Ken Onion Elite Mk 2 Initial Thoughts

My Review of the all new Ken Onion Elite Mk. 2 from Work Sharp. How does this newest sharpener for the ever brilliant folks at Work Sharp compare the their original, absolutely brilliant KO Elite?
Update with my solution to make it easier to get belts on and off quickly. • Fixing the Work Sharp ...
Update on using leather belts. • Leather Belts on the W...

[@2lbsTrigrPull]

It's nice to watch how manufacturers try to improve one thing while fucking up another. So they make the angle adjustment faster and easier (what for really? Isn't necessary) while at the same time making it more difficult to access the belt through the shitty plastic cover... You need to change belts more often than the angle... You set the angle for one knife but you change the belts for different grits for one knife... They also made sure you can't use the Mk2 motor with the Mk1 attachment tool... That's so nice of them. That will be one reason I'm sending mine back.

[@Knives__Out__]

Nice comparison between the two units. Thank you. It helps me on make my decision on getting the mk2.

[@nor4277]

I agree with your evaluation of the new add on sharpener piece to much plastic.I due love the new Ken Oinion sharpener the digital motor control I love to try that feature.I would love to test the new Ken Oinion sharpener.what a amazing update.

[@kelleyhogan7063]

Thanks for this video, I was seriously considering replacing my mk1 with the mk2, but after seeing this I am thinking about buying another mk1 instead and putting it away should my existing one fail and wait for the mk3

[@markurbano3504]

As usual, great and clear explanation Nate.

[@LiquidRetro]

Great information thank you for sharing

[@fuelediowa]

Thank you so much you answered every question I had on this. I have the OG and get amazing results. I am considering an upgrade just because of the top frame work hoping it has more clearance on the left side for thick handle knives that the edge is very close to the handle. I look forward to an update after you use it a fair bit.

[@simplysharpatl]

Thank you! It does have more clearance.

[@robertdewalt8711]

Tensioner on original also has issue of coming loose so I have to move red pin to tighten again. Lifting the mk2 on side slightly will make it easier and faster to put belt on. On the orginal grinding back plate I have two Leather strops affixed to back so I can grind chips out on blade edge faster and to reshape broken tips. The one on back of mk2 is so you don’t have to put leather strops there as it have flexible piece. It does make it tight to get leather belt in. I tested it last night.

[@stevenchisholm2364]

I hope the leather belt fits!..On the MK 1,i use two leather belts with a different compound on each!...great video...and this just made me subscribe..from Nova Scotia,Canada!

[@simplysharpatl]

It fit. I made a subsequent video on it.

[@ruftime]

Thank you! Mine arrives tomorrow. Love my T8, but it’s heavy😎

[@simplysharpatl]

Yeah it is! I really like the KO. I have made a lot of money with it.

[@brianfoster7064]

I find that I'm better off using the Tormek T-8 for sharpening. I deal with minor spasms that come and go without warning. My attempts to sharpen evenly on the KO1 are not up to my standard, because of the spasms. I do find the KO1 to be great for stropping. I use Gunny Juice (1.0, 0.5, and 0.25 microns) on my leather strops, and the finishes are great.

[@brandonrichardson5123]

I have the first. These are minor improvements. What the new version needed is a platen on the top side with a consumable low friction surface to facilitate a much flatter grind.

[@zaheerkader7426]

There's a guy that 3d prints one for the original for about 30 dollars.. Google has him

[@knivesaregreat8138]

I believe the metal clip is there to remove belt slack when you are trying to flat grind useing that surface of the sharpener (like if you want a 90 degree spine)

[@davidburns5498]

The reason I bought the original Worksharp KO system was speed. I was getting good results with manual sharpening, but it was too slow. Mk 2 has some advantages over my system, but it makes belt changes slower. That's a non-starter for me.

[@bas4241]

Thanks for the video. Mine is also on order. I don’t think the belt change looks too bad…I think it will be just a matter of getting used to it. I use a 42” belt grinder and a TSProf system in my shop and I’m getting this to use as my portable machine. I have worn out two of the first model already!

[@simplysharpatl]

I have had to submit 3 for warranty. One went poof, the other 2 lost the little nubbin that locks the speed. Worksharp warranty is amazing. No fuss, fast free shipping. They do a great job with it.

[@truthinmetal0029]

Sorry the machine alone (mk2) without the attachment is still 200$ it's 300$ with the added attachment. Just so you know

[@Billfish57]

I pretty sure he said that. Old one is now 200 for both pieces and the new ones for both pieces is 300, it's a hundred dollars more.

[@MemeScreen]

Make a video about using the first Ken onion to sand down the unnecessary metal bit on the Ken Onion Mk2?!

[@NateMansfield]

That’s brilliant!

[@simplysharpatl]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn6vXnx7a8dpb9k

[@MemeScreen]

@@simplysharpatl 😄

[@Billfish57]

I like the speed control on the first one better because you can make move slower and when I'm using the leather, I like it going as slow as possible, the new one decides for you how slowly you can run it and it's twice as fast as the first one. Digital looks cool but in practice, like with music, digital is not as good as analog. It's not a real problem until you are trying to get the blade as sharp as possible at the end of sharpening.

