Work Sharp Knife Sharpener

[Gadgetaholic]

I just know how BF is and most of you know I don't sugar coat things so my initial thoughts were that it would turn into a negative image of the product. Its something I didn't want to create because this product is geared at a novice sharpener and because of my years of experience I view things in a different light. I didn't want to give a prospective customer a bad impression when its actually a decent product.

It's probably important for us to understand that it means very little that knifenut1013 doesn't think it's the tool for him. If we can keep in mind that on the 1st page there was post 17:

Work Sharp here...

This tool was intended for the sharpening challenged, not you guys who have mastered the skill already. There are countless ways to put an edge on a blade, this is ours.

There are two sharpening guides included: 20° and 25°. Or you can use the tool freehand like a belt sharpener to achive any angle you desire.

The spark showering shot you see on our website sharpening the shovel is with the P80 grit belt. This belt was only intended for such applications, not knife sharpening. For knife sharpening we use a P220 ceramic oxide belt to shape the blade to a toothy sharp convex edge, then hone the edge to a hair popping edge with 6000 grit Micro-Mesh. This combo will not damage blade steel and the process takes about 90 seconds (from blunt dull to shaving sharp).

I am not here to change anyone's sharpening methods or sell this at the best ever. I'm simply here to answer questions about our tool and provide information to those who want an idiot proof way to restore an edge fast and easy.

If any of you are interested in this tool please contact me. I'd be happy to provide a few tools to you so you can use it and post your experiences with it in this forum.

So, even Work Sharp doesn't think that this is the tool for knifenut1013.
I'm personally not bothered if some people don't want to use this tool, that doesn't affect me or my use of it. If a person is very experienced at sharpening and well respected on these forums then that doesn't add any weight to their opinion on this tool, it actually makes them less likely to be keen and they are not really the best candidate for using this tool.

The fact that knifenut1013 thinks this is a decent product and doesn't want to speak ill of it speaks volumes about how good it is for many of us, even though it isn't a good product for him. I may not be able to match his sharpening results by using this tool, but I can't match his results by any other means either.

A year ago the only knife sharpening equipment I had was this:
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=LSLCKEY
And now I have a tool that can give a blunt knife a good working edge in under a minute. For someone that has very little experience THAT is an endorsement that should be taken seriously!

But I would love to hear a quick run down of good points & bad points from knifenut1013, even if he isn't keen on giving a full review.

 

[Jason B.]

Gadgetaholic, thank you, actually that gives me a idea


Good,
Price
extras
sharpness and edge quality
speed
size
can be used for many jobs

bad,
speed
belt life
angle guides
belt grits
not lefty friendly

 

[Gadgetaholic]

Gadgetaholic, thank you, actually that gives me a idea


Good,
Price
extras
sharpness and edge quality
speed
size
can be used for many jobs

bad,
speed
belt life
angle guides
belt grits
not lefty friendly

Those bad points don't sound that insurmountable to me (mostly). The angle guides are easily removed and tossed in the box and forgotten about (that's where mine are). The belt grits and belt life can probably be solved by getting a bunch of Micro-Mesh belts of whatever grits you want for only $0.52 each. I would think that it is not too hard for a lefty to use it, even if it is a little righty orientated - especially using it without guides.

To me the speed doesn't seem too bad - though the speed of steel removal would be better controlled with a broader range of belts to choose from than the standard 3 that come with the tool. But the belt speed feels about where you want it. Since you mention speed in good & bad I'd be interested in some elaboration on what you find good & bad about the speed.

I can see some limitations as the tool comes - especially the jump from 220 grit to 6000 grit on the belts. That's one hell of a big gap! I guess that they don't want to complicate the tool too much and confuse the inexperienced with too many options. One idea for Work Sharp could be to offer 2 options for replacement belts: Standard 3 belts (2 x 80, 4 x 220 & 4 x 6000) or a 5 belt option (2 x 80, 2 x 220, 2 x 800, 2 x 2400 & 2 x 6000). Their current offering of 6 belts seems overpriced for only 6 belts - 10 belts for the same money would be better value. Buying the tool + 5 belt pack would give a total of 4 each of the 3 existing belts and 2 each of the 800 & 2400 - that wouldn't be a bad setup. If I could suggest one change that Work Sharp should make to improve the tool then it would be this change to the replacement belt options.

