Bostitch Office QuietSharp Executive Heavy Duty Electric Pencil Sharpener for 65% Faster Sharpening and 6X Longer Cutter Life - Colored Pencil Compatible, Black

Purchased this for home to have pencils ready for the kids and me for school. Who doesn't like a fresh, sharp pencil?! This sharpener is fast to sharpen pencils. We've had it for about three years now and it's still sharpening like the day it was delivered. It's a great value for the money. It is easy to empty and easy to use. Totally recommend.

UPDATE: My grandson tried to sharpen a square speciality pencil that happened to have a thin plastic covering. The plastic got bound up. The blade still spins but no longer cuts. The plastic must have melted on the blade. There are no pieces sticking up to grab onto for removal. Definitely for teens or older. I received exactly what I ordered in the timeframe given. The Sharpener is quiet and works well. The unite sharpens to perfection and you can hear a difference in the sound of the blade when the sharpening is complete. Perfect for my home-based office. My five year old grandson did have a problem as you need to put the pencil in at a slight downward angle. Once I showed him, he was fine. I would leave it unplugged if you do have littles in your household....or idiots at your workplace. Smaller fingers could fit into the sharpener opening.

Great sharpener! Works well !

Steeper incline to sharpened tip in effort of conserving pencil does not seem to yield as great an interval between sharpenings as more traditional sharpeners. Otherwise sold construction.