[@simplysharpatl]

I haven’t measured it, but it doesn’t feel like it’s faster at the slowest speed. It certainly seems faster at full speed.

[@billmanning8806]

Guessing you will get used to the MK2 and get as quick with belt changes as on the original. Me too, as I have also ordered mine. Good review here, thanks.

[@NateMansfield]

Thanks Bill, I hope so.

[@ddeliyski]

Hi. Sorry if it's been asked before - what is your dust extractor device? Thanks 👍

[@onewade1974]

Work Sharp sent me a leather/ cloth belt with compound as part of the package. However, they also sell two ( I think ) different leather/ cloth belts.

[@simplysharpatl]

They do, but the belts fray very quickly.

[@monotonousblob]

Thanks for the video! Shame the new version doesn’t have a riser for the front reference plane like the back. For a business like yours maybe best bet is to use both and switch between with different bands on each.

[@simplysharpatl]

I don't really use the reference plane much. I'm pretty good at getting the right angle freehand at this point. It is kinda a cool feature, as I think some will find it more intuitive.

[@2216sammy]

Yeah , not having it in the front is a monumental blunder by Worksharp .

[@dlrmon1]

Of coarse the new attachment isn’t compatible with the old one. Ken gets more royalties with proprietary products. The belt grits have always been confusing to me. I’m hoping at least the clip you pulled off from behind the belt on the 90 degree grinding surface is compatible

[@dlrmon1]

My guess would be No...parts not serviced separately...

[@simplysharpatl]

I don’t understand your comment about the clip. I’m not even sure why it’s there. But would love to know what your thoughts are.

[@dlrmon1]

It clip takes up the slack behind the belt for a more solid and/or square surface for a 90 degree angle...

[@dlrmon1]

The old one wants to convex the leading edge of everything you try to flat grind...

[@simplysharpatl]

@@dlrmon1 I primarily use that platen for more sever chip repairs and bolster reduction. I have recently used it for kitchen shears with good success. I will try the clip with the new version to see if it’s any better.

[@dougsmith4525]

I'd like to know more about that filter you are using please. Do you already have a video on it? Can i get the link if so, please? ty also, more on the whole set up you have in the back of your SUV, lol.

[@simplysharpatl]

I’m happy to talk to you about it. Email [e-mail] and we can set something up if you like. The filter is this one it works really well. OUKEETO Portable Air Filtration... www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2DFMX5C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[@dougsmith4525]

@@simplysharpatl ty. Email sent. I didn't see you posted the link for filtration B4 I did.

[@DavidV4444]

The difference seemed to be 4 seconds…

[@suorento7k]

what is that red box with filter

[@simplysharpatl]

A dust collector

[@suorento7k]

@@simplysharpatl mfg model?

[@simplysharpatl]

@@suorento7k OUKEETO Portable Air Filtration... www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2DFMX5C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share Just posted a new video about it.

[@BigMatt99]

What is that bench mat?

[@simplysharpatl]

It’s one that came with the Precision adjust Eleit.

[@r.e.sharpening991]

That plastic cover looks like more of a nuisance. I hope I can get a leather belt on it.

[@simplysharpatl]

I just got a new leather belt and will try later today.

[@2216sammy]

The BGA is going to be an absolute nightmare to clean compared to the original .

[@onewade1974]

Your deal breaker is ridiculous! LOL. There are maybe two people in the world that the 1.5 seconds of extra belt changing time matters! Lol

[@simplysharpatl]

Possibly, but when you’ve got a busy market, it matters. Also, it takes quite a bit more than 1.5 seconds. As I indicated in the video, for a home sharpener this tool is a big improvement on an already great system. For a professional sharpening many hundreds of knives a week, this detail matters.

[@onewade1974]

@simplysharpatl very true! When speed means money, it certainly matters

[@bobp3738]

Demo’d with a Tormek looming in the shadows. Hmmm.

[@simplysharpatl]

Big Tormek got to me, I’m rolling in dough now. Muahahahaha

[@lastshadow9351]

Hopefully that plastic nuisance guard is not an integral piece and can just be removed and if the extra metal on the left side is just for holding that guard, maybe that can be trimmed down. I really like the improvements they've done and how compact the machine is, but I get tired of all the safety stuff companies do that make the machines messier and harder to use. You don't see any 2 x 72 grinders with a bunch of safety fluff on them and they are considerably more dangerous than these little units.

[@simplysharpatl]

I can be removed, but you lose the angle information. It's part of the plastic fiddly bit.

[@lastshadow9351]

@@simplysharpatl That figures! I still am considering one and If I do, I'll have to see if there's a way to modify it without loosing the angle information. Where there's a will, there's a way-lol!

[@simplysharpatl]

@@lastshadow9351 Keep in that coming soon

[@BladeLabMiami]

Yeah, they ruined a perfectly good product by making it so fiddly to change belts. 99% of what I do with these units is honing with leather belts, so this is a non-starter.

[@simplysharpatl]

Leather belt works if you take the little metal clamp off. My mod makes charging belts faster, but not as fast.