Customer Reviews

X-Acto High-Volume Commercial Electric Pencil Sharpener, Beige, 1 Unit (1606)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

After going through many electric pencil sharpeners in my elementary classroom, I decided to bite the bullet and spend over $100 on this sharpener. I expected it to last several years. It worked very well for about 18 months. Then it just made a loud grinding noise when a pencil was inserted.
Because I am somewhat mechanically inclined, I opened up the sharpener to figure out how to fix it. To my dismay, I noticed that the plastic gear that was responsible for turning the cutter wheels was broken. The pencil sharpener isn't fixable. I'm just posting this so that anyone who purchases this pencil sharpener will know that it might not last as long as expected.

X-ACTO 1606 High-volume commercial electric pencil sharpener

Cons:

- Elmer's Products Inc. acquired X-ACTO, Hunt, and Boston, and this is now the only commercial pencil sharpener they offer. So, in that regard, we consumers have fewer choices. E.g., if you order a predecessor unit such as the Hunt model 1606 from a web store claiming to sell them (e.g., buy dot com), you'll receive this sharpener instead. It's now called a Model 41, which incorporates previous models 1604, 1606, and 1644. It's made in China, and it says "Elmer's Products Inc." on the bottom.

- No automatic stop when the pencil is sharp. If you keep pushing the pencil in, it will be a nub in no time flat.

- Expensive; but it's a much better sharpener than the cheap models.

Pros:

- Sharpens a new pencil in under 2 seconds, and re-sharpens it in well under a second. The only thing you have to do is to feed the pencil straight into the unit and pull it out when you sense it's sharpened. You'll quickly learn when to remove the pencil.

- Made for continuous use; can sharpen hundreds of pencils without waiting for the powerful motor to cool. I sharpened 100 pencils, one after the other, and the motor didn't even get warm. Motor is 3 amps (over 1/4 HP), which is huge for such a small device. A typical pencil sharpener's motor is about 1.4 amps.

- Sufficiently heavy so you don't have to hold it down while it's being used. The large rubber feet prevent the unit from slipping while in use.

- Rotating front dial accepts 6 pencil sizes, up to 3/8" diameter; keeps a pencil pointed toward the sharpener.

- We have four other brands of electric sharpeners, and none of them is very good. One takes nearly a minute to sharpen a new pencil. This X-ACTO is a revelation by comparison.

- My sharpener is gray, but otherwise is identical to the Amazon photo. Either color is attractive.

- Shavings container is large enough to sharpen dozens of new pencils.

- In a recent e-mail to X-Acto, I asked:

"Some customer reviews say that when the plastic gear wears out, there is no replacement part available. Is this correct and can a customer buy a replacement gear for a model 1606?"

X-Acto responded:

"Our X-Acto 1606 now has an 8 year warranty. There is a replacement cutter carrier for this sharpener along with the 8 year warranty, so if anything happens to the sharpener, it can be replaced. If you have any other questions please let us know. Thanks."

Summary:

If you're frustrated by poor-performing [inexpensive] electric pencil sharpeners, try this one. This unit is for anyone with a large number of pencils to sharpen, or if you finally want a decent sharpener.

I have worked at three different schools in our school district and all three of them own this sharpener. We usually sharpen over 700 pencils at one sitting for state testing. It's super fast. It's awesome!

My Boston 1606 finally appeared to have burned out its motor after 15 years of constant, heavy classroom use. I tried tinkering with it, but no go. So I ordered the model on this page, which is actually the X-Acto pictured, along with a replacement cutters (sold separately), which I knew would be useful since I had replaced the cutters in my old one about five years ago when the pencils started coming out "furry." The X-Acto worked like a dream, just as good as the Boston, whipping through boxes of new pencils efficiently, reasonably quietly, and without overheating. Then the replacement cutters arrived, and I noticed they looked exactly like the ones in the old Boston 1606. I tried them in the Boston, they fit perfectly, and the old one now works great, too! The motor wasn't burned out after all. It was a bent prong on the cutters where they insert into the motor. I don't know if the X-Acto will have the incredible endurance of the Boston 1606, since I've only had it a month, but I do recommend it to anyone who needs a high-volume, heavy duty sharpener.

