Knife sharpener Recommendations

[fordson]

Recently picked up a nice kitchen knife set, fairly good quality. I’m inclined to keep them sharp, since my wife mentioned often how dull the last set were. Any recommendations as to a general purpose knife sharpener that works, is simple to use and doesn’t cost more then the knives I’m sharpening. Thanks guys……

 

[twodog max]

For kitchen knives I have had good results with the Work Sharp products. Not especially cheap but not prohibitively expensive IMO.
I borrow my buddies when the kitchen knives need attention.

 

[wood714]

Been using this a few years.

 

[Erich]

I am with twodog max: I have stopped using my Lansky systems in favor of the Work Sharp Precision Adjust.

Precision Adjust™ Knife Sharpener
– Work Sharp

(And I didn't pay anywhere near $70 for mine - keep an eye out for Black Friday sales coming up, eh?)

My experience has been that there's always some "better" system out there - and I have dozens of friends who'll tell me about theirs. Hey, I'm a retired lawyer: I don't need to impress anyone with a one-molecule-thick edge; I just need sharp knives.

And - while I have many pocket knives - the use this sucker gets most often is on the kitchen knives. It does a great job - restoring the edges to "shaving sharp" in just a couple minutes total (including unpacking the sharpener box, assembling it, using it, and repacking everything) - with the caveat that I strop on a piece of denim from some long-ago jeans when I'm done with the polishing step.

I use this sucker about once a month and I'm glad to have it - it's SO much simpler and quicker than what I did previously. But it might not be right for you - and there are dozens of other great systems out there.

Note that you'll have to figure out the edge angle on any given knife (I write them down on the box so that I can skip this step the next time), but that doesn't take a lot of time. Also, this particular sharpener only has two "stone" grits and one polisher, so it's more of a "touch up" sharpener and not so much what you'd want to change a blade angle. But the infinite edge gradation is a whole lot nicer than the limited choices in the Lansky sets I'd used before and - I'm looking for fast utility, not pursuing the hobby of The Immaculate Blade Edge.

 

[Tom S.]

After trying several types (manual and electric) and brands, the Spyderco sharpening system is the one I ended up with. I use it for pretty much anything that needs an edge, including scissors.

They used to come with a DVD, but I think now you go to a website (maybe Youtube) for instructions. It's not difficult to learn to use, but if you are trying to sharpen something that has really been abused with deep nicks, I recommend getting a couple diamond coated sticks to go with it. They are expensive but will really take off the metal compared to a stone.

 

[Warren Sear]

Lansky


....

 

[Rudi]

I use a simple whet stone.

 

[Farmer17]

I bought the top of the line Lansky diamond system on sale at Academy Sports and its a little crude and awkward and took many times to get used to it but I like it very well now. I can put a shaving sharp edge pretty quickly on a hunting knife, pocket knife, kitchen knife, or meat cleaver.

 

[DWalt]

For kitchen knives we have always used a design which resembles a traditional sharpening steel, but shorter. Except it is a metal rod impregnated with Diamond dust. A few swipes produces a razor-sharp edge. I do not remember where we got it as it was many years ago. On the handle it is stamped “EZE-LAP DIAMOND”.

Apparently they are still made. [ame]https://www.amazon.com/EZE-LAP-Round-Diamond-Sharpening-10-Inch/dp/B000A0UJA6/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KqzCcgCQ73qG4Og7iuc44mmxg0wwR1LqKJ6h_7HQN_0BFLHyuh5DAd5tyjXVP9AVWpqOK5Z_-vy4bkRxQYFPWx0d4x77Nu3qTFb9ORLaJUqeAh4Ad3f2oVaNRfMmdsi0_11OGke9O9bBYt9-OsLuKbjs_DtXDKYoRCNNrd45PqjhVpt_3appHO0uUj9Laxo_v1VZHVueHgifX5YPx6yryjBa5FmTWCEwrGOUwH7jtK_x0M-a-9RXK1wqN_0m1lawI8BT_33Q-KK_DMXk0M3VyuIXWuaAK6HVXPPzU5YBM58.2h05SUnamt5oRh-D5KCD1gRC3mnWGck0tkGLsIQ4I6k&dib_tag=se&hvadid=630952643954&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9213030&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16223928539024051789&hvtargid=kwd-6728091173&hydadcr=24660_13626701&keywords=eze-lap%2Bdiamond&qid=1731611145&sr=8-5&th=1[/ame]

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

Lansky diamond.

