PRO Knife Sharpener tests a "NO SKILL" Sharpener - How Good Can It Be?

[@OUTDOORS55]

Best and WORST powered sharpeners I've ever tested⬇ Possibly the best?⬇ amzn.to/42uqvCC The WORST⬇ amzn.to/493qwjj Affiliated links As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is NOT sponsored, I purchased everything in this video with my own money. And I am free to link to anything I want.

[@deansavie3958]

You probably like the ken onion edition you can set your angle from 15° to 30° and change the speed of the motor

[@trumanhw]

I'd been wondering if this thing kinda negated the need for the hundreds in stones, and intricacy of FAS, etc ... Thank you again.

[@Uncle_Red]

​, especially with the 3d printed guides people have created.

[@ramgabe1027]

Mine come with a strop belt. My knifes get sharp enough to shave on all my knives.

[@gatsbysgarage8389]

@@deansavie3958 yeah I’ve got that version and it’s great. Not on the level of good diamond stones but much easier to use

[@TerribleTim9692]

I used to sharpen my blades by hand, but carpal tunnel and arthritis took that away. The old Work Sharp device sounded good, so I tried it. Almost as sharp as manually, and without the pain. Good buy, in my opinion.

[@axion8788]

As a longtime viewer it is interesting to watch your inner showman coming to the surface.

[@OUTDOORS55]

I get bored sometimes with the standard "tabletop" reviews. Its more for me to keep my sanity doing the same things for years on end🙂👍

[@tombrown4683]

That's a valuable thing and also adds value for us viewers !

[@poobank]

I thought the matrix was the funniest part until I saw the ending with 300. OMG ROFL!😂

[@bumblebee2989]

And a pretty good "Smith" impersonation!

[@Games_and_Tech]

I have to sopot the video just to write that this is one of funniest videos he did

[@jonfeuerborn5859]

I have the Ken Onion version. At $140, it's great and a better value than the Mk.2. More robust, better motor, 4 angle settings, and 5 belts: 120, 220, 1000, 3000, 6000. I'd argue that the jump from 220 to 1K is still a bit too big, so I can't imagine skipping grits like the Mk.2 does. Thanks as always, Alex. Great video!

[@ichich3276]

Same here. And the prophecies say you will need to buy the freehand Blade Grinding Attachment, which you can get leather belts for, which will give you a superb stropping experience! I was able to sharpen a VG10 blade to around 90 BESS.

[@bazzzker]

They've made that big canyon size grip gap on purpose i think. That way users got that toothy edge and fast. And wow factor of fresh saw-like edge is huge.

[@jonfeuerborn5859]

@@ichich3276 Nice! I may decide to spring for that also, but I have another fabricobbled sharpening system that I'm invested in. I built a knife jig setup to use with my WS3000 outfitted with diamond lapping plates. I also have the leather stropping wheel for it. I don't have a BESS tester yet, but I'm planning on adding that at some point. The KO is my weapon of choice for garden tools: pruners, hatchets/axes, spades. I love a convex edge for those things.

[@jonfeuerborn5859]

@@bazzzker I'm sure you're right, and I also don't think that's a terrible thing for certain use cases.

[@Sampson-xp5wx]

I too have the ken onion version- and like the one demonstrated in the video- it’s meant for righties. That being said left handed people have had to adapt to a lot of things that are designed for right handed people and they figure it out. Chalk boards- white boards, spiral notebooks. Lefties find a way

[@davidhannum5598]

Love my Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition knife and tool sharpener. After two years, no issues and easy to use.

[@Jordan-jy7pg]

I only use one main knife… a $40 Victorinox Fibrox chef knife from Amazon. I also use a cheap paring knife here and there. Anyways, would it still be worth it for me? I just want a few cheap, sharp, and reliable knives to cook with! Thanks :)

[@trumanhw]

He makes his videos look like fun. Obviously, they're actually tremendous work, but, they're pretty awesome for just a knife-sharpening dude.

[@OUTDOORS55]

Thanks, I appreciate it! I primarily try to keep it interesting for me to make. Otherwise I get bored making the same old review videos. Thanks again for watching I really appreciate it 🙏👍

[@caniaccharlie]

I have one for several months now. I think it works pretty well. After the 6000 belt I use a leather strop with green compound and the edges are way sharper than anyone really needs. It's not as fun as using all the stones I have, but if you''ve got an edge in really bad shape it beats tons of grinding on stones. I think it's best use could be just getting a good edge that you could finish on stones? It is also really great for quick touchups. Just a few swipes on the 6000 and then strop!

[@Armorpiercer]

by 'after the 6000 belt' I thought you mean you goes through 6000 of these belts 😂

[@LogisticallyMisrepresented]

That's the reason he included more in the sentence to keep regular people from thoughting that 😸 ​@@Armorpiercer

[@flapjackson6077]

That sounds like a very reasonable conclusion. 👍

[@LogisticallyMisrepresented]

Realllly, @@Armorpiercer .!?

[@robertkb64]

I tend to leave my leather strop on and just run a knife through it after each use, and I leave a 6000 grit on my 1-inch belt in the shed when I need to reshaped a lot of knives (I have everything from 40-grit up through leather strops for it, so I can go from bulk removal of a new handmade knife up through a razor edge on a single machine).

[@serpenttao]

So this is not just a wonderful review, that goes in-depth on not just what it does or doesn't work for, but why, and how it could possible be fixed, but it's also laden with fantastically sincere movie references that are hilarious but don't distract from the subject matter. The editing and sort of cheesy green screen use is exactly up my alley. Your Agent Smith is fantastic, it was legit so good that I want to watch the Matrix again now. Thanks for the time and expertise you put into both the review and the videography, it's been a blast watching your stuff and learning so much! Cooking is 100x more fun with sharp knives, and you've helped me a lot with that.

[@shakeandbaked1]

If you get one of these don’t tell anyone. I made that mistake and now sharpen all the knives for all my coworkers and family.

[@EALordBaal]

That's on you for not adding a price lol. Family maybe but co-workers should be paying for your time n belt usage.