I am the testing director at a high school with over 2000 students. We routinely have to sharpen hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pencils at a time. We already own the Boston heavy duty model, but I was looking to get another. I decided to try this model as the design is a bit updated and it had good reviews. I'm glad I did!

This model is much more attractive than the Boston High Volume sharpener. The rubber pads do a good job of holding the unit solidly in place when sharpening. It instantly starts and by the time you are done putting the pencil into the opening the pencil is already sharpened. I have yet to take a pencil out and need to resharpen it because it didn't sharpen properly the first time. The shavings receptacle is large and well designed. The fittings dial is easily changed for different size pencils up to and including 3/8 inch pencils. It's pricey, but if you need to sharpen lots of pencils you will be glad you invested in this model.

I AM AN ART TEACHER FOR 32 YEARS AND HAVE USED EVERY ELECTRIC SHARPENER YOU CAN IMAGINE. I BOUGHT THE ORIGINAL BOX SHAPED VERSION OF THIS SHARPENER AT A YARD SALE. IT WAS A LITTLE BEAT UP, BUT LASTED FOR 6 YEARS. THIS NEWER VERSION IS AN EXACTO (COMPANIES MERGED) AND IS A POWERHOUSE! I SHARPEN HUNDREDS OF PENCILS IN A WEEK,EACH HAS A PERFECT POINT. THIS DOES NOT OVERHEAT, TAKES A VARIETY OF PENCIL TYPES AND THE BLADES CAN BE REPLACED. THE ONLY DRAWBACK IS THAT YOU CAN'T SHARPEN THE
PENCILS ONCE THEY BECOME VERY SHORT. THIS WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY AND HAS CUT MY WORK TIME IN HALF! A REALLY WONDERFUL PRODUCT!

I ordered the Boston 1606 pencil shapener. Instead I was shipped the X-Acto model 41. I know of the quality of the 1606 and know nothing of the model 41. I would have at least expected some sort of notification that a change was being made with my authorization. Amazon and Discount Office Supplies need to change their business practices.

This pencil sharpener is made with a deliberate structural weakness in the most crucial part of the motor. The gear that drives the cutters is made of plastic. Over time, the plastic gear cracks and renders the sharpener usesless. The motor will run forever, but because of the broken plastic gear, the machine will not work. There are no replacement parts for this malfunction. A machine of this cost (approx. $130) should have better workmanship and available replacement parts. It is a pencil sharpener. The gears should be made of metal rather than plastic. However, then it would last too long, and Elmers would not be able to sell you another. I have had three of these machines break in the exact same place. If you read on, you will see many others with the exact same complaint. Too bad the company doesn't stand behind their products like they should.

The plastic!! gear that rotates the cutters is broken and no replacement is available. I would expect a very expensive pencil sharpener such as this to literally last forever, or at least a few years. At the very least, it should have rugged parts.

I found out that no replacement parts are available due to "lack of demand." Also found out it has a 2 year warranty. call their warranty number and it explains that you have to fax in Model #, shipping address, Proof of date of purchase, and description of failure. Fax to Danielle at 800-741-6046.

hope this helps.

In the past two years, my classes have gone through at least 10, if not more, electric sharpeners. Some have lasted a few months, some a few weeks, and some a few hours. Most have come through our purchasing department so we have no recourse in returning them. I have a box of dead soldiers who gave up their lives for a sharpened point...Boston, Royal and X-Act Pro to name a few. Then I decided to look for a commercial grade sharpener (if they even existed). Through the internet I found this one and, although a bit expensive, bought it. It arrived within the week. And my students are amazed, as I am, at how quickly it sharpens pencils and the beautiful centered point. None of that one side sharp, the other full of wood. I gave it 4 stars because we have only had it a month. Ask me to review my stars after a year.