SWCA# 3713

 

[mmaher94087]

Electric - Chef's Choice.

 

[lihpster]

I learned from my brother who used to work cutting beef. I use one of these. And then a ceramic rod and a steel.

 

[SlimJim97]

Another vote for Lansky here - been using that system for many years and have never been disappointed.

 

[Greyman50]

Use a steel and diamond rod. Check by shaving the hair on my left arm. Guys that know me always say, See you’ve been sharpening your knives”….

 

[garddogg56]

An electric sharpener will burn the temper out of a blade.

 

[Goldstar225]

I've used Arkansas soft and hard stones for decades, started sharpening knives when I was six. A few years ago I bought a worksharp like Wood 714 posted. It has spoiled me. And no you don't burn out the temper of the blade if you use it correctly.

 

[Onomea]

For you guys using diamond/steel rods, is it difficult to figure out and maintain the proper angle?

I use a steel occasionally to maintain kitchen knife edges, but have never used one for sharpening.

 

[lihpster]

For you guys using diamond/steel rods, is it difficult to figure out and maintain the proper angle?

I use a steel occasionally to maintain kitchen knife edges, but have never used one for sharpening.

That's the steels job, edge maintenance. Really it's just for straightening the wire edge. Ceramics can be used for actual sharpening but are best for quick touch ups during the work. For actual sharpening I use Arkansas oil stones. Angles get to be more of a feel thing. There are some little wedges that you can use to lay the knife on to get a specific angle, but that's on the stone and all knives are different, so, unless you're re-doing the whole edge, it might not match.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I am with twodog max: I have stopped using my Lansky systems in favor of the Work Sharp Precision Adjust.

Precision Adjust™ Knife Sharpener
– Work Sharp

(And I didn't pay anywhere near $70 for mine - keep an eye out for Black Friday sales coming up, eh?)

My experience has been that there's always some "better" system out there - and I have dozens of friends who'll tell me about theirs. Hey, I'm a retired lawyer: I don't need to impress anyone with a one-molecule-thick edge; I just need sharp knives.

And - while I have many pocket knives - the use this sucker gets most often is on the kitchen knives. It does a great job - restoring the edges to "shaving sharp" in just a couple minutes total (including unpacking the sharpener box, assembling it, using it, and repacking everything) - with the caveat that I strop on a piece of denim from some long-ago jeans when I'm done with the polishing step.

I use this sucker about once a month and I'm glad to have it - it's SO much simpler and quicker than what I did previously. But it might not be right for you - and there are dozens of other great systems out there.

Note that you'll have to figure out the edge angle on any given knife (I write them down on the box so that I can skip this step the next time), but that doesn't take a lot of time. Also, this particular sharpener only has two "stone" grits and one polisher, so it's more of a "touch up" sharpener and not so much what you'd want to change a blade angle. But the infinite edge gradation is a whole lot nicer than the limited choices in the Lansky sets I'd used before and - I'm looking for fast utility, not pursuing the hobby of The Immaculate Blade Edge.

Same here. Much quicker than Lansky with the same results. Gave away my Lansky.

 

[StrawHat]

I sharpen knives for a living. I pay my mortgage, car loan, etc by sharpening knives for folks. Roughly 2500-3000 items a month. I find the DMT diamond stones to be the most efficient and easiest to use. Electric sharpeners, be very careful! They remove a lot of metal in the blink of an eye.

Once you master the flat stone, you never go back.

And for all who say they need a razor’s edge, you need to redifine what sharp really is!

Kevin