[@shockwave6213]

Tell them it's $5-$10 per blade. Belts aren't cheap to replace

[@shakeandbaked1]

@@shockwave6213 while I do actually sharpen a lot for friends and family I’m not going to charge them. I would rather they have a sharp blade. I don’t need to make money or break even on account of friends and family.

[@gregl4244]

Like being the guy that has a truck.

[@lukearts2954]

I love that you're slowly putting more cinematics in it again. I remember in the time when your workshop was this unheated shack in the woods, you sometimes made these huge cinematic cuts that were both cool and hilarious! I know it's not your core business, but it was a signature trait with an optimal sense of humor... I'd say, better humor than that of a Burr... (which is already up there)

[@bencheevers6693]

It's crazy that an actually functional and good value product actually exists at this price point when there are super shitty stones on amazon for like 55 bucks or more which are soul crushingly awful and most people just think it's their own fault. This is great for all of those people that don't want to go down the rabbit hole, that's what these systems are for and I'm stunned that there's actually a good one out there for 90% of people.

[@barkingspider2007]

You would LOVE the Ken Onion edition of this sharpener with the blade grinding attachment. It is easy to use and the angle can be whatever you want it to be. The WS Ken Onion edition is my go-to solution when doing any "Heavy Lifting" to repair a knife or establish the secondary bevel on a knife that is in need. Thanks for the video!

[@Jordan-jy7pg]

I only use one main knife… a $40 Victorinox Fibrox chef knife from Amazon. I also use a cheap paring knife here and there. Anyways, would it still be worth it for me? I just want a few cheap, sharp, and reliable knives to cook with! Thanks :)

[@barkingspider2007]

@@Jordan-jy7pg The steel you are using is 56 HRC, most of the time the knife is dull. Better knives and a means to sharpen them would be a game changer for you. That said the Worksharp would allow you to quickly sharpen and maintain your current knives. I sharpen knives for people in my neighborhood. Most of the knives are very low cost. Good luck.

[@Jordan-jy7pg]

@@barkingspider2007 I see. Thanks for the info!

[@NSDaishi]

I normally don't watch the whole video for stuff like this but the editing kept me hooked

[@NightsReign]

I've gotta say, whether you're outsourcing your videos to an editor, or doing all of this yourself, the production value of the last few months, and of this video specifically, is top-notch! The cook can always throw more into the pot, but more/better ingredients or seasoning doesn't necessarily make a better stew. (This analogy got away from me...) From a technical perspective, you *_could_* upgrade your hardware to some studio-quality setup, like an obscenely high megapixel professional camera, or professional digital video editing rig replete with all of the requisite subscription software...I'm not sure where I was going with that... Oh right! All of those tools would be effectively worthless in the hands of a novice, whereas a pro can make even subpar or defective tools look "good enough". A lesson you've illustrated, and I keep learning from all sorts of KZbinrs more generally, the quality of tools available do little without the skills to use them properly or effectively. A fitting example just came to mind (which I subsequently spent an hour fine-tuning before scrapping entirely.) I think the difference between talent and skill is important here. While it's certainly possible that anyone *_could_* be naturally talented in any number of things, abilities which took others a lot of practice to achieve, the same can't be said in reverse about skill. Developing a skill from beginner or novice, up to subject matter expert requires commitment, the ability to admit you have more to learn, and the willingness to actually learn. I've known plenty of examples of these, specifically in the tradecrafts. People who've been in a particular field for decades, widely regarded as experts, but they'd just been coasting on their initial talents, never actually honing skills. So high on their own supply that they couldn't learn anything from anybody, and it showed in their work... I'm sorry, I'm not sure why this became some esoteric argument, when I was originally just complimenting you on something impressive I'd noticed (which I still haven't done...) It's become clear to me you're intrigued by contrasting what's in focus with what's out of focus, and I'm here for it. I've seen many microscopic extreme closeups of sandpaper grit in the past, but this was the first time I've seen it illustrated with such care and precision! (This also showed through in your memery.) And it was gorgeous Anyway, I don't assume you'll read this comment, but I hope so, and that it makes sense through my rambling...

[@Gloomshimmer]

I use the free grinder attachment. Never go back. A "uniform" belt system cant handle all blades. Thats impossible. But for someone who just needs sharp knives in the kitchen its ok. My 70 year old mum can handle this, and she has REALLY cheapo knives which have to be sharpen very often (and they work hard in her kitchen. Porcelain cutting included). But a few rotations on that thing and she can work without the fear of one of these "blunt knife" injuries. For my spyderco and other more expensive blades the ken onion free belt system is better. But you have always to consider.....you will round up the tip of the blades if youre not really careful. But on the other hand i managed to get some very old knives of my grand grandfather working. They are made of nice steel back in the days and are pre 3rd Reich (im german), with no akward symbols on it. Also his tools and files are better than anything you can buy today.

[@Kregorius]

Long story short (or not). My grandfather had some really nice files too. They used them to make the German tanks to new usable items after the war. At least that's the story I was told by my father. Not gonna lie, they indeed were better than random chineseium cheese. But they were the only files in the household. My father believed what the old guy said and did not see any need to get new files. These are good, so why get new ones. So I had to make a note: that old and good file probably actually filed through couple actual German tanks of material. Whatever they used to be it ain't it anymore after what they seen in their lives. And while there is clear issue with big box stores tools quality, there are other shops that sell tools for work. Price ain't nice but we ain't on a budget for tools. So we spent round hundred euro for a set of new good files. Just a set of useful profiles for daily use. Those old files still exist, but for some whatever reason when we actually need to file something we use the new ones.

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

Yeah, I have three chisels, and two mill files, that I KNOW my grandfather used in and before 1927 when he built his house. British Steel from Sheffield, and they are so much better than anything else I have seen that I actually don't let anyone know I have them. I am sure my brothers would steal them if they knew they still existed.