 

[Folderguy]

Gadgetaholic, thank you, actually that gives me a idea


Good,
Price
extras
sharpness and edge quality
speed
size
can be used for many jobs

bad,
speed (perhaps, but it's adequate for me )

belt life (what do you expect with a thinner belt, one that is probably needed for a 12" size... )

angle guides (have to agree with you, in general, on this one... I don't need 'em, at least not for knives)

belt grits (those three, plus a leather belt for really fine finishing, work adequately for me. Would I like a larger selection? Of course, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.)

not lefty friendly

My comments are in blue, above.

As for the lefty friendly, hey, I'm a righty, and when I need to do the "back" side of the blade, I turn the knife around and become a "lefty" myself. I say "adapt!"

 

[Jason B.]

It's not everything so don't take my list as all I like and don't like about it.

 

[Ben B]

It's not everything so don't take my list as all I like and don't like about it.

Can you possibly be more dramatic? It really begs the question of what were you expecting when you agreed to review a $70 mini belt sander.

 

[spyken]

can it sharpen recurves? how?

 

[midnight flyer]

Can you possibly be more dramatic? It really begs the question of what were you expecting when you agreed to review a $70 mini belt sander.

Probably not. i get the distinct feeling that he is feeling like he has taken the high road here, and is doing all a favor with his magnanimity.

Reading Worksharp's mission intent, THEY WERE NEVER, EVER LOOKING TO REPLACE the skills that many of us have spent decades perfecting.

Yet for the great masses of the unwashed public that don't frequent knife forums, this could be a god sent gift. For my sharpening challenged friends (read: all but one) this could be something they love as it could actually allow them to sharpen on their own.

It was made completely, entirely, and abundantly clear that this tool is not for the likes of knifenut, and further, it was never intended to be.

I enjoy most of his posts, but this is getting silly.

I have read good reviews on this product here, and on other sites. I have read good review of it on my woodworking forum. (You would be surprised how many professional woodworkers can't sharpen a pocket knife!) Obviously it has found it's place in the market, but obviously knifenut thinks he is holding back, doing us (or somebody...? ) by not unleashing a torrent of bile.

Knifenut, it seems that this is really bothering you and that you have found some terrible flaws with the machine. Get it off your chest and burn down the machine here, in writing so we can all see clearly what is so bad about this little sharpener. If the machine is as bad as you are intimating, do you want your fellow knife brothers to buy it knowing it isn't up to standards?

Robert

 

[Jason B.]

This is exactly the responses I didn't want, sorry you feel I'm being dramatic or holding back a torrent but I'm not I'm being respectful. I was probably going to do a review after seeing some of the responses and speaking with Kyle but you guys sure do know how to change someones mind.

I have nothing to get off my chest or have I found some major flaw in the device, I simply can not view it from a lesser experienced persons point of view. I didn't want to be unfair to the product but obviously some don't seem to understand that.

 

[cbwx34]

Well, thanks for trying... I think you made it pretty clear you realized it was for a more novice sharpener, and posting what you found wouldn't necessarily make it a bad thing. I was curious what you found out.

cbw

 

[Ben B]

I have nothing to get off my chest or have I found some major flaw in the device, I simply can not view it from a lesser experienced persons point of view. I didn't want to be unfair to the product but obviously some don't seem to understand that.

That's fine. What is still not clear to me is how you could agree to review it and not assume you were going to have to view the product from a beginner's viewpoint. If you learned during the review period that you cannot see the sharpener from another viewpoint, then we should all let it drop and decide for ourselves. Thanks for trying.

 

[Jason B.]

That's fine. What is still not clear to me is how you could agree to review it and not assume you were going to have to view the product from a beginner's viewpoint. If you learned during the review period that you cannot see the sharpener from another viewpoint, then we should all let it drop and decide for ourselves. Thanks for trying.

Sometimes not everything is thought of, do you know your going to like a knife you buy off the net when all you can see is a picture?

 

[midnight flyer]

I have nothing to get off my chest or have I found some major flaw in the device, I simply can not view it from a lesser experienced persons point of view. I didn't want to be unfair to the product but obviously some don't seem to understand that.

