In the Kitchen, having a fine edge makes all the difference. A dull knife makes cutting difficult and more dangerous. However, getting the blade sharp can be difficult for a novice. Not all of us can use a whetstone. In these situation, having a automatic knife sharpener can make all the difference. The Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener changes all that. But there are a few different models available. But the Best Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener is one of the original model.

Why do knives go dull?

For most people, as soon as a knife goes dull, it goes in the trash. Which is not something you should do. The reason why knife goes dull is because the edge gets worn down or misaligned. One way to bring it back, is to use a honing rod. The rod will realign it, letting you cut again.

If the edge is gone and dulled, then you need to regrind it. The traditional way of grinding it is by using a whetstone. However, that requires skill and precision. Because of this, sending a knife out to sharpen is recommended.

Sharpening your knife at Home

Since Whestone requires skills and practice, its out of reach for most home cook. This is where the Work Sharp Knife Sharpener comes into play. It uses a belt sander like design. A tool that a lot of professional knife maker use. It even has different angles and speed setting.

What is Knife Angle?

The Knife Angle is the angle that the knife is sharpened at. The steeper the angle it is, the sharper it feels. But there is a drawback to really steep angled knife. The steeper it is, the quicker it dulls. Manufacturer get around this by making it harder. But this also makes it less ductile. As a result, you get tiny micro chips. You usually find this type of design in Japanese knife. They are usually sharpened at 15 degree on each side.

With German and European knives, they are usually sharpened at 18 degree. This 18 degree knives are more durable and usually made softer. As a result, these knives are better for general cutting.

Knowing this, you should always sharpened the knife at the appropriate angle. If not, you are introducing issues that you otherwise would not have experience.

The great thing about the Work Sharp knife Sharpener is that it have pre set angles. This makes sharpening the knife at the right angle easier. The problem is the belt design.

Is Work Sharp Bad for Knives?

The Work Sharp knife Sharpener can both be good and bad. The great thing about it is that it makes sharpening knife easier. The bad/good thing is the belt design. It can be too effective. If you are not careful, you can easily sharpen your knife to a nib. You should follow the instruction carefully and use short strokes. Dont pause between strokes. This reduce the amount of metal being shaven off.

Speed Control

Another way you can control this is by using the proper speed. Work Sharp Knife sharpener has variable speed. This speed lets you control the rate at which the belt moves. There are different speed for different knives. You should follow the manufacturer recommended speed. But I personally thing that the slower speed is easier for novices.

Best Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener List

Below, you will find a list of the Best Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener. They have a few models available, get one that best suits you.

Work Sharp WSKTS-KO-W Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition (Best Overall)

This model is the best for the Home Kitchen and General Use. There are both variable speed and angles to choose from. The belt can be replaced after it gets worn down as well. However, what I dont like is that you have to hold down the sharpener with one hand and use the other to pull the knife. If you can find something to lock it down, it will be easier to sharpen. Other than that, its a pretty good sharpener.

Work Sharp Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener (Best Manual Knife Sharpener)

This manual version has a bit more precision than the automatic model. Since you are using your hand, you have more control on how much metal is shaven off. The angle setting has more precision as well. All you need to do is set it on the knife and glide it across it. There are different grits as well. This means you can set your appropriate harshness depending on the condition of your knife. What I like most about this is that you can clamp it down. This prevented it from moving around.

Are Work Sharp Sharpener Any Good?

Yes, these machines are very good. They are a good alternative to whetstones. The problem with the automatic model is that its too effective. If you are not careful, you can easily ruin your knife. However, the manual model is a bit easier to use. You have more control and its more forgiving. For the more experienced, go for the automatic. But for the more patience home cook, go for the manual one.

Looking for a good knife? Check out our article on the Sharpest Knife Set.