[@Gloomshimmer]

@@Kregorius my grand grandfather was a fineworker\finesmith\tinker....so he had the really good stuff. I never met him, but in remember the days as a kid when me and my brother played as kids in his workshop. the smell of iron and oil is something i like till today. I have several "high quality premium diamantine" files, but none of these work like the old stuff. I think its because of the fact that newer products made of steel have a big portion of recycled material in it, where the 1900 to 1945 stuff was "pure krupp steel".

[@Kregorius]

​@@Gloomshimmeryou may be right that the old ones are better files. But let's face the facts. You can sharpen a chisel. No worries there. But a file can only lose sharpness. There is no such thing as sharpening a file. Over the last hundred years they have only gone more dull. No matter how good they used to be in their youth, it has been hundred years of dulling. No sharpening at any point in their lives. Under no circumstances I believe there are no new files on the market that are out of the package worse than a file after hundred year of wear and tear. Longevity is another matter but I seriously don't care at this point that my tools last a hundred years. And neither did our grandfathers. The stuff they bought and sent to a rust bucket did not make it to our collections of the good old tools. There's mountains of the old stuff that did not make the selection. So I am not worried that not all of my tools will last a hundred years. Maybe some will. Most won't. But in the meantime I can get some serious work done without worrying about damaging some old relics.

[@miketranfaglia3986]

I have the original Work Sharp and the Ken Onion special edition; they're both great and get incredible results, but you are absolutely correct---there are gaps in the grits, and getting some extra belts takes it to that next level you're looking for. I ordered one extra set of belts for each, and I've been using them for years---they still have plenty of life left in them, so these belts, and the tools themselves, will last a very long time. They'll sharpen machetes, axes, katanas, and all kinds of edged tools really nicely and quickly. Never had a knife that didn't get a lot sharper out of the box after a few seconds on my Work Sharp, and I have a lot of knives. And we haven't even started talking about convexity...

[@ilikepork247]

I bought one recently and whilst I'm not a huge fan of it [keep rounding off my points but its a skill issue] it has been a godsend since I've started getting pains in my hands/wrists from non powered sharpeners which turned it from therapeutic to agony. Still recommend it though when it's on sale.

[@randallbollinger9625]

I rounded off a few points also. I figured out the instructions are incorrect in the advice of raising the rear of the knife to follow the edge. Do not raise the rear, keep pulling straight back and VERY SLIGHTLY angle the rear to keep the edge in contact as it gets closer to the tip.

[@ilikepork247]

@@randallbollinger9625 yeah started to figure that out myself. Now I just have to work out how to put em back, my squeak misses its point lol

[@randallbollinger9625]

@@ilikepork247 the knife I cared about is a fallkniven pxl, beautiful knife. I tried to get some point back on it but was mostly unsuccessful. The worksharp definitely makes edges sharp but the destructions should be written better. Best of luck

[@dgurevich1]

I have the 'ken onion' edition of this sharpener. I absolutely stand by this sharpener. I'm not a professional knife sharpener, and don't intend to spend hours on end sharpening a knife. The results it provides are more than adequate for the 2 minutes it takes me for one knife. Because it's that quick, I am able to keep all my knives and tools sharp consistently. As for longevity of belts, I own the sharpener for over 2 years, using the same belts it came with on a by-monthly basis. I sharpen on average 5 knives per session and the belts still work fine. This tool is by far the most fun to use on my axe.

[@Jordan-jy7pg]

I only use one main knife… a $40 Victorinox Fibrox chef knife from Amazon. I also use a cheap paring knife here and there. Anyways, would it still be worth it for me? I just want a few cheap, sharp, and reliable knives to cook with! Thanks :)

[@edwardmedina1236]

This is for me. I've bought it and I love it. I've tried stones, I've tried those guided system, I've tried them all and honestly I suck as sharpening. However, with this thing, I could actually sharpen my knives, my Ax, my putty knives, even my woodworking chisels (gasp, I know I'm a heathen). Honestly I don't want to shave myself with a knife, so slicing a tomato is the hardest thing I want to do or chop wood.

[@camrontaylor946]

"Oh, I'm dead serious, and please, dont call me Shirley."

[@tobins6800]

Picked a bad week to quit smoking?

[@CorruptedChristopher]

I purchased one maybe 2 years ago now and at the time it was impressive as hell because of the speed to sharpen compared to stones and it removed a lot of the skill issue on getting a perfect angle. This video was extremely informative because i dont have any of those super cameras you have to tell the difference! Thanks.

[@Jordan-jy7pg]

I only use one main knife… a $40 Victorinox Fibrox chef knife from Amazon. I also use a cheap paring knife here and there. Anyways, would it still be worth it for me? I just want a few cheap, sharp, and reliable knives to cook with! Thanks :)

[@RandomSadBoomer]

Ken Onion edition solves all the issues 😀 In fact it has to be a default version.

[@ajk71486]

Definitely solves the problems, especially if you also get the grinding attachment as well. I think they even sell leather stropping belts now for it.

[@RandomSadBoomer]

@@ajk71486 yes, the attachment is amazing!

[@Jordan-jy7pg]

I only use one main knife… a $40 Victorinox Fibrox chef knife from Amazon. I also use a cheap paring knife here and there. Anyways, would it still be worth it for me? I just want a few cheap, sharp, and reliable knives to cook with! Thanks :)

[@badboyboydc6779]

I love using this to sharpen lawn mower blades. The rotating head is so much control vs a bench grinder. That's all I have on this.

[@lead5s]

agent smith, your review rocked!

[@budthecyborg4575]

3:20 Old knife collector folklore says belt grinders are more likely to cause heat damage going one direction and not the other, since you've got the fancy microscope it would be interesting to see burr formation results using the Worksharp only in the downward "pull" belt direction vs. only using the upward "push" belt direction.

[@Vintech64]

I bought the full belt kit with my Work Sharp. I have no skills when it comes to free hand sharpening. So this tool works great for me. Worth the money for the extra belt set...

[@krazmokramer]

4:37 "Surely you can't be serious." "Stop calling me Shirley!" (Yes, I noticed the background.)

