I'm going to start off with this. The KP-8a isn't the best pencil sharpener Panasonic has ever made. Yes they're built like tanks and will probably out live you. But newer models like the KP-33,33s or the KP-88,KP-100 ex are better options. The newer "Auto Stop" Panasonics sharpen pencils faster and with less waste. The Point-O-Matic Sharpeners tend to use up more material to get a sharp tip. Just my experience between the different technologies Panasonic had. The main thing is that these and many other older sharpers are just better products compared to what's available today. The materials used, the build quality and the way these sharpeners are assembled shows you the budget the engineering teams had to work with back then compared to today. These are products that are just excellent both in design and build quality. There's some gotchas though. Unfortunately due to the age and the unknown history of a 40 year old appliance you should go over the until before putting it back into service. The grease for the blade assembly and bearing surfaces has dried up by now and will no long lubricate like it used to. So if you're mechanically inclined it would be a good idea to service these units before using them. Also stay away from products like penetrating oils or 3in1 oils as the detergents in them will break down the plastics over time. Use Turbine Lubricating Oil and Teflon grease. Remember less is more. Using too much oil or grease will cause shavings to build up. You also don't grease or oil the gears on these Sharpeners. They're designed to run dry.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned