The work sharp Ken onion edition

[B.Murdock]

I've been on the fence about the work sharp belt sharpeners. I have the work sharp field sharpen and love it. But I want a shop/house sharpener and been looking at the worksharp original knife & tool sharpener and the Ken Onion edition. And after seeing these results I really want one. Which one do you think I should get?

 

[Bobby3326]

I've been on the fence about the work sharp belt sharpeners. I have the work sharp field sharpen and love it. But I want a shop/house sharpener and been looking at the worksharp original knife & tool sharpener and the Ken Onion edition. And after seeing these results I really want one. Which one do you think I should get?

Honestly I was on the fence about which one and I'm honestly glad I chose the Ken onion..The wider belts that don't heat up the blade as much as the original(they barely even spark on the course belts with a carbon steel blade), the angle adjustment capabilities, the adjustable speed settings, and the option to get future accessories for free hand sharpening all make the ko better imo.

People complain you can't really lean the blade into the angle guard bc they're spring loaded...but there's 2 screws you can tighten a half turn that prevents those guides from moving as your pulling your blade thru. Just loosen em again before changing the angle setting.

Also like I said before it's very important to simply follow the directions exactly, from starting and stopping the belt before and after each pass thru to stopping the tip in the middle of the belt...I'd never used one before, and watched several videos before starting, there wasn't much of a learning curve. I was getting great results from the first knife I started on.

 

[orezona]

But isn't using this machine "cheating"?

Just kidding!

I'm at the point where I'm in desperate need of a better sharpening system and as I've been researching different set-ups, this sharpener (the Ken Onion ed.) really seems to make the most sense for someone like myself.

I've got a pretty demanding salaried job that doesn't afford me a lot of free time between office hours and travel. While I'd love to learn all the nuances of stones, it's the time that I really don't have. I barely have time to detail my car on the weekends...! I really want to spend as much of my home time as possible with my kids and wife so being able to easily maintain my edges without a serious time commitment is extremely appealing.

The cost vs. time savings is what is ultimately going to make me purchase this. The honest feedback and tricks/tips here are also making the decision pretty easy! :thumbup:

 

[Bobby3326]

But isn't using this machine "cheating"?

Just kidding!

I'm at the point where I'm in desperate need of a better sharpening system and as I've been researching different set-ups, this sharpener (the Ken Onion ed.) really seems to make the most sense for someone like myself.

I've got a pretty demanding salaried job that doesn't afford me a lot of free time between office hours and travel. While I'd love to learn all the nuances of stones, it's the time that I really don't have. I barely have time to detail my car on the weekends...! I really want to spend as much of my home time as possible with my kids and wife so being able to easily maintain my edges without a serious time commitment is extremely appealing.

The cost vs. time savings is what is ultimately going to make me purchase this. The honest feedback and tricks/tips here are also making the decision pretty easy! [emoji106]

You almost described my situation perfectly lol...I also travel allot for work...It's nice being able to touch up the edge quickly and back to family time rather than sitting in the garage trying to determine which one needs sharpened the most while the lil ones yelling for me.

 

[Randall_FA]

But isn't using this machine "cheating"?

Just kidding!

I'm at the point where I'm in desperate need of a better sharpening system and as I've been researching different set-ups, this sharpener (the Ken Onion ed.) really seems to make the most sense for someone like myself.

I've got a pretty demanding salaried job that doesn't afford me a lot of free time between office hours and travel. While I'd love to learn all the nuances of stones, it's the time that I really don't have. I barely have time to detail my car on the weekends...! I really want to spend as much of my home time as possible with my kids and wife so being able to easily maintain my edges without a serious time commitment is extremely appealing.

The cost vs. time savings is what is ultimately going to make me purchase this. The honest feedback and tricks/tips here are also making the decision pretty easy! :thumbup:

I am in a similar situation, if you get the machine please post your impressions. I was going to go for a modified HF1x30 but in the end i will spend more or less the same, so I am leaning towards the WS KO.

 

[MOCraig]

Gentlemen, to those of you with a Worksharp of whatever variety, how easy is it to change the temper of a blade, or round a point? My biological grandfather rounded a point on a multitool (SOG) seemingly easy; it was a very acute tip from the factory.

As others have pointed out, if you follow the directions, I can't see how you'd round a point. It's as simple as stopping with the point still on the belt itself. This Wilmont pocket skinner has a very acute point on one end (I think you can tell from the photos), and I've never had my KOWS change that.

 

[Bobby3326]

As others have pointed out, if you follow the directions, I can't see how you'd round a point. It's as simple as stopping with the point still on the belt itself. This Wilmont pocket skinner has a very acute point on one end (I think you can tell from the photos), and I've never had my KOWS change that.

The biggest complaints I saw when I was first interested in the Ken onion were people complaining about rounded tips and getting a wave like recurve in the blade...Then I watched there videos showing how this phenomenon happens and I was dumbfounded...They set there machine to constant on with the course belt and started pulling the knife all the way thru...Then showed the camera this is what the machine does to your knife...

I couldn't help but think good job idiot, 2 things specifically covered in the manual your doing the opposite of what it says and are bitching about how the machine muffed up your blade...Well duh of course it did bc you did it how you wanted too instead of how your suppose too..

 

[Tetsujin 140.6]

This write up was bad for my wallet.

I just picked one up to sharpen about a dozen old kitchen knives. This should make it easier than my sharpmaker.

 

[Four-and-twentypence]

This thread is also bad for my wallet.