[@mal2ksc]

What's your vector, Victor?

[@ThirdLawPair]

One thing I really like about this premise of knife sharpener is that it is fairly cheap and easy to experiment with different grits and grit progressions.

[@American-Plague]

I just found this channel recently. This is by FAR the most in depth explanatory, comprehensive guide to sharpening a knife. I've only known about this channel for less than a week and I now have the first, literal, hair-whittling edge (on a cheap, old Japanese- style Ginsu chef knife that was left in my apartment from the previous tenant who apparently liked knives even more dull than a spoon) I've ever even come close to getting. Using nothing but a Husky dual sided 400#-600# diamond plate and a leather strop with the cheap green wax compound. (Waiting on my DMT diamond plate set and DMT stropping compound, although I don't see how it could get any sharper. Can anyone recommend a test to see if it gets even sharper than hair- whittling?) THANK YOU SO MUCH! You have a new subscriber.

[@albertosara416]

Video quality, editing, pacing and sense of humor was really, really good! Amazing content as usual

[@dameanvil]

00:00 🔪 Most requested sharpener for reviews: The Worksharp MK2 Pocket Hunting Serrated Kitchen Scissors. 01:20 📉 Not all knives reached hair-whittling sharpness with the Worksharp MK2; certain steels struggled with burr removal. 04:35 🤚 Left-handed users might find the Worksharp MK2 inconvenient, as it seems designed for right-handed use. 05:24 🎓 Even beginners found the Worksharp MK2 easy to use, requiring minimal skill to achieve sharp results. 06:08 ⚔ The Worksharp MK2 sharpened various items, including knives and swords, but struggled with harder materials like a baseball bat. 06:57 ⏳ Belt longevity: Three belts were used extensively with still some usability left in the coarser grits after sharpening various items. 07:49 📏 Angle options: Users can choose between 20° and 25°, with 20° generally providing better results, although accuracy might vary. 09:25 🔄 Results inconsistency: Performance varied depending on steel type, heat treatment, and possibly technique. 10:54 🎯 For users seeking basic knife sharpening without fussing over premium steel performance, the Worksharp MK2 is suitable. 11:21 ❌ Not recommended for enthusiasts seeking optimal sharpness, especially with high-end steels like s110v, due to limitations in achieving fine edges. 12:27 🔥 Heat buildup wasn't a significant issue, thanks to the slack belt design, though prolonged grinding in one spot could cause localized heating. 13:20 💡 The Worksharp MK2 is highly recommended for straightforward knife sharpening, outperforming tabletop electric sharpeners.

[@kyronnewbury]

I friggin love how much fun you're having with your videos. It's awesome!

[@heftyjo2893]

I have the Ken Onion edition of the Worksharp knife and tool sharpener. Totally agree that 20 degrees is the ideal setting. I believe the belts mostly use the NORaX grit scale though the coarse belt is a FEPA P. The Ken Onion edition comes with 5 belts: P120, X65, X22, X4, and then a very thin, light belt that just says 6000 grit. I just mostly use the X65 (220 grit), X22 (600 grit), and finish with the X4 (3000 grit) for my kitchen and utility knives. Between the jump from the X22 to the X4 I'll drag the edge of the knife through the end grain of a 1x4 board a couple of times to pull the wire bead off the edge. Then, leather strop on green compound after the X4. The fine 6000 grit belt is for scissors which I've turned some very dull scissors into some nice push cut through wrapping paper scissors. And the coarse p120 belt I've used to sharpen a badly beat up lawn mower blade. I'd say it's more than paid for itself by the number of bits of steel I've woken back up for real use in the kitchen and the garage. I've even sharpened my toe nail clippers with it 😂

[@Jordan-jy7pg]

I only use one main knife… a $40 Victorinox Fibrox chef knife from Amazon. I also use a cheap paring knife here and there. Anyways, would it still be worth it for me? I just want a few cheap, sharp, and reliable knives to cook with! Thanks :)

[@webderek]

Awesome. Way more informative than any other reviews of this system. Most say that rounding of the tip is a big danger for beginners but it sounded like your brother mastered that problem pretty quick.

[@OUTDOORS55]

I think that problem is solved bu sharpening at 20 degree's rather than 25.

[@vensheaalara]

VERY ENTERTAINING. Seriously, a great review that never got boring

[@KarlMySuitcase]

Like the extra entertainment skits you are adding.

[@OUTDOORS55]

Thanks! It keeping me occupied anyway 🙂

[@MrAlexH1991]

I’m getting into professional sharpening myself and I’m SO glad that people like you exist. Cause I’m just starting out and I never would have thought about details like how skipping too much in grit can make burr removal more difficult and lead to a less sharp product 🤯

[@ionescurazvan913]

You have a great sense of humor; you should use it more often in your videos. Your impression of Mr. Smith is spot on.

[@MrBowser2012]

I would watch these videos without the added entertainment value, but it’s a great bonus😁. I think I’m going to watch the matrix tonight…

[@randy-9842]

You do a great Mr. Smith! I threw away a tabletop (powered) sharpener like the one you discarded. I'm NOT an expert, but at least I fully agreed with you on that one!

[@OUTDOORS55]

Thanks appreciate the kind words 🙏

[@sinisterswordsman25]

Never thought I'd be this guy and probably not the first to point this out but... you're not supposed to use the 80 grit green belt on knives. In the instructions it says something like it will make to deep of scratches and blah blah blah. Maybe that information was only in the videos I don't remember. But that's probably why you had those pesky micro burs. Oh and side note this thing absolutely kicks ass for sharpening swords! I have a couple of double edged swords and I sharpened both of them to damn near shaving sharp in like 5 mins. Just skip the green belt. You're 100% right with everything you said. This system does kick ass but it's not exactly... exact. Edit: swords I have are each 30" double edged. That's roughly 120" of high carbon steel in about 5 minutes.

