©2011Elmer’sProducts,Inc.
cutter/carriershouldnormallyrotaterelativelyeasilyby
handonACmotormodels.
Sharpener“hums”whenapencilininserted
innewproduct(ACmotormodels)
Thisisoftenanindicationofinternalshipping damage.The
cutter/carrierwillusuallyrotatefreely byhandbutwill
lock‐upwhenenergized.
Motorisrunningbutthecarrierisnot
rotating‐or‐loudgrindingnoise
Thiscanbeanindicationofgeardamageinsidethe
sharpenerandisnotuser‐serviceable.
Off‐centersharpening/Sharpensoneside
only/Sharpenstoawoodpoint
Thisisacommoncustomercomplaint,butrarelyisitdueto
adefectinthesharpener.Whensharpenersareoperating
normally,thecutter(s)andcarrierrotateallthewayaround
thepencilmanytimessothatthey“see”allsides
ofthe
pencilequally.Whenthesharpeningisuneven/not
centered,itisusuallyduetosomeexternalfactors.
Thefollowingtipsarehelpful toobtainthebestresults:
1) Onmulti‐size‐pencilsharpeners,makesurethatyou
haveselectedtheholethatprovidesthebestfitfor
thepencil.
Any“slop”inthepencilfitwilltranslate
intosomeoff‐centeredness.
2) Holdthepencilwitha“neutral”grip,notpressingitin
anydirection(up,down,le ft,orright).Anysideforce
onthepencilwilloffsetthecutting.
3) Keepthepencilincontactwiththecuttersbut
don’t
forceit.Letthecuttersdothework.
4) Yes,sometimesthegraphitecoreofthepencilisoffset
fromthecenterofthewoodcasing.Itseemstooccur
randomly(evenwithinthelengthofapencil)with
somebrandshavingtheissuemorethanothers.
5) If
youhaveastubbornpencil,youcanignorerule#2
andapplyaslightsideforceinthedirectionofthe
excess‐graphitesidetotakeoffmoreofthewood.
Severeoff‐centersharpening(tothepointwherethe
pencilisnotusableforwriting)cansometimesbecaused
by
aworninternalgear.Thisring‐shapedgearislocatedat
thebaseofthecutter(s).Internalgearwearmustbe
significant(visuallyobvious)tobethecauseofoff‐center
sharpening.
Cuttercarrierisrotatingbutthepencilis
notsharpening(doesn’tfeellikethecutter
isengagingthepencil)
Thisisusuallycausedbyaf oreignobject(e.g.,aneraseror
brokenpencillead)insidethepencilbore.Examinethe
pencilboreasinitem3ofthe“hums”sectionabove.
Ifthe
objectisloose,itmayfalloutthefrontofthesharpener.If
notloose,itmaybepossibletopushitloosefrominside
theshavingsreceptaclecompartmentwithapaperclip.Ifit
isnotpossibletodislodgetheobject,partialorfull
disassemblyofthe
sharpenermayberequired.
Forsharpenerswiththe“fly‐away”cuttersystemwherethe
cutterismovedoutofthepencilboreoncesharpeningis
complete,itispossibleforthepenciltipslidetobejammed