In the context of that post, believe it or not, that makes perfect sense to me. I have been a professional woodworker since 1975. I have a lot of top line tools, medium quality tools, and of course some beaters.

I used to have a difficult time when I would go to do an estimate and meet with a hobby woodworker that has a new tool to show off. With 35 years of experience in my given trade, I don't need most guides, jigs, patterns, or tools that come with them. I was just a bit above those that did.

Until I realized that most of these guys were just trying to get in the game someway, just trying to get a chance to do something they couldn't normally do, I had a pretty poor attitude about medium duty equipment of any type. Jigs, guides, patterns, etc. were for wieners. No light duty equipment was considered for any reason. If the equipment/tool didn't meet my professional standards, it was crap. Dismissed. I sneered inwardly, but kept my mouth shut.

About 10 years ago, I realized we all have different expectations of ourselves and our skill sets. Now if someone shows me a $200 table saw or a $100 cordless drill, I am as happy as can be for them if they are satisfied. They will NEVER beat on those tools every day like I do, and have a different set of expectations altogether.

I hope you don't think I was trying to pick any with you, knifenut. When you cleared up your intent (at least it was clearer to me!) with that last post, I think I got it. It would be suicide for most tool manufacturers to send me a tool. But with that said, I have given away hand tools to buddies of mine that didn't work out for me, and they have been thrilled. One is using a "heavy duty" drill I gave him several years ago to this day. It overheated every time I used it but he thinks it is truly heavy duty because he can stir a 5 gallon bucket of paint with it.

I *think* I get the fact that you didn't feel like the tool lived up to your standards or expectations. But as one of my friends reminded me, "one man's ceiling is another man's floor".

With that in mind, I applaud your decision to step back.

Robert

 

[Folderguy]

can it sharpen recurves? how?

Works just fine for me doing recurves...

Which knives have I sharpened that have a recurve?

Zero Tolerance 0300, Zero Tolerance 0400ST, and I ground away the serrations in the Spyderco Tenacious in my avatar to make that wicked looking recurve you see up there.

How? Hand held, without any guides. It's all in how you angle the blade when in contact with the belt.

 

[MVF]

Can't we all just get along?

OK- we know this tool is designed for light use by relatively inexperienced users. (Of course, few of the people we've heard from are really all that inexperienced, I mean they are here on BF.)

We also know that knifenut is the farthest thing from an inexperienced user.

I have no problem keeping these two concepts in mind when reading a review- especially in light of repeated caveats. Knifenut, please do not let a few people misunderstanding your concerns keep you from giving your thoughts. It's fine that you can't review from a beginner's perspective. We've already gotten reviews from less experienced people. What's wrong with getting your perspective as well?

As far as damaging the product, you have repeatedly said you thought it was a good product for it's intended audience and purpose, so I don't see the harm in hearing the implied "however...." It especially looks bad (for the sharpener) that you said you would leave it up to Worksharp to make the decision and now we don't get to see the review.

For myself, I was planning on getting one. I don't think I had too high a set of expectations, I just wanted something quick and easy for convexing and for knives I didn't want to take to the EdgePro. I had concerns about the belt speed that seemed not to be a problem for most of the posters. For the price I didn't feel I could get hurt too badly. Your review was to be the last piece in the puzzle, but honestly, to hear you saying you have concerns that you're afraid to voice because it might "unfairly" hurt the product makes it hard to feel very comfortable. I really hope you will reconsider, and I think at this point the mystery will do the product more harm than anything you would say since you've already stated you think it's a good product.

 

[soapboxpreacher]

I cant imagine what would be "unfair" to this product. It should not be viewed nor compared to an edge pro or held to the same review criteria as a high end professional grade sharpener. For starters it is a 60 bucks! Let me repeat that...it is 60 bucks! It is for beginners, yet it does things that lets say the edge pro does not. For example, I put side edges on my E-tools so they can be used as a light axes or for chopping during our camping season. I touch up my wetterlings axes that are of a convex type grind. Something not possible with once again the edge pro or gatco or Lansky or the sharpmaker. This is also an apples to oranges comparison. It has a different approach entirely one that a pro would or could turn his or her nose up to but most beginners and even moderates would be more than happy with the results. The learning curve is far less and the results are decent to good but not great to excellent. The time is also a huge advantage although not the same end product or edge for that matters. It is versatile and flexible. I am new to sharpening so my view and point is and will be different then Knifenuts, I respect his view entirely but no one should bases there decision on his review for his talent and skill is far different then the overwhelming majority of users here. I believe he even stated that. Not to mention most of use are casual users and not typically knifemakers. Moreover so many dont even know a good edge from an excellent one, me included. Most dont know how to even test for a great edge...once again me included.