[@jimmyford4509]

I sharpened my knives strictly on stones all my life until I finally decided to give it a chance. Mine was the Work Sharp Ken Onion edition and Ive used it pretty regularly for probably 5 yrs or more now. It sure saves you a lot of time and usually comes out with very satisfactory results. I have used up a lot of belts over the years, but as long as you pay attention to what you're doing and don't push them too hard, the belt life is not too shabby. After a fewbelt changes, the number of which usually is dictated by whatever it is you happen to be working on at the time, you end up nearly where you want it to be. By quickly getting most of the "heavy lifting" done by using the Work Shop, it is a great time saver. I usually finish up the process on a wooden braced leather strop with a little diamond dust on it for burr removal followed by a few minutes on a normal leather strop Just mainly have to make sure you strop using the same angle and direction as on the belt sharpener...anyway, works for me. I've enjoyed your videeo as I've had an interest in making things sharp as far back as I can remember. Is that a little creepy?..........Anyway, thanks for the effort you put into your videos, from North Carolina

[@CyberChrist]

Your production value is way higher that we deserve ^^

[@gatsbysgarage8389]

I have the “Ken onion” version of this, with 15°-25° adjustability, and I am also left handed. Doing it right handed hasn’t been an issue and I’ve had pretty good results with belt longevity. With the simpler carbon steels I normally make knives out of it works quite well, although I typically call it good when it shaves and slices heavy belly leather easily. It’s not as good on my s90v knife that’s mid 60s hrc but I use diamond for stuff like that

[@gatsbysgarage8389]

Also not sure if it makes a difference but the Ken onion version also has much more speed adjustability and has a blade rest you can fold out of the way. I’d spring for that version over the mk2 but it is more expensive. Good diamond stones are better but it wasn’t until I watched these videos that I was able to even get a decent edge from stones and for doing lots of consistent sharpening on softer knives it’s pretty sweet

[@vgullotta]

That's super interesting that you didn't get all the belts. I ordered a slightly different version years ago, the "Ken Onion" version and it has a course, medium, fine and xtra fine belts and I believe the fine is 1000 and the extra fine is a stropping belt. I only sharpen 2 knives, both kitchen knives. One is a nice Wustoff chef knife and one is a relatively inexpensive stainless steel chef knife and both get hair whittling sharp if I spend like 10minutes on them with just the last 2 belts now. I profiled them the first time to the 17 degree with all 4 belts the way they say in those other YT videos and now I just fine tune once every couple months with the finest 2 belts. I think if you can get your hands on all the belts, you will have a better experience for sure. When I ordered mine, I ordered an extra pack of belts and I just started using the second set a few months ago.

[@PM-wt3ye]

Not „slightly“ different, more like double to triple the price?!

[@vgullotta]

@@PM-wt3ye mine was 129 on Amazon when I got it, but that was like 3 or 4 years ago

[@jacob1121]

@@vgullotta Yeah and my brother just got the same office chair as I did 2 years ago and it is 50% more expensive, inflation (greed) is going nuts right now.

[@keithdubose2150]

Thanks .... been using a harbor freight 1x30 belt sander .. for fish cleaning knives... and after watching your channel I was wondering if I was missing out compared to your diamond stone approach... I learned a lot and I will keep the belt sander with reasonable grit steps to get 'good enough ' edges .. And keep watching your vids ! Thanks !

[@dtune30]

Hi. Just want to say......I LIKE KNIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@therogers4432]

Me too. Knives frikkin rock ☺️👍

[@jdearing46]

I like turtles 😂

[@woolval52]

I absolutely love your videos. Your video editing and writing skills are on par with your sharpening skills, very creative. Looks like you have fun while also being educational. And I actually am learning!! Thanks.

[@lanep4322]

@5:11 you do a killer Agent Smith impersonation, haha. Great vid as always!

[@FreedomYak]

Instruction and a show. I fkn love it. I have one of these. Works good for high use edges that you don’t have time or want to spend time sharpening. Can’t replace a good set of stones but is quick and easy.

[@joshuagibson2520]

A tip worth sharing. Clean oil free metal will load up belts less and result in longer life of the belt. Not exponentially longer life, but it will make a difference.

[@alphaomegasurvivalsupply6548]

One of those sanding belt cleaning blocks work really well for clearing them out and I use it myself

[@rallegade]

Just absolutely love your editing style and way of story telling!

[@Keith_the_knife_freak]

Plz make an update video when you get the other belts plz

[@charlesenfield2192]

I used the Ken Onion Worksharp for a few years. I was an immediate fanboy. It came with 1000 and 3000 grit belts, and I had good luck getting my knives very sharp. Not only does the edge get sharper and more durable with the finer belts, but you can touch up a dull edge with the the 1000 grit belt and remove material a little more slowly, which gives greater control That's important for the first reason I don't recommend the Worksharp. 1) It's difficult to use without changing the profile. You may not notice after one or two sharpenings, but eventually you'll observe the knives changing shape. If you're like me, you'll notice embarrassingly long after you should have. I ruined the profile on several kitchen knives before I realized the damage I was doing. Once the profile was messed up, I couldn't use the worksharp to fix it. Furthermore, once I was aware of the problem, it took me a lot of practice to maintain the profile. It's hard not removing too much material from the heel and the tip. A tool that seems ridiculously simple at first, was actually pretty hard to use properly. 2) Bits of steel and abrasive get embedded in the plastic guides and scratch the knives. Personally, I don't care what my knives look like as long as they function well, but I know a lot of people spend big money on nice knives and want them to stay pretty. This isn't a good sharpener for that. 3) I would probably still be using the Worksharp except the trigger broke. At which time I learned that they don't sell repair parts. It's not a particularly well-made tool, and when (not if) it breaks, you throw it away and buy a new one. I switched to a 1x30 belt sander with Trizact belts. The initial investment was slightly more than the Worksharp (about $160) because of the cost of the belts, but they're worth it. They cut faster and stay cooler than Aluminum Oxide or SiC. Knives get just as sharp, just as fast as with the Worksharp, but it's easier to maintain the blade's profile, and if you damage a blade you can use it to reprofile the edge.

