Pencil Sharpener review!

Are you always looking for new and improved ways to keep your art room pencils sharpened? I have tried high-end (and low-end) electric ones which  are loud and never seem to outlast their expense, and for the last two years have been using hand-held, but those are far from perfect too. I read another blog post about this sharpener from www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com and was intrigued by the way the writer described it as "different", so I went to the site to check it out and saw that the company will send a free sharpener to bloggers who meet the criteria. I was excited to get my package and give it a try, soon to realize I had no idea how to work it. Fortunately the website has instructions and videos, and soon I had sharpened the most perfect pencil point I have ever seen!

It is a manual, portable hand-crank sharpener with a table clamp to use if you like, although it doesn't hold it super tight. Here's how it works : first, pull out the metal plate on the front and squeeze the tabs on the top and insert the pencil. Next, let go of the pencil - the tabs hold it in place perfectly centered - and crank until the resistance stops. The metal plate has pushed back to its original place now and you can squeeze the tabs again to release the pencil. If you put an already sharp pencil in, it won't engage. I haven't used it with kids yet because I'm on spring break, but I think they are going to be excited about the sharpness they can achieve with this sharpener. The only negative I have to say about it is that the table clamp is a little weak, but as long as you hold if down with your hand you are good, and I see that they are developing a permanent mount you can buy soon. 

If it works well with the kids, I will be getting another one for next year - stay tuned for a follow up! Definitely check it out! Here is a video link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0jqUe91Ovs and here is a shot of the available colors and prices. Thank you ClassroomFriendlySupplies.com for the sharpener - I'll be back for more.