What Makes This a Professional Tool: Actually Lives Up to "Heavy Duty" Claims: Most products labeled "heavy duty" are just marketing nonsense. Not this one. After sharpening 20-30 pencils per class period, five periods per day, for nine months, the motor is still strong and the blade is still sharp. This is legitimately built for high-volume use. The "Quiet" Part is Real: Compared to standard electric sharpeners that sound like jet engines, this is noticeably quieter. It's not silent - you can still hear it across the room - but it won't interrupt conversations or startle students. The motor hums rather than screams. Colored Pencil Compatible Actually Works: This is huge for art teachers. Most electric sharpeners gum up with colored pencil wax within weeks. This one has a stronger motor and helical cutter that handles colored pencils without clogging. I've sharpened hundreds of Prismacolors, Crayolas, and cheap dollar-store colored pencils - all work fine. Sharpens Ridiculously Fast: The "65% faster" claim seems accurate. Standard pencils sharpen in 3-5 seconds. Even stubby, over-sharpened nubs get processed quickly. When you have 30 students needing pencils sharpened before class ends, speed matters. Auto-Stop Feature Prevents Over-Sharpening: The sharpener automatically stops when the pencil reaches optimal sharpness. No more pencils sharpened down to nothing. This feature alone has saved me dozens of pencils from student over-enthusiasm. Large Shavings Reservoir: The drawer holds a significant amount of shavings - I empty it about once per week with heavy use. Clear window lets you see when it's full. The drawer slides out smoothly and doesn't spill everywhere. Heavy Base Keeps It Stable: Weighted bottom means the sharpener doesn't walk across the desk during use. Students can operate it one-handed without holding it down. Safety Feature Prevents Operation Without Drawer: If the shavings drawer isn't fully inserted, the sharpener won't run. Prevents shavings from spraying everywhere and protects curious fingers. Fits Different Pencil Sizes: Standard #2 pencils, thick primary pencils, colored pencils - all fit the opening and sharpen properly. Professional Appearance: Sleek black finish looks appropriate in professional offices, classrooms, or studios. Not a toy-looking design. 6X Longer Cutter Life Seems Legitimate: I'm nine months in with zero blade replacement needed. Previous sharpeners needed blade replacement (or full replacement) by month 3. THE CONS - The Reality Check: Price is High: At $50-65 (depending on sales), this is expensive for a pencil sharpener. You can buy five cheap sharpeners for this price. However, I've gone through seven cheap sharpeners in the past two years, so the math actually favors buying quality once. It's Electric - Needs Outlet: No battery option, must be plugged in. This limits placement options and makes it not portable for outdoor sketching or field trips. Makes Pencils VERY Sharp: This is a pro for adults but a concern with young kids. The points are needle-sharp. I've had to implement a "one pencil at a time" rule because students kept poking themselves. Motor Can Overheat with Extreme Use: If you sharpen 40+ pencils in rapid succession (think first day of school supply prep), the motor gets hot and needs a 10-minute cool-down break. Normal classroom use doesn't trigger this, but marathon sharpening sessions do. Shavings Drawer Could Be Larger: With 30 students per class, the drawer fills up quickly on heavy drawing days. Weekly emptying is fine for me, but high-volume users might want daily emptying. Helical Blade Eventually Needs Replacement: While the blade lasts significantly longer than standard sharpeners, it will eventually dull. Replacement blades are available but add to long-term cost. Size is Larger Than Standard: Takes up more desk space than compact sharpeners. Footprint is roughly 5" x 7". Not huge, but not tiny either. No Battery Backup: If the power goes out, you're back to manual sharpeners. Not a frequent issue, but worth noting. Colored Pencil Residue Builds Up: While the sharpener handles colored pencils well, wax residue does accumulate on the blade over time. I clean it every 2-3 months with rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush. REAL-WORLD CLASSROOM TESTING: Daily Volume: Approximately 20-30 pencils per class period × 5 periods × 180 school days = 18,000-27,000 potential sharpenings per year. I'm 9 months in (approximately 135 school days), so roughly 13,500-20,000+ sharpenings completed. Colored Pencil Testing: Students use colored pencils heavily in my class. I estimate 40% of sharpenings are colored pencils. Zero clogging incidents, though I do clean the blade periodically. Abuse Testing: High school students are not gentle. This sharpener has been: Dropped once (survived with minor cosmetic damage) Had pencils jammed in at angles (still works) Been operated by 120 different teenagers with varying levels of care (still functional) Run continuously during busy class periods (motor holds up) Maintenance Required: Empty shavings drawer weekly Clean colored pencil wax residue every 2-3 months Wipe exterior monthly Total maintenance time: ~15 minutes per month COMPARISON TO OTHER SHARPENERS: vs. X-ACTO School Pro: X-ACTO is good but struggled with colored pencils and died after 4 months in my classroom. vs. Cheap Amazon/Walmart Sharpeners ($10-15): Not even comparable. Those last 8-12 weeks maximum in high-volume settings. vs. Manual Sharpeners: Still keep one as backup, but electric saves enormous amounts of time with large classes. vs. Bostitch Personal Sharpener: This "Executive" model is significantly more durable. Worth the upgrade for professional/classroom use. vs. Industrial Classroom Sharpeners ($100+): Those exist, but this Bostitch hits the sweet spot of professional performance at prosumer pricing. WHO SHOULD BUY THIS: Teachers (All Levels): Elementary through high school - this handles classroom volume Artists Using Colored Pencils: The colored pencil compatibility is a game-changer Professional Offices: Reception desks, shared workspaces with multiple users Architects/Designers: Heavy pencil users who need reliability Homeschool Families: One quality sharpener for multiple kids Test Prep Centers: Places where students need quickly sharpened pencils Art Studios: Shared spaces with multiple artists Anyone Tired of Replacing Cheap Sharpeners: Buy quality once instead of replacing forever WHO MIGHT NOT NEED THIS: Individual Home Users with Light Use: If you sharpen 2-3 pencils per week, this is overkill Mobile Workers: Needs electricity, not portable Mechanical Pencil Users: Obviously not relevant Budget Buyers: The upfront cost is significant if money is tight Minimalists: Takes up desk space; handheld manual might suit better PRO TIPS FOR LONGEVITY: Clean colored pencil residue monthly - Use rubbing alcohol and soft brush, let dry completely Don't force pencils - If a pencil doesn't fit easily, it won't sharpen well Empty drawer before completely full - Overfilling can jam the mechanism Let motor cool during marathon sessions - 10-minute breaks every 50 pencils Don't sharpen dirty/painted pencils - Debris damages the blade Keep away from water - Electronics and moisture don't mix Unplug during long breaks - Summer vacation, winter break, etc. Save the box - Useful for moving or storing COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS: Bostitch QuietSharp Cost: $50-65 one-time Cheap Sharpener Cost: $12 × 3-4 per year = $36-48 annually Break-Even Point: After Year 2, you've saved money Intangible Benefits: Saved time (faster sharpening) Reduced frustration (reliable performance) Less waste (fewer replacements) Better pencil points (consistent quality) For professional/classroom use, the ROI is clear. For personal home use with light volume, the math is less compelling. UNEXPECTED BENEFITS: Students Actually Put Pencils Away: When sharpening is fast and easy, students are more likely to properly maintain supplies Reduced Classroom Disruption: Quiet operation means less distraction during work time Pencils Last Longer: Auto-stop prevents over-sharpening waste Professional Image: Clients/parents visiting the classroom see quality tools, which reflects well on the program Stress Reduction: Reliable tools reduce teacher frustration significantly OVERALL VERDICT: This sharpener is expensive upfront but has proven itself to be the most cost-effective long-term solution I've found. After burning through seven cheap sharpeners in two years (at ~$85 total), I finally spent $55 on quality and haven't looked back. Nine months of heavy classroom use would have destroyed 2-3 cheap sharpeners by now. This Bostitch is still performing like new. The colored pencil compatibility is essential for art programs, and the speed/reliability make it worthwhile for any high-volume setting. Is it overkill for sharpening 5 pencils per month at home? Absolutely. Is it essential for teachers, artists, and offices? Without question. WHO BENEFITS MOST: Teachers at any grade level with 20+ students Professional artists using colored pencils extensively Busy offices with multiple employees Art studios and makerspaces Anyone with high daily pencil volume People tired of constantly replacing sharpeners Quality-focused buyers willing to invest upfront WHO SHOULD LOOK ELSEWHERE: Light home users (1-2 pencils per week) People needing portable/battery-powered options Extreme budget constraints (try Bostitch Personal model) Mechanical pencil users Those without reliable electrical access BOTTOM LINE: Buy cheap, buy twice (or seven times in my case). Buy quality once, and you're done. This Bostitch QuietSharp Executive is the pencil sharpener equivalent of investing in good shoes - you'll appreciate the quality every single day. After nine months and thousands of pencils, I have zero regrets about this purchase. It's earned its place as permanent classroom equipment. Ease of use.