[@clandestinetactical]

I lost it at “THIS IS - WORKK SHARRPPP!!! “ 😂 🤣 I’ll never unsubscribe

[@thefunky_brassmonkey]

I have the Ken Onion Edition(KOE) with Blade Grinding Attachment. Now the regular KOE has the same size belts as the MK2, but you can adjust the grind angle anywhere between 30-15 degrees and you have an adjustable speed setting and you can also lock the the power button down, so you do not have to hold the handle while sharpening. Now the big upgrade to all of this is the Blade Grinding Attachment(BGA), sold seperately round about $80, and the first thing you'll notice is that the belts are much larger. MK2 and KOE both use 1/2in x 12in belts. The BGA uses 1in x 18in. And you'll notice there is no "guiding tool" for the knife, you're basically free handing it at this point. Cant wait to see if you ever get the KOE with BGA and compare!

[@Vintech64]

I have the Ken Onion edition of the Work Sharp. I love it.

[@KnightsArmory]

I really like my work sharp ken onion edition. I have sharpened more knives than i could count with it. It works great. Love your videos 🙂👊

[@richarddixon2612]

Found the Work Sharp Ken Onion edition at flea market couple weeks ago priced at $20, ordered belt kit for it. Had some issues where an old belt had gotten stuck onto the lower drive pulley. Sent email to customer service and the reply told me how to repair it myself and adjust the belt tracking. I've been practicing with it on a box of cheap Chinese pocket knives and kitchen knives. So far I'm impressed with it. Arthritis is making my sharpening on stones and diamond plates more difficult. Wouldn't say it is getting them "shaving sharp" but that isn't what I use my knives for anyway. Good info on this video, thanks.

[@manjitahzan9577]

Can you show us how to properly sharpen longer blades like swords and machetes using whetstone?

[@Shilohcane]

I have bought at least four different knife sharpeners systems. Finally got the Work Sharp. Think it came with 5 or 6 belts. It still has some learning curve. It maybe does not give a perfect edge but it makes my knife sharper than any other knife sharpener device I have tried. Love my Work Sharp. It was worth the price.

[@jwiz1911]

OMG the references! Love the Agent Smith bits! 😂

[@Leightr]

I was an oilstone purist since the 90s but I got one of these at Cabelas after trying out their demo. I have a lot of cutting edges in my shop, I collect/ make knives, machetes, axes, a few swords, and I thought this might speed up what was often a fairly time consuming task. And from my end, it did. You can get a more polished edge on a stone with skill, but this thing is pretty quick. Just like with a stone I finish with alternating light passes with the finest grit. As a bit of a "torture" test I removed the serrations from a Opinel camp knife (I had purchased the serrated version by mistake). Since the belt has some slack it is harder to keep the edge angles all flat though and if you're not careful you can easily round off the point. edit: Oh, also, when I did the many many passed on the Opinel, steel dust built up on the angle guide which resulted in a visible marring line along the length of the blade, so, if you use this thing a lot, wipe the guide off or risk marring your nice shiny knife.

[@blitzkriegfritz2779]

its fun to watch videos like that sitting in the ER because I slipped while working with my knife and shaving of big chunks of meat from my fingers.

[@jiahaotan696]

aaarrrrgghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

[@blitzkriegfritz2779]

for those interested, I turned my index and my middle finger into Goulash. I sliced the flesh right off the finger in two big chunks. Thankfully no sinews or bones have been damaged, but it will take a while to regrow now.

[@Naptosis]

@@blitzkriegfritz2779 I hope you get well soon! 🤍

[@lanceking769]

Good job sharpening your wit. Nice balance of humor and useful info😂

[@HexenzirkelZuluhed]

You're a fantastic Mr. Smith!

[@imaninerrah3127]

Thank you for reviewing this! I have one and always questioned how good it was when compared to someone with a mountain of skill. Watched through to end and am happy. Thanks for what you do !

[@fedup7416]

My two cents. 1 maybe a leather strop belt with the kit would deal with those burrs.2 If I was left handed or not, I would have it fixed to a bench for more consistent accuracy. I sharpen all my knives on my 1x30 belt sander with my 20 degree jig I made. I finish with 30 microns, but what really makes the difference is the leather strop belt.

[@magnusandersen8898]

LOVED the Matrix references! Awesome as always. And that sharpener was better than I was expecting..

[@johnarnold8468]

I watched one reviewer on You Tube who said that he noticed less edge retention with the Work Sharp compared to sharpening with stones. He attributed the loss of edge retention that he noticed to a weakening of the metal due to increased friction. He agrees with you that the added friction from the Work Sharp is not anything extreme, but assumes that it is still present to some degree and therefore weakens the metal, resulting in a reduction in edge retention. As you continue with testing this product in the future, it would be interesting to see if you get a similar result or not. Always look forward to your posts. Great content and very entertaining,

[@kevinfisher1345]

While the edge retention might possibly be due in part to weakening from heat, there are more important factors involved here. I would argue the biggest is simply due to the angle of the grind. The grind is straight, and ideally you want the grind to be at an angle. The edge simply will be weaker if it is in the same direction of the cutting. Having an angle grind will make the edge stronger. With it weaker it simply will not have the same degree of edge retention. On top of this, most types of steel apparently per this review is getting it sharp but not hair whittling sharp. This means there is still some roughness to the edge which will only impact that even more. Those small microscopic rough edges will simply lead to the sharpness degrading faster as it catches whatever you are cutting and wear it down faster. If you can get the edge to hair whittling sharp, it likely will have better edge retention. Which all falls back to the angle of the grind again. If you can get the edge to hair whittling sharp, the angle of the grind will matter less, but as that is not happening in most cases the angle of the grind matters more so making the edge retention to be also be less.

[@anthonyclark9159]

factory knives are sharpened with a belt, yet it doesn't affect the edge retention. I think he is barking up the wrong tree. More likely the rough apex as shown

[@kiwichem4336]

as a left handed person, i love the fact that you pointed out that this tool can be really hard for a lefthanded person to use, alot of the time when i see tool reviews or anyother kindof review often left hand use is not pointed out at all. This is also in my opinion a huge problem especially since most products are not designed to be used with the left hand, which is also why most left handed tools for example scissors or rulers are often more expensive than the right handed counterpart

[@adanma17]

This is that million dollar production video 😂👌👌👌

[@OUTDOORS55]

More like a $0.10 production video 😂👍

[@therogers4432]

​​@@OUTDOORS55Don't sell yourself short Alex -these skits you were doing were amazing and the editing was spot-on, so thanks for making the effort and I hope you had a blast making them because it sure looled like you did? ☺️👍

[@OUTDOORS55]

@@therogers4432 thanks! I like doing these since its super boring making standard "table top" reviews. I guess you never know what youll get when you click on one of my videos 😂 Thanks again my friend 🙏👊

[@chris993361]

I really like my ken onion edition. It is even great that you can use it on lawnmower blades as just a hand held belt sander. I don't remember what all the grits are, but mine came with a 4th grit. I just looked and it came with 5 grits. These included 120, 220, 1000, 3000, and 6000. So it definitely has the missing in between steps.

[@The_RC_Guru]

Had it, hated it, top idler bearing burned out after a few uses and I tossed it in the trash and haven’t bought anything worksharp since.

[@grilledflatbread4692]

mine burned out, they replaced it with a new one. so they stand by the warranty at least

[@The_RC_Guru]

@@grilledflatbread4692 there’s obviously qc issues in general then or really low quality parts to maximize their profits. The idea of what it is and how it’s supposed to work is certainly great! But poor quality products turned me off. I don’t generally toss something so quick but it really ticked me off to fizzle so fast and seeing all the money they spend on advertising all over stores and online that’s what immediately popped into my head. They got their money out of me because I didn’t warranty it, but lost me for the rest of my life and lost whoever else’s business that asks me about it. Maybe most the rest of their electric sharpeners are fine, but I doubt they’re in it for too much use. I bought a bunch of sanding belts that day too lol. But I’ve found other uses for them on different stuff.

[@irvingdog01]

….also, I love taking this when we go to friends places. Cabins and such. Fun to put a keen edge on all of the knives, tools, etc.

[@TheFredFarkle]

Thanks for this review! I recently purchased the Worksharp Professional Precision Adjust Sharpening System and I absolutely love it, but it is quite expensive and more involved to use properly but the results are amazing. It comes with an angle meter, pocket knife jig, and a 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, a Fine Ceramic and a Leather Strop plate. It makes all my knives scary sharp. I use 17 degrees for my Damascus Slicing and Chef's knives, and 20 degrees for all the German Steel knives. Oh, and it's ambidextrous.

[@skyler1359]

So as a lefty who has used both versions if this sharpener it’s really not that bad. I actualy set the sharpener perpendicular to me and pull the blade parallel to my body. Makes seeing the blade to make sure it’s properly aligned the whole draw a lot easier. Also bought a ton of belts if eBay with far more grit options for the initial sharpening. Then use the fine and ultra fine work sharp branded ones to maintain the edges. No strop. Sharp enough to shave and my work knives survive 1-3 months before needing a touch up. Light work mostly plastic and cardboard. A kersaw grinder and an el cheapo one.

[@vyrkmod]

So much artistic effort put in a sharpener review. Standing applause.

[@OtherWorldExplorers]

For that price you could get a 1-in belt sander that can do that and a lot of other things. And the belt replacement cost is equal to if not cheaper for most grits. That's a bit of a uni tasker

[@therogers4432]

Yup, full agreement with ^this common sense approach^ -just make jigs for whatever angles you need, and get not only a 'free' 1" grinder for other projects, but also a warm sense of achievement each time you use it and think "Yeah... I made this and it works really good... ☺️👍". Or maybe that's just me...? 🙄

[@joeasher2876]

I came here for the review, but the production quality is much better than what I expect from KZbin reviews. Well done.

[@PetesGuide]

Future video request: I’ve had a Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener sitting in my drawer since the middle of 2020, and never had enough knowledge to feel comfortable using it until this and your last couple of videos. Can you take a look at this tool and tell us everything about it? In particular I’d like to find out your take on hoe it handles the knives on the common premium multitools. Victorinox blades (440?), Leatherman Charge & Arc (S30V & Magnacut). In particular: 1) the geometry of the Field Sharpener interferes with the handles of the Charge, and 2) the strop appears to be tougher than you would approve of. Is the leather good enough I could strip it and apply diamond compound? Or should I just cut it off and glue belt leather down? The above would make an awesome video of direct interest to every LM & SAK owner.

[@PetesGuide]

HOW not HOE. Doh! My horrible spelling typos strikes again.

[@EDCwithDBD]

Great video. Makes me want to get the newest pro version. Awesome editing.

[@LTT.Official]

Been around since about 10k subs and I've never seen you do this much effects and showmanship, please continue. As for the sharpener, I have the Mk1 and I use it as you said, on kitchen knives I don't really care about but I just want a quick sharp edge. The fact that you can take the guide off and take the thing to an axe or sheers is great. I've been running the same belts on mine for about 5 years and they still work, so longevity isn't a problem, they just need to include some additional belt grits.

[@someone890]

I've started watching your videos and I'm learning a lot. I have a 6" WÜSTHOF chef knife. I'm nervous about sharpening it I don't wanna ruin it.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Good review. A few things to note though, not many kitchen knives are sharpened at 20 degrees. Most are at 14-17 for European and down to 10 or so for Japanese. Any sharpener that uses abrasives like this without water cooling will affect the heat treat at the very apex/ micro bevel of the blade. Yes, this is for the 10% as you say, but for professional knives that you spend a lot of money on, this is a real thing.

[@OUTDOORS55]

I disagree about this affecting the ht. You can clearly see when an apex is overheated under magnification. Running this on low speed doesn't harm ht at the apex if using sharp abrasives. Otherwise I agree which is why I suggest always using the 20 degree bevel.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

@@OUTDOORS55while you might not see it, the micro edge HT is being affected. Talk with high end custom cutlery makers (Artificery, Mareko Maumasi, others) and they’ll back this up. You’re basically screwing the temper at the very edge and affecting its edge retention. Like I said, this is for the 10%, but it’s real.

