X-Acto Electric Pencil Sharpener (1818)

by X-Acto

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4 x 6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0006HVPW4
• Item model number: 1818
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193 in Office Products (See Top 100 in Office Products)
  • #6 in Office Products > Educational Supplies > Writing & Correction Supplies > Pencil Sharpeners
  • #11 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Measuring & Layout Tools
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 18, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Ideal for office use, the X-Acto Electric Pencil Sharpener comes with X-ACTO steel blades for a high-quality points without worrying about over sharpening. Other features include a compact design and non-skid feet that won't damage the desktop. UL listed and CSA approved, this sharpener is Made in the U.S., and also includes a thermal overload feature that shuts off the motor before overheating.

Product Description

The X-ACTO XLR home office electric sharpener sets the standard by which all sharpeners are measured. Non-skid feet won't damage desktops.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing!, September 1, 2008

By 

Ray LeCara Jr. (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: X-Acto Electric Pencil Sharpener (1818) (Office Product)

Before purchasing the X-Acto Electric Pencil Sharpener, I paid half the price for an electric sharpener from Wal-Mart that lasted over five years. This product has lasted a mere five months. Rarely used, it often sticks, overheats after only a few uses, and then ceases to work at all.

I had hoped a sharpener of better quality would last longer, especially considering it isn't even used very often. It would seem I was mistaken.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Complete failure, December 13, 2010

By 

Leonard F. Wheat (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: X-Acto Electric Pencil Sharpener (1818) (Office Product)

This "sharpener" won't sharpen. When you try to use it, the pencil tip comes out slightly lopsided, with the lead covered with wood on one side all the way to the tip -- wood beyond the farthest reach of the lead. Result: the wood-tipped pencil won't write, won't even deposit a mark on the paper. And it isn't the pencil's fault. I tested three different lead pencils and four colored pencils. I even gave each pencil a second sharpening, a second chance. Same result each time: tip covered with wood.

The cause of the problem seems to be that this sharpener has only one roller-cutter. Manual sharpeners have two roller sharpeners and work perfectly (but have to be screwed in place -- no desktop use, block venetian blinds on window sills -- and can't be placed in certain locations where the hand crank becomes inaccessible). The X-Acto 1818, with its single cutter, doesn't seem to hold the pencil at the correct angle. The pencil isn't gripped between two cutters. That seems to account for the lopsided cutting.

I suspect that this model requires precision assembly, so that the cutter is installed at the perfect angle. Since other reviews suggest that this model sometimes works, my conclusion is that buying this model is a gamble. In my case it was a complete waste of money: the "sharpener" simply didn't work. So if you buy one, you are gambling. You may get a properly assembled one that works, and you may get one that doesn't.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Returned it, August 15, 2007

By 

D. Anderson (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
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Agree with the previous reviewer. Office Depot is currently selling the made-in-china X-acto brand sharpener. Bought one and returned it after three pencils. Didn't seem to have much power, stalled the motor on the first pencil. Created nice sharp points though, just not always centered on the pencil. I'm looking for another sharpener.