Ken Onion Work Sharp Recommendation

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nlewman

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Dec 26, 2015
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Hey y'all! So I've been looking into a new sharpening system, all I have is a sharp maker. I was considering making myself a wicked edge, but I've been reading a few posts on the Ken Onion Work Sharp, and I keep wondering if that's what I am actually needing. I live on a farm, and I have heaps of old machetes and axes lying around with no real way to sharpen them reliably. I am wondering if the work sharp would be a good idea for someone as unskilled at sharpening as me, or if I would just mangle my knives with it. I would like to sharpen some very dull, old knives, and then I can use my sharp maker to upkeep them.

Also, I need a little clarification. What is the blade grinder attachment, and what Is it used for differently than the work sharp itself?
 
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I think it would be a great system for you to use! IMO it's one of the best systems to use for big blades, due to how fast you can remove material with it to set new bevels. It's very easy to use, only thing you have to be careful of is not rounding your tips off by letting the blade fall out of the guide at the end of your stroke. Because of the variable speed, you can start off very slow till you get the hang of it. Just watch a couple videos on youtube of people using it, it's very simple.

With that being said, I highly suggest you look into getting the blade grinding attachment for it. I bought it a couple weeks after owning my Ken Onion Work Sharp, and wish I would have gotten it right away. It is seriously a HUGE improvement. I get sharper edges off it, along with having more control during the sharpening process.

This advice is coming from an Edge Pro Apex owner/user, and can say that I rarely ever pull out the EPA anymore. The WSKO with BGA does just as nice of a job, in a quarter of the time. Also replacement belts are fairly inexpensive, much less than replacing my Chosera stone I use on the EPA. Pair it up with a nice strop, and all your sharpening needs will be covered.
 
You will get much better advise from others on this forum but I will add my 2 cents. I have the original work sharp and use it for inexpensive blades. I don't trust it on high end blades since it will remove a great deal of metal. For "industrial type sharpening" you can't go wrong with it.

My work sharp - I use it to get my fillet knives razor sharp - it takes about 30 seconds a blade, and it can remove more material than you realize. So - if you have tons of implements to sharpen I would go with it.

Ken Onion model is much more refined and I can't really comment on it.

Relatives drop off kitchen knives for me to sharpen if that helps!

Jack
 
Strauss95 said:
I think it would be a great system for you to use! IMO it's one of the best systems to use for big blades, due to how fast you can remove material with it to set new bevels. It's very easy to use, only thing you have to be careful of is not rounding your tips off by letting the blade fall out of the guide at the end of your stroke. Because of the variable speed, you can start off very slow till you get the hang of it. Just watch a couple videos on youtube of people using it, it's very simple.

With that being said, I highly suggest you look into getting the blade grinding attachment for it. I bought it a couple weeks after owning my Ken Onion Work Sharp, and wish I would have gotten it right away. It is seriously a HUGE improvement. I get sharper edges off it, along with having more control during the sharpening process.

This advice is coming from an Edge Pro Apex owner/user, and can say that I rarely ever pull out the EPA anymore. The WSKO with BGA does just as nice of a job, in a quarter of the time. Also replacement belts are fairly inexpensive, much less than replacing my Chosera stone I use on the EPA. Pair it up with a nice strop, and all your sharpening needs will be covered.
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Whelp, I'm sold.
I have the exact same EPA / Chosera setup (on advice of JDavis lol) and it works great, but it is a project to get everything out. I find myself using the WSKO more and more, since it's just sitting there in the garage, on the counter, begging to be used.
 
Rasco said:
Whelp, I'm sold.
I have the exact same EPA / Chosera setup (on advice of JDavis lol) and it works great, but it is a project to get everything out. I find myself using the WSKO more and more, since it's just sitting there in the garage, on the counter, begging to be used.
Click to expand...

I also followed JDavis on youtube, which was what lead me to buying the entire Chosera stone set for the EP, along with the drill stop collar and an Atoma 140 diamond plate. Don't get me wrong, that set-up churns out fantastic edges! I've been using it for over 4yrs now. But with that being said, the WSKO with the BGA is making my EP collect dust now lol. Buy the BGA asap, you won't be sorry! Actually you may be sorry, only that you didn't buy the BGA sooner lol.
 
Strauss95 said:
I also followed JDavis on youtube, which was what lead me to buying the entire Chosera stone set for the EP, along with the drill stop collar and an Atoma 140 diamond plate. Don't get me wrong, that set-up churns out fantastic edges! I've been using it for over 4yrs now. But with that being said, the WSKO with the BGA is making my EP collect dust now lol. Buy the BGA asap, you won't be sorry! Actually you may be sorry, only that you didn't buy the BGA sooner lol.
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lol, was that guy taking kickbacks from ChefKnivesToGo or what?! haha
 
For beginners, I'd suggest starting with WSKO as is. It's a good chance to become familiar with it without being intimidated by freehand angles. Next step: remove the guide and sharpen straight up and down (like the Sharpmaker). This will give you 17.5 degree angles. I tend to run on lower speeds and am not worried about damaging knives (avoid rounding the tips: just stop before the tip leaves the belt, just like with the Sharpmaker). Then the blade grinding attachment (which is awesome!).

Good sharpening,
Dave
 
Yall keep referring to the blade grinder attachment, but I'm still not sure what it's purpose is. I can't really tell from pictures how it's so different from the basic KOWS.
 
nlewman said:
Yall keep referring to the blade grinder attachment, but I'm still not sure what it's purpose is. I can't really tell from pictures how it's so different from the basic KOWS.
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[video=youtube_share;dQv_tVLVSMo]http://youtu.be/dQv_tVLVSMo[/video]
 
nlewman said:
Yall keep referring to the blade grinder attachment, but I'm still not sure what it's purpose is. I can't really tell from pictures how it's so different from the basic KOWS.
Click to expand...
It allows for more control...you control the outcome of the edge by the pressure you apply, how you approach the belt, increasing tension to keep the convex to a minimum or decreasing tension for a greater convex.... It's all free hand and is more versatile for sharpening machetes and axes as well...the results I get with it trump those I got from the stock unit.
 
I use the WSKO freehand; I never use the guide. I've been looking at the BGA for a LONG time. I'm just not sure it will do much different than the regular WSKO without a guide on it. The main thing is that the belt seems to be perfectly vertical up front and not at an angle, which is nice for estimating a freehand angle. It also uses a longer belt, but I'm not sure that helps.

The total investment for me would have to include 4 or 5 new belts as well. I LOVE the stiff Norax belts and I'd have to get those and probably a very low grit belt or two also.

Brian.
 
Is it possible to add a microbevel with a sharp maker? to the convex edge created on the work sharp?

It would be idea to use the work sharp for regrinds and the sharp maker for touch ups
 
nlewman said:
Is it possible to add a microbevel with a sharp maker? to the convex edge created on the work sharp?

It would be idea to use the work sharp for regrinds and the sharp maker for touch ups
Click to expand...
Yea providing the work sharp angles lower than 20° per side
 
nlewman said:
Is it possible to add a microbevel with a sharp maker? to the convex edge created on the work sharp?

It would be idea to use the work sharp for regrinds and the sharp maker for touch ups
Click to expand...

I've long used the Work Sharp KO to set my bevels and for major work, and the Sharpmaker to maintain/touch up the edge. They work very well together.

I freehand on the KO and aim to set my initial bevel at a bit under 15 dps, and then maintain on the SM at the 15 degree setting.

Andrew
 
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