[@OUTDOORS55]

Not sayit can't happen because it definitely can. However its not much of a worry with this system in particular. Its more of a worry with high speed, high grit belts, when using a platen. Ive done plenty of testing myself on this using microscopes, hardness testing, and edge retention testing. I have the same testing equipment everyone else does and more. 👍

[@jamesnelson6848]

I've got this one and the Ken Onion and the grinder attachment. I found the guides on both to be troublesome at best. Chunk the guides and unleash some real sharpening ability...

[@jschlaud6]

You nailed it man, loved the matrix theme. I have one of these and i love it for getting my knives and tools "almost there". I still finish on a high grit stone or diamond plate, then ceramic and finish with stroping. Its great for saving time and elbow grease. Especially for tools like shovels, axes, lawnmower blades etc.

[@steffenschneider3266]

I have the old version, i use it without the knife guidance and oblique with a different angle. After a lot of different Belts i use Leather strop with 0.25 micron diamond grinding paste. My Victorinox Knive is very very sharp, if I run it lightly over my very hairy arms, there are no hairs left; I don't notice any difference to my razor (yes, I have one and use it often). But I also have knives that I can't get that sharp with it. For example, I sharpen my Damascus knives with 4 different whetstones and the leather strap, and they are at least as sharp as my razor. So it's really good for medium-priced knives with certain types of steel, or if you want to get something very sharp quickly.

[@gokuusf]

I have the Ken Onion Elite Edition with the blade grinding attachment which has belts going from 120, 220, 1k, 3k & 12k if ya want a mirror finish as well as two cloth stropping belts. Works great from sharping kitchen knives, to pocket and fixed blade knives, even lawn mower blades and other tools. The MK2 is more of a gen. purpose sharpener for reg people while the Ken Onion line is more for the serious sharpener.

[@andygray9285]

Wow really appreciate the the work you put into this video. well done.

[@sayeager5559]

Ive been looking at getting one of these for quite sometime. I found an open box unused model at the flea market yesterday. I had already ordered a set of 9 different grits of belts. You pointing out the convex aspect was very helpful. My fiend has made me a set of 3d printed angle modifying pads as well.

[@mathyszka]

The worksharp has a remain on setting to make it easier to use left handed. The pro sharpener attachment for it that lets you do more freehand sharpening is also pretty great. I’ve used it for a while now as a lefty and had no issues with it. My Shapton glass stones barely come out anymore unless I want more of a relaxing sharpen.

[@lukask5285]

Dude, your cutting and dramaturgic skills are on par with your sharpening and knife building skills. Love it!

[@michaelforrester9963]

As someone who own the Ken onion bench top I can tell you after sharpening 1 or 2 tops premium steel knives the belt is done. You have to put fresh belts on for a new job after sharpening premium steels. There’s no grit left on the belt. This is why custom knife makers charge so much. Abrasive belts aren’t cheap and cheap belts aren’t good

[@JerryLoffelbein]

I use the Ken Onion version with the blade grinding attachment personally. It's not nearly as fool-proof as the guides for novices, but... I REALLY don't like the blade guide on the standard Ken Onion. Since it supports differing angles, it's far too easy to tilt the blade guide sides if you apply almost any pressure against them (I think they'll tilt to about 30 degrees). It's much easier to do that with larger knives like a chef's knife. They come with more belt grits which does help with burr removal. I mainly use the stiff belt set. I haven't had the fabric belts (6000/12000 grit) wear out quickly, but they do take polishing compound nicely once they do, whether it be wax or emulsion based. All that being said, for the vast majority of my knives, I'll use it for reprofiling new pocket knives and put a final edge on with stones. I tend to prefer the V edge to the concave the slack belts put on. More often than not though, for kitchen knives it works great, and if someone needs a "touch up" on their pocket knife (which for my acquaintances is usually cheaper steel with a gnarly beat up edge) I can get those sorted out quickly where hair whittling sharp isn't a necessity.

[@billleonard8126]

i have one of the original work sharp sharpener and bought the extra belts and can put a razor edge on just about any knife. love it

[@Thestargazer56]

Great informative video. I have a Work Sharp electric sharpener and can get a decent "factory" edge, similar to a new out-of-the-box sharpness (shaves hair off my arm). It is about equal to an old Lansky system but faster. But, with time and practice, I get better results with an Arkansas whetstone or oil stone, and I can get even better results with my great grandfather's old hard straight-razor stone and razor strop. It is definitely a skill that you have to invest time in learning. I have his old Shumate razor that was made around 1890.

[@MrGrigs681]

I have had the Ken Onion version for years and it works great. They are so popular now you can get just about any grit belt you want online. I also use a 1x30 belt grinder and that works equally as well for less money and even more choices in belt grit and quality. I even use them to sharpen my utility knife blades because so often they are just not that sharp out of the box. As for the convex edge, what you give up in absolute sharpness, you gain in durability.

[@bloodgain]

I love mine, as does my brother. I have the Ken Onion edition with the blade grinding attachment (ultimate flexibility, though a bit more manual) and gave him my old "Mk 1" WSKTS. You can also get aftermarket belts for them, including both cloth and leather strops in addition to some quality abrasives, often cheaper than the Work Sharp brand belts.

[@Nachtmahr79]

I have the MK. 1 of the work sharp. Yes, they dont become as sharp as I can get them with whetstones, but it literally takes me a few minutes to sharpen all my kitchen knives with it, while hand-sharpening takes much, much longer. And it has seen a lot of knives, scissors and tools over the years and still works just great. I have used it for everything from small vegetable knives up to garden machetes - it never failed. I like it very much.

[@37gdog]

Do you have any issue with the grind not being even on each side of the blade?

[@Nachtmahr79]

@@37gdog No, it works just fine