Staples 356332 Power Extreme Electric Pencil Sharpener Heavy-Duty Black (21834)

What a relief to FINALLY find a pencil sharpener that is not a cheap piece of junk! I ordered one of the small, dinky pencil sharpeners that are so pervasive these days and ended up throwing it in the trash. It wouldn't put anything sharper than a rounded tip on pencils and had a receptacle for shavings that was so tiny it would fill up after just a few uses. The Staples Power Extreme, on the other hand, is slightly larger but much sturdier and sharpens pencils to a nice, sharp point. It also has a very large receptacle for shavings and was very reasonably priced. I highly recommend it. And I soon discovered the secret to getting a sharp point: Insert the pencil until the blades (gears) engage and start to sharpen; then STOP inserting and twist the pencil 360 degrees!!! If you keep pushing and inserting, it will keep chewing the pencil until you stop!

I bought this pencil sharpener in August of 2015. Almost 4 years of daily use, and it is STILL sharpening pencils like it was new. I teach 3rd grade, and the students use it multiple times per day. To get the most use out of the sharpener, do not sharpen any pencils with a plastic layer around them (I stick with the plain, yellow #2 pencils) and empty the shavings anytime it gets half full. I absolutely love this sharpener, as it not only is long lasting, but also sharpens quickly and accurately. I plan on getting the same kind when mine finally breaks.

Wife teaches 3rd grade and we have had a hard time finding an Electric Pencil Sharpener which will hold up to the "daily grind" they get put through. Last several years we have gone through 2/year of other units. This unit has been in use 3/4 of the year now with no issues. Tray is big enough for the shavings. Pencil leads don't get broken off and jammed in the sharpener, heavy enough it does not scoot all around, shavings stay in the tray, and motor is at an acceptable noise level.

This pencil sharpener is super powerful and sharpens quickly. It does sharpen a bit unevenly, so one side has wood down to the tip, but twisting the pencil while sharpening seems to take care of it.

As a new teacher, my first pencil sharpener didn’t survive the whole year. This one was recommended by a friend and is amazing!!! It is durable and strong for lots of use.

The photo shows the first 9 new quality (Black Warrior's) pencils sharpened with this sharpener. First the auto stop did not work (this thing eats them up quick). Second, after trying very carefully multiple times I was unable to get a good square grind on any of the pencils which leaves them unusable. If you cant make out the picture it shows how the pencil wood is covering the lead on the 9 pencils sharpened with this sharpener. I thought it might be a pencil issue (lead not centered) until I sharpened them all squarely on the first try with my old Panasonic sharpener.

A lot larger than I expected!

I bought an original one of these that lasted 2.5 years in a middle school classroom. You know, with middle schoolers. I assume that is like 10 years in the real world. I was sad when it finally gave up, so I purchased this one, so far it seems to be as efficient and effective as the previous one, so lets hope for a good run!

Bought on Amazon.co.uk and yet supplied with American plug and works off American voltage. Ridiculous.