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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Sharpen Your Pencils with this Ingenious Sharpener from Classroom Friendly Supplies {A Back to School Review}


Would you like to know what seems to be a daily frustration for me when we are having school? Not having a pencil that works properly. Do you know why this happens? Well, yes, of course pencils that are being used are going to wear down and need sharpening as the week goes on. That is not what I am talking about though. I am talking about pencils that come out of the sharpener looking like this:


I am talking about pencils that have been sharpened and sharpened but the point keeps breaking off in the sharpener. I have had pencils that have been whittled down to next to nothing while trying to get a point to appear. I thought I had a good sharpener. I had to replace mine recently because the motor in the one I had for years had finally died. The new one I purchased seemed great at first, but it was so powerful it was destroying pencils and it was so LOUD!

I was intrigued when I came across a new-to-me company called Classroom Friendly Supplies.  This company is owned by an elementary teacher who was tired of loud and inefficient pencil sharpeners present in the classroom.



Yes, I was intrigued, but I was also skeptical. Was this really as great as it was being made out to be? I had to try it out for myself. I was so thankful that the owner was willing to join with me for my Back to School/5 Year Blogiversary Celebration.

I gathered some poor abused pencils, both regular number 2 pencils and colored pencils. The colored pencils suffered much more at the blades of the old pencil sharpener. I wanted to see if I could restore them.


Next I set up the pencil sharpener.


This front slides out and clicks into place.



In order for the pencil to slide into the sharpener you need to press the tabs together.


The pencil slides right into place... 


 and is held steady by the little teeth.


As the sharpener is holding onto the pencil, you have two hands free. One to hold onto the sharpener and one to turn the crank. As the pencil sharpens, the front plate moves in with the pencil.

Here, let me share a short video from Classroom Friendly Supplies


I was extremely impressed with the results.


In case you are still not convinced, I wanted to share a few more pictures.


I can't stop talking about the wonderful results of this pencil sharpener. In fact, I keep looking around the house to see if there are more pencils that need sharpened. It is so easy to use, even without instructions I was able to use it with ease (which is saying something).

In case you are wondering, it is also just as simple to empty the shavings.


All you need to do is push the tray out from the back. It comes all the way out to be emptied and is easily reinserted.


Classroom Friendly Supplies also include a clamp if you would like to attach it somewhere more permanently. We, however, have no where to attach it, so I keep it on my counter and it is ready for use at all times.

I am 100% impressed with the quality of this product. Here is what I like:
  • Well made, sturdy design
  • Ease of use
  • Quieter than electric pencil sharpeners
  • No motor to wear out
  • Blades are replaceable (a set of two can be purchased for $22.99)
  • Shaving are disposed of easily
  • Pencils are sharpened to a perfect point
  • Sharpener stops sharpening after perfect point is achieved.
  • A clamp is included (though as I haven't used it, I can't speak to it's effectiveness)
Having just received it, I can't speak to the longevity of this product. I hope to have it around for a long time though.

I have one warning I would like to share with you. Remember I showed you how the front pulls out and clicks into place to hold the pencil? Well, if no pencil is inserted and you turn the crank, the front plate will snap into place. Not a problem, unless your finger is in the way. Ooops and ouch. It will sting a little, but no permanent damage was done. 


You can purchase the pencil sharpener in 5 different colors:


Each of these sharpeners can be purchased for $24.99. A set of 3 can be purchased for $53.97. In case you will be purchasing large quantities, they also offer a school discount- 36 sharpeners for $503.64. They also now offer a large hole sharpener for those larger pencils. It sells for the same price.

 You can check out all the products they offer at their website.
You can also find them on Facebook.

 This ingenious sharpener can be yours!
Classroom Friendly Supplies has generously offered to include a Pencil Sharpener in your choice of color in my Back to School/5 Year Blogiversary Celebration.

Don't miss out on the Grand Prize Giveaway!
Click here to enter the giveaway.


How would you like some extra entries into this giveaway before it even starts? 
Head on over to the Classroom Friendly Supplies website and tell me something you learned. Leave the answer here in the comments with your email and when the giveaway is live I will email you the secret code to place in the Rafflecopter for a bonus 10 points. 

Don't miss out on the Grand Prize Giveaway!
Click here to enter the giveaway.

29 comments:

  1. I have had sharpeners that have done nothing but chewed up my pencils. I like the way the Ingenious Sharpener from Classroom Friendly Supplies works.

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  2. I like that this sharpener does not require batteries. I also like the large storage place for the shavings.

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  3. Nice! I hate pencil sharpeners that don't work well.

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  4. I might have to look into this one. It is really hard to find a good pencil sharpener. The kids sharpen their pencils and they break not long after. I was starting to wonder if the pencils are not made like they use to be.

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  5. As a bookkeeper I REALLY could have used this sharpener--I would have carried it around to my different clients. I don't use pencils as much any more now that I am semi retired but am still thinking of getting one just in case!

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  6. Seriously, where has this been my whole life. :) We've got the old-fashioned crank in the basement and 9/10 times you have to resharpen.

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  7. It's about time that pencil sharpeners step into the modern age!! I kind of like the old-fashioned crank sharpeners a tiny bit but breaking lead was always extremely annoying!

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  8. I hate that also.. never had a good point ever!! my kids can use this for the school year.

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  9. Oooo- I so need a new pencil sharpener. Love the review of this one!

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  10. I've had this problem too ... getting a decent point on our pencils. Great review and now I have a remedy for the problem :)

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  11. I learned that you can buy wall mounts for their sharpeners.
    royalegacy at gmail dot com

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  12. Wow this looks like so much fun! I need to get one for my family!

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  13. I have always wanted something like this at home!! I get so tired of having to hand sharpen my daughters colored pencils and pencils and they always seem to break off so easily. I love that you can mount this to the wall, and I love all of the different colors!

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  14. I learned that 2 of their sharpeners are in the colors Cool Blue and Groovy Green.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  15. I learned that two of their sharpeners are in the colors Cool Blue and Groovy Green. These would be a nice pop of color in a room.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  16. My oldest is always complaining that his pencil is not sharp enough. Those little sharpeners don't really work well. This one looks great.

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  17. What nice points on these pencils. I also like that it is a manual sharpener. Electric sharpeners really eat up pencils, in my experience.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  18. I really like the blue one of these! I like that it is a lot quieter than an electric pencil sharpener, and it did a much better job than your older one for sure!

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  19. I really need this for my classroom. I sharpened my class pencils today and they are a mess

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  20. These sharpeners are raved about in our local homeschool group!

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  21. I could use a good pencil sharpener. I have one, but it doesn't work very well.

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  22. This sharpener would save my sanity, lol! Thank you for the giveaway!

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  23. I'd love to have my pencils come out looking like that!

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  24. I have never seen a sharpener like this! It seems great! All the ones I have used as a teacher break pencils or they don't sharpen them and they are loud and disruptive :(

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  25. We love this sharpener! It works better than any I've ever tried, and without the forearm strain no matter how many pencils you sharpen in a row.

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  26. Oh I really love this sarpener!! Thanks for the video, so helpful... This will be the perfect addition to our school room/year. Thanks for the chance of winning one ;-)

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  27. Very interested. I have yet to see a pencil sharpener that does a great job on colored pencils! Need to give this a try.

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