X-ACTO School Pro Electric Pencil Sharpener 1670XT review

What the documented version is—and is not

The School Pro 1670XT is identified on X-ACTO's US-facing product page as a black, one-count electric pencil sharpener under manufacturer SKU SAP_1670XT. Its feature set is more specific than the family name alone: the page describes a six-size dial, a flyaway cutter, an extra-large shavings bin, a slip-resistant base, colored-pencil compatibility and a SafeStart motor. This is a document-based assessment, not a hands-on test. No sharpening time, noise reading, pencil-life result or classroom endurance result has been measured here.

The useful question is not whether those headline features sound good in isolation. It is whether they address your pencils and work area, and what the documentation leaves unanswered. In this case, the control and bin safeguards are described more clearly than the actual diameter range, and the power arrangement is less flexible than a rechargeable model.

A six-size dial is not a published millimeter range

X-ACTO says the dial fits nearly every pencil and provides six size settings. That is helpful if your table holds several ordinary pencil sizes: a selector gives you more than one fixed opening. But the product page does not give the opening diameters, identify the accepted pencil shapes, or show which setting matches a particular shaft. “Nearly every” is not an exact dimensional specification.

If you use jumbo, triangular, oval or unusually narrow pencils, measure the widest part of a representative shaft and look for an exact model-specific fit statement before treating this sharpener as a match. The finder will not convert a six-position selector into a made-up capacity range. Its diameter field stays unknown until primary evidence supplies the numbers. That caution is especially useful when the intended pencils are expensive colored pencils: checking an actual pencil is a better safeguard than relying on a broad slogan.

Two different stopping features

The flyaway cutter is described as stopping when the pencil reaches its “ideal” sharpness. That should help limit continued cutting once the mechanism reaches its intended stop point. It does not establish a choice between short and long points, a blunt shading point, or a precise finished-point length; no adjustable point-length setting is described for this SKU.

SafeStart addresses another moment. X-ACTO says the motor stops when the shavings bin is removed. A bin interlock can matter in a busy shared area, where a student may pull out the receptacle to empty it. The product page also describes the bin as easy to empty and the bottom as slip resistant. These are practical conveniences, but not a substitute for keeping the tray seated, the sharpener on a stable surface and hands clear of the cutter opening.

Colored-pencil compatibility has a material caveat

The product page expressly lists colored-pencil compatibility. The manufacturer’s troubleshooting guidance also says crayons, chalk and soft or waxy pencils—including some colored pencils—can clog cutters. Those statements are best read together: colored-pencil use is supported in general, while particularly soft or waxy cores are a caution. A label that says “colored-pencil compatible” does not guarantee every brand, core hardness or medium will behave alike.

If your work is mostly with standard graphite or firmer colored pencils, the documented compatibility is relevant. If it is soft-core pastel pencil, wax-heavy colored pencil, crayon or chalk, this model is not established as a safe fit by the available instructions. We would not treat that warning as a minor maintenance detail; a clogged cutter may disrupt the work and require cleanup.

Plan for a fixed outlet and careful cleaning

The exact page presents an electric tabletop sharpener and the help instructions refer to unplugging the machine and its cord. There is no documented rechargeable or battery operating plan for SAP_1670XT. It makes most sense at a desk or classroom station with an outlet, rather than a sketching kit that needs to travel and sharpen away from power.

For a jam or buildup, X-ACTO says to unplug before emptying or cleaning. Its Help Center suggests removing debris from the cutter grooves with a small blunt object or a vacuum, and wiping the cutter blades with a dry cloth; it explicitly says not to use grease, oil or abrasive cleaners. Follow the current instructions rather than prying at the blades while connected. The same Help Center explains replacement-cutter steps only for an older School Pro version. It does not establish that a specific replacement part fits SAP_1670XT, so check the exact SKU and part instructions before buying a cutter.

Bottom line

The 1670XT is a credible option to investigate for a stationary school or home desk when a multi-size dial, point-stop behavior, colored-pencil support and a bin-removal interlock are priorities. Its documented safeguards are meaningfully different: one limits sharpening at the point, the other stops operation when the receptacle is out. The tradeoffs are equally concrete: it needs an outlet; the dial’s actual diameter range and accepted shapes are not published on the reviewed page; and soft or waxy media can clog the cutter.

Before choosing a seller, match SAP_1670XT and the 1670XT item identifier to the listing, inspect the exact package and verify the current return terms, replacement-part fit and power details. The manufacturer page displayed an out-of-stock notice when checked; that snapshot is not generalized to other sellers or treated as current availability. Price, stock and customer experience are not assessed.