an adult helping. Whose initials would you carve first?

You will need: A few wooden pencils, a sharp pencil for drawing, a craft knife, a cutting mat and ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Lightly draw the initials on the painted side. 2. Carefully scrape the paint away inside the lines, cutting away from your hand. 3. Tie the finished pencils with ribbon.

Try It: A Tiny Pencil Chain

Want a bigger challenge? Carving a short chain into the wooden body of a pencil is a fun step up. Mark small links along the side, then slowly cut away the wood between them. Keep the links chunky so they do not break. It takes patience, but the result looks like a magic trick on your desk. Work slowly, wear a cut resistant glove and take breaks often. How many links do you think you could carve?

You will need: A thick wooden pencil, a craft knife, a cut resistant glove, a fine pen and a cutting mat.

How to make it: 1. Draw two or three chunky links along the middle of the pencil. 2. Remove the wood around and between the links in tiny cuts. 3. Gently free each link and sand the edges.

Try It: Spiral Pencils for a Teacher Gift

Spiral grooves turn plain pencils into a cute, crafty gift. Draw a spiral line around each pencil, then carve a shallow groove along it to reveal the wood under the paint. Bundle a few with a red ribbon and a shiny apple, and you have a sweet thank you for a teacher. It is a great project to make with older kids, with an adult handling the knife. Who would you surprise with a bundle like this?

You will need: Wooden pencils, a fine pen, a craft knife, a cutting mat, ribbon and an apple.

How to make it: 1. Draw a spiral line around each pencil. 2. Carve a shallow groove along the line, cutting away from your hand. 3. Tie the pencils together with ribbon.