Is the Accusharp the Best Inexpensive Simple Sharpener?

I'm a big fan of the Accusharp and comparable edge ruining contraptions, as the continued use of these things eventually brings in good money for me.

 

I am tempted to pick up that Rada sharpener just to see what type of edge is actually produced across my user blades...

 

I'm guessing the OP has already made up his mind

 

Hi,
summary, pull through sharpeners can be useful (best howto below), but dont pay more than $5

Hi,
The rada pull through sharpener is basically like a smooth chef steel,
works for unrolling and realigning an edge, maybe even burnishing a little,

You can accomplish the same using a coffee cup or a plate,
Or if you want to kick it up a notch use the unglazed bottom of a coffee cup for extra abrasion.

Accusharp style tungsten pull through sharpeners are a better deal than rada
but they require a little more knowledge to get the most out of them ,
and most instructions are less than inadequate,
but even those I wouldn't pay more than $5 locally (again),
as on the ebay you can get a tungsten/ceramic/diamond rod sharpener for under $5.

You can see some magnified pictures here
Long term carbide scraper use
This guy flattens his carbide scraper to improve results, that is hardcore
The 6 dollar carbide scraper and you! (with micrographs)

Steve Bottorff gives a short review of a few, the rest of his free book also makes good reading eventually Knife sharpening with slot devices

This review and video explain how to make the best use of pull through sharpeners
Sharpener Review : Everyday Essentials Two Stage Sharpener
video on how to get the good results

the discussion thread is Tungsten Carbide Sharpener it links other videos, like, this next one,
How to get the bad results (press harder), starts of with very sharp knife, pulls through a few times, its still very sharp, then presses harder, and its snag city

Edge Retention (kitchen,wk-13) : Martha Stewart Chef's Knife - CliffStamp