It doesn’t matter what product you are purchasing, results are important. You may not think much about this when buying a pencil sharpener. But, it is just as important there as anywhere else. What you don’t want is to be in the process of drawing something important have your lead break and your pencil sharpener to quit working. To that end, we wanted to provide a review of the X-Acto Model 41 electric pencil sharpener.
Table of Contents
Durability
There are many different sharpeners that you could buy. But, there are many reasons why this should be your first choice. It begins with durability. This model is meant for commercial purposes. This may sound like overkill for residential users. But, you probably already have other items in your home that were meant for commercial purposes like kitchen appliances. You buy those because they are able to handle more volume and will last longer. Those are the same things that you can expect from this sharpener. And to make you more comfortable it comes with 10 years of warranty.
Adjustability
There are not many sharpeners available that are fully adjustable. This one is. You can adjust the size of the opening for the pencil. You may wonder why this is important. But, it does provide a better sharpening experience. You have probably used sharpeners that are meant for one size fits all. You are trying to sharpen a pencil that moves around. This can make for uneven sharpening By using one that has an adjustable hole then you can choose the right size for what you are sharpening.
Saves You Money On Pencils
This may seem like an odd feature. But, the XActo Model 41 electric sharpener is actually able to do just that. It includes a built in pencil saver. This prevents you from getting distracted while sharpening (i.e. kids needing something or parent checking on you) while sharpening and eating up your whole pencil. By not sharpening more than you need to, you will save money over the long run.
Protects Itself From Breaking
When we started checking on this product, this was a very intriguing feature. This pencil sharpener actually has built in safety mechanisms to help keep itself from breaking. Any electronic product that is put under heavy use experiences wear and tear.
One place that this is seen is in the motor. The longer the product is in use then the more heat the motor will produce. If the motor gets too hot then it will overheat. This model includes a built in sensor that monitors this temperature. Before it gets hot enough to overheat, it will actually shut itself down. It will then automatically reset itself when the temperature is cool enough.
Steel Blades
Another area where you can experience breakage is in the blades themselves. Depending on what they are made of, they can wear out. If the blades dull easily then it will take longer to sharpen. As it takes longer to sharpen, it needs to run longer. This puts more stress on the motor. You can see the potentially damaging cycle that this sets up. This model uses all steel blades. That means they stay sharp much longer.
Needs Less Emptying
This is another area where many products can become troublesome. If you are sharpening a lot, such as using it in a classroom, then the shavings area can fill up quickly. This is yet another area where this model sets itself apart. XActo has included a larger area to collect the shavings. This means that you won’t have to spend as much time emptying it. This simple means more convenience for you.
Powerful Motor
We mentioned the wear and tear that a motor can be put under. One way that this model protects itself is by monitoring the motor’s temperature. But, it also protects itself by using a more powerful motor. If the motor is able to put out more power then the blades are able to turn faster. The faster speed of the blades means that it can sharpen more quickly. This means that the motor will get done faster and produce less speed. This is a great cycle to help your product last longer.
Cost Savings
We mentioned that this model uses a pencil save feature. This is one way that it helps to save you money. But, it is not the only way. It also is very versatile. This model allows you to sharpen regular #2 pencils along with colored pencils and many other things. You don’t need to buy multiple sharpeners. When you combine this with the heavy duty construction, temperature monitor, steel blades, etc. then you have a product that will stand the test of time. The longer that it lasts then the fewer you will need to buy over time. This simply saves you money.
Is There a Catch?
We have talked about all the great features that this product offers. You may be skeptical though. After all, there really isn’t a perfect product out there. All products have some cons. Well, that is true about this product also. The cons are not that many though. The biggest drawback is in the plug. It uses a three prong plug that is designed for US current. So, if you don’t live in the US, you will need a converter to use this product. But, as you can see this is not much of a drawback. There are many products that are built specifically for US current.
You have many different choices and options when looking for a pencil sharpener. You want to find one that is produced under the highest quality standards. That is exactly what you will find with the X-ACTO model 41 electric pencil sharpener. The strong motor, steel blades, sensor to monitor motor temperature, and adjustable hole size, all work together to create a high quality product. So, if you are looking to replace your old electric pencil sharpener then end your shopping early. All you need to do is pick up one of these models for years of reliable use.