 

[MOCraig]

I find the Sharpmaker is a great pairing with the KOWS. I typically set the edges on the WS so that I can quickly touch them up when necessary with the Sharpmaker.

 

[r8shell]

I admit that I rounded a few tips when I first got it. That's why I recommend practicing on a few cheap kitchen knives until you get a feel for it.

I don't use the guides anymore. I just hold the blade straight, and let the angle of the belt set the edge, much like using a SharpMaker. (I also reverse the knife so I'm only sharpening in an edge trailing way on both sides) This angle must be somewhere under 20 degrees, because I will then finish with a few passes on the Sharpmaker, and this removes any burr and puts an easy to maintain micro-bevel on.

 

[WK ONE]

So what's the secret formula for not rounding the tips using the WSKO?

I want to get one of these because frankly I suck at sharpening with stones. I get better results from a pull-through than I do from a stone. Yes, I know it's pathetic.

 

[Bobby3326]

So what's the secret formula for not rounding the tips using the WSKO?

I want to get one of these because frankly I suck at sharpening with stones. I get better results from a pull-through than I do from a stone. Yes, I know it's pathetic.

See my previous posts

 

[Bobby3326]

This thread is also bad for my wallet.

This write up was bad for my wallet.

I just picked one up to sharpen about a dozen old kitchen knives. This should make it easier than my sharpmaker.

My bad guys lol....I must admit I was leary dropping the coin at first, but now I'm kicking myself for not buying it sooner. I had stopped using certain knives bc I was using a Smith guided system to sharpen em on and the edge was junk. It'd be sharp when I finished but wouldn't make it thru 15 minutes of use before the edge rolled or chipped out on me.

Not only does the Ken onion place a razor edge on a knife but it's also an edge that lasts. My strongarm is still razor sharp after batoning, chopping, and feathering with it...The bk2 only needed touched up due to an accidental cinderblock collision otherwise it held it's edge after hard use.

 

[bgentry]

So what's the secret formula for not rounding the tips using the WSKO?

Getting and keeping sharp tips is the same on all systems. You're going to read this and think "oh come on, there's more to it. Where's the technique?" But this *really* is it. I got it from the man himself (via DVD): Murray Carter.

The Secret to Sharp Tips: Sharpen *right* up to the tip and then stop. I think he refers to this as "sneaking up on the tip", and that's how I think of it often. Move the blade so the tip gets closer and closer to the abrasive and then stop. With the WSKO, this means stopping with the tip touching the belt and then either stopping the motor (if you're using the guides), or pulling the blade away from the belt (if you're doing it freehand like I do).

I started doing this on bench stones and shocked myself by getting a needle sharp tip on a kitchen knife. I continued to practice and by the time I got the WSKO, I was putting very sharp tips on every blade I sharpened with it. I love the WSKO.

Brian.

 

[AFAustin]

I second MOCraig above---the WSKO and Sharpmaker are a great combination---the WSKO for setting the bevel and the initial sharpening and the SM for touchups.

And Brian has a great "point" about how to approach the tips---less is definitely more.

Another nice thing about the WSKO is that it's also capable of some great tweaks to blade shape, handle shape, etc. Last weekend my WSKO turned a GEC spey blade into a different critter altogether: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1292402-A-Modest-Mod-(GEC-73-Spey)

Andrew

 

[B.Murdock]

Honestly I was on the fence about which one and I'm honestly glad I chose the Ken onion..The wider belts that don't heat up the blade as much as the original(they barely even spark on the course belts with a carbon steel blade), the angle adjustment capabilities, the adjustable speed settings, and the option to get future accessories for free hand sharpening all make the ko better imo.

People complain you can't really lean the blade into the angle guard bc they're spring loaded...but there's 2 screws you can tighten a half turn that prevents those guides from moving as your pulling your blade thru. Just loosen em again before changing the angle setting.

Also like I said before it's very important to simply follow the directions exactly, from starting and stopping the belt before and after each pass thru to stopping the tip in the middle of the belt...I'd never used one before, and watched several videos before starting, there wasn't much of a learning curve. I was getting great results from the first knife I started on.

Thanks for your help. That was a really good point on tightening the screws so the edge guide doesn't move. Thanks for the help.

 

[Bobby3326]

I should also mention that while the work sharp does put a fast and easy edge on a blade, if you have a knife that's been to hell and back and not maintained that it will take some time fixing it still as you'll have to remove a good bit of steel if it's heavily chipped.

If you have a generally well maintained blade that merely needs a good sharpening then that'll be pretty quick once you make a few passes to set the edge...Just follow instructions and use the recommended belt for the condition of your blade. The course belt will remove allot of steel and relatively quickly, so you don't wanna use it unless you need to remove allot of steel.

 

[Czechmate]

I second MOCraig above---the WSKO and Sharpmaker are a great combination---the WSKO for setting the bevel and the initial sharpening and the SM for touchups.

And Brian has a great "point" about how to approach the tips---less is definitely more.

Another nice thing about the WSKO is that it's also capable of some great tweaks to blade shape, handle shape, etc. Last weekend my WSKO turned a GEC spey blade into a different critter altogether: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1292402-A-Modest-Mod-(GEC-73-Spey)

Andrew

Wave hook on an SNG cut with a dremel, then ground it down and squared it up and polished through with all the belts on my WSKO...

A versatile and fun machine to use. :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Bobby3326]

Took a lil bit of time and took a good bit of steel off, but I got a good working edge on this hatchet that was basically blunt from Lowe's thanks to the wskt-ko