Honestly, it’s not a good pencil sharpener, and attached is my proof. I replaced a pencil sharpener I’ve had since about 2002. But it broken in that when the pencil was lremoved it wouldn’t turn off; but it was awesome! I’ve now has this one since December 14, 2024, so it turns 3 months old tomorrow. I work from home and use pencils daily to take notes. I have two major prevents with this pencil sharpener. 1) it sharpens uneven. I mean, just look at the pencils I’ve attached. Here are 3 brand new pencils I sharpened, and one side will have a lot of exposed “graphite” (since they’re no longer “lead” pencils like when i was a kid; or at least that what we called them) and the opposite side has to much wood covering the writing area, this causes my to maintain 3 pencils a day and sharpen them 3-4 times a day, where i used to have only 2 and sharpen them once a day if not at all…but the frequent sharpening is also related to complaint #2 2) the points are shorter. By that, i mean from the paint to the tip. Think about getting a sharpened pencil, especially colored pencils like for a child’s school. There is far more exposed graphite causing more frequent sharpening. Maybe that’s needed for colored pencils with soft graphite or whatever they use, but i don’t want this for my pencil, and my old sharpener what like a traditional manual sharpened point. That’s what I want… It’s too late to return, but I would never buy this again and I’m actually looking to waste money and buy another pencil sharpener to replace this one I’m so unhappy with it; especially the uneven points compared to my 20+ year perfect pencil sharpener…if you like a shorter point then that’s your preference, but still be aware of the uneven sharpening… Electric pencil sharpeners over 20 years ago could make an even point, so there’s no reason they can’t in 2025, other than cheap materials to cut costs, or poorly engineered, which goes back to “cheap” engineers hired to cut costs.

Yes it's a bit old fashioned, but I go through a lot of pencils in the shop. Works really well and is quiet. Heavy enough to stay put when sharpening. Bought the purple one since it was cheaper (don't really care what color it is).

This thing works great. I didn’t realize when I bought it that it was a plug-in, but it’s ok. I’m a homeschool mama and we are constantly sharpening pencils. They come out easily and perfectly sharp. The first two times my kids used it, it stopped working. We think it was because it overheated with the amount of pencils that we were sharpening (maybe 30 at a time? We were desperate for sharp pencils). We let it cool down and it worked again, and never had trouble with it since.