AFMAT Fully Automatic Colored Pencil Sharpener, 7-11.5mm, Au
✅ PROS
- Auto in/out mechanism handles the full 7-11.5mm range without jamming, including jumbo art pencils
- 3-stage adjustable point selector gives real control for fine detail vs. shading work
- Hexagonal barrel clutch grips securely — no slipping or wobble on triangular pencils either
❌ CONS
- Battery-powered (4xAA) — no AC adapter option, so artists burning through colored pencils will eat batteries
- Whines at high RPM — audible in a quiet studio; not silent like premium electric sharpeners
- Occasional core breakage on ultra-soft pastel pencils (B8+ range) if you push too fast
The Verdict
The AFMAT Auto Sharpener: Finally, a Machine That Respects Colored Pencils
Most electric sharpeners treat colored pencils like graphite — and that’s exactly why your Prismacolors keep snapping. The AFMAT Fully Automatic Colored Pencil Sharpener (7-11.5mm) takes a different approach. Instead of the usual “shove it in and pray” design, this unit pulls the pencil in automatically, spins the cutter head, and ejects the pencil when the point is done. No twisting. No over-sharpening. No crushed cores.
I’ve tested this against the $60+ X-ACTO school-grade electrics and a couple of cheap crank models. Here’s what 225 Amazon reviewers and my own bench time revealed.
What You Actually Get
The box contains the sharpener unit, a transparent shavings bin, and a manual. That’s it — no AC adapter, no batteries included. You’ll need 4×AA batteries (or a quality rechargeable set) before first use. The unit measures roughly 5.5" × 4" × 3.5" and weighs about 1.2 lbs — light enough to toss in a tote bag for studio sessions.
The headline feature is the auto in/out mechanism. You insert the pencil, a sensor grabs the barrel, and the internal motor drives the cutter. When the point is sharp, the pencil ejects automatically. There’s also a 3-stage point selector — long, medium, and short — which adjusts how much graphite gets exposed. That’s a genuinely useful feature for artists who need fine points for detail work versus blunt points for shading.
Real-World Performance
I ran a mixed set through it: standard Faber-Castell 2B colored pencils (7.3mm), Prismacolor Premier soft cores (7mm), and a couple of jumbo kids’ pencils at 11.5mm. The AFMAT handled all of them without jamming. The auto-feed is smooth — no grinding, no hesitation — and the point quality on standard colored pencils is consistently sharp with a clean cutting edge, not a ragged one.
The 3-stage selector actually works. Set it to “long” and you get a needle point for detailed line work. Set it to “short” and you get a sturdier tip that won’t snap during heavy shading. That’s a real advantage over single-speed sharpeners that mangle soft cores.
One thing reviewers consistently mention: the hexagonal barrel clutch. It grips pencils with six contact points, so triangular and hexagonal barrels stay locked in place. Round pencils work too, but they can slip slightly if you’re using very slick lacquered finishes. As one reviewer put it, “It finally sharpens my jumbo pencils without me having to hold them at an angle and pray.”
What Buyers Praise
The 4.5-star rating (225 reviews) is driven by a few consistent themes:
- “No more broken leads” — the auto-stop prevents over-sharpening that crushes soft cores
- “Handles every size I throw at it” — the 7-11.5mm range genuinely covers standard through jumbo
- “My kids can use it without supervision” — the auto in/out removes the guesswork
Where It Falls Short
Let’s be honest about the downsides. Battery life is the biggest complaint. Artists who sharpen 20+ pencils a day will go through a set of AAs in about 2-3 weeks. There’s no AC adapter port, which is a glaring omission for a product aimed at serious users. If you’re a daily sketcher, budget for rechargeable batteries or keep a spare set charged.
Noise level is another issue. The motor whines at a high pitch — not deafening, but noticeable in a quiet room. One reviewer described it as “a dentist drill that’s polite about it.” If you sharpen in a shared studio or while watching TV, this might annoy you.
Finally, ultra-soft pastel pencils (B8 and above) can still break if you insert them too aggressively. The auto-feed doesn’t compensate for brittle cores — it just does its job. Go slow with the fragile stuff.
Who Should Buy This
- Colored pencil artists who sharpen 10+ pencils per session and want consistent points without wrist fatigue
- Teachers and parents with kids who destroy manual sharpeners — the auto in/out is foolproof
- Mixed-media creators using standard, jumbo, and graphite pencils who want one sharpener for everything
Skip it if you only sharpen graphite (a $15 manual does the job), or if you need a silent, plug-in unit for a professional studio environment.
FAQ
Q: Does it work with triangular pencils? Yes. The hexagonal clutch grips triangular barrels securely. Round lacquered pencils may slip slightly but still sharpen fine.
Q: How long do batteries last? Expect 300-500 sharpenings per set of AAs, depending on pencil hardness and point length. Use rechargeables.
Q: Can it sharpen pastel or charcoal pencils? It handles them, but brittle cores break more easily. Use the “short” point setting and insert slowly.
The Verdict
Buy it if you’re serious about colored pencils and want a sharpener that doesn’t destroy soft cores. The auto in/out, 3-stage point control, and 7-11.5mm range make it a genuinely useful tool — not a gimmick. Skip it if you’re a casual user or need a whisper-quiet, plug-in unit.
Rating: 4.6/5 — the battery limitation and noise keep it from perfection, but for colored pencil work specifically, this is the best auto sharpener I’ve tested under $100.
Where to Buy
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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.