This product should never be judged as if it needs to be under a microscope for its price tag nor its claim warranty that. Dont get so critical of it. It is a decent sharpener at a decent price that is also extremely flexible at what it does. It is not a professional product but many will find it more than suitable for their needs. There are things that I dont like about it and some limitation but overall it does more than get the job done. Many will struggle far less with it then a sharpmaker, there is far less inconsistency with the operation of it as well. View for what it is...a 60 dollar sharpener. For that price I think it is pretty good.

 

[MVF]

OK, so what are the things you don't like about it? And where did you find it for $60?

 

[soapboxpreacher]

Grit selection to dramatic between 220 and 6000. And I wish it had a leather belt that could be used to apply some green or black compound for some really nice smooth mirror edging...stroppy!! Also, the guides work but they could be taller for larger blades...better support. And finally, I noticed was the start of the sharpening motion, if you dont pay attention you can wear down your blade if you hesitate on the pull thru when you pull the switch. This would really only happen with the course belt but could still hurt some thinner blades using the 220. My first try I tested a garbage knife and had this happen because I was ot use to the start position and pull motion. It really is pretty easy, it was just a beginner mistake.

For 59 at amazon but now it looks to be 69.

 

[spyken]

Works just fine for me doing recurves...

Which knives have I sharpened that have a recurve?

Zero Tolerance 0300, Zero Tolerance 0400ST, and I ground away the serrations in the Spyderco Tenacious in my avatar to make that wicked looking recurve you see up there.

How? Hand held, without any guides. It's all in how you angle the blade when in contact with the belt.

Thanks. I figured you had to do it freehand. Do you use the edge of the belt or?

 

[Folderguy]

I cant imagine what would be "unfair" to this product. It should not be viewed nor compared to an edge pro or held to the same review criteria as a high end professional grade sharpener. For starters it is a 60 bucks! Let me repeat that...it is 60 bucks! It is for beginners, yet it does things that lets say the edge pro does not. For example, I put side edges on my E-tools so they can be used as a light axes or for chopping during our camping season. I touch up my wetterlings axes that are of a convex type grind. Something not possible with once again the edge pro or gatco or Lansky or the sharpmaker. This is also an apples to oranges comparison. It has a different approach entirely one that a pro would or could turn his or her nose up to but most beginners and even moderates would be more than happy with the results. The learning curve is far less and the results are decent to good but not great to excellent. The time is also a huge advantage although not the same end product or edge for that matters. It is versatile and flexible. I am new to sharpening so my view and point is and will be different then Knifenuts, I respect his view entirely but no one should bases there decision on his review for his talent and skill is far different then the overwhelming majority of users here. I believe he even stated that. Not to mention most of use are casual users and not typically knifemakers. Moreover so many dont even know a good edge from an excellent one, me included. Most dont know how to even test for a great edge...once again me included.

This product should never be judged as if it needs to be under a microscope for its price tag nor its claim warranty that. Dont get so critical of it. It is a decent sharpener at a decent price that is also extremely flexible at what it does. It is not a professional product but many will find it more than suitable for their needs. There are things that I dont like about it and some limitation but overall it does more than get the job done. Many will struggle far less with it then a sharpmaker, there is far less inconsistency with the operation of it as well. View for what it is...a 60 dollar sharpener. For that price I think it is pretty good.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Interesting how some of the recent posts in this thread remind me of the debate about the little Sanrenmu 710 knife (made in China, while the Work Sharp Knife sharpener is made in the good 'ole US of A...)

At this point, I'm sort of relishing a trashing of my favorite sharpener, the Work Sharp. I just might go into the popcorn selling business, it's gonna be fun.

There's another thing. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the professional blade sharpeners might feel their livelihood (if it is knife sharpening, that is) is somewhat threatened by this cool little sharpener.

As for me, I don't plan to ever again require the services of a professional sharpening service for my blades. And overall, that isn't chump change...