Sharpening a Knife Using the "Ken Onion Edition" Knife Sharpener

Here's how to sharpen a knife using the "Ken Onion Edition" of the Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener. Join me on my website: www.WorkSharpEasy.com

[@johnmeyer77]

Excellent video. This should have been on the DVD they shipped with the Ken Onion sharpener, instead of the lame video that they produced. After watching this video, I actually know how to use this thing. Thanks!

[@Idk-dr6dk]

John Meyer how do you like it?

[@ohmygil]

Love your videos, Doug, very informative and to the point, thank you. I bought a Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition because of you.

[@d307p]

Doug. That was probably the best and most informative instructional video of any product I've ever watched on KZbin. Thank you very much.

[@KFGrandt]

Thanks for putting this up. I just picked one up, and it helps to see it in use instead of just reading it. Very easy to follow.

[@winegarstronghold2734]

Just bought mine on Sunday at the WA Sportsman's Show! Cant wait to use it!

[@shawnholliday4138]

Doug it was a pleasure to meet you today in Eugene Oregon at the LCF gun show. I've loved Work Sharp ever since they've come out but watching you in person and you taking the time to answer questions made my day. God Bless and I look forward to seeing you next time. Keep up the good work Doug and work Sharp! Wish I had the Ken Onion after your demos by the way.

[@eitremn]

This is the best tutorial I've found for this sharpener. Thank you!

[@patcatalano9031]

Thanks Doug.....I'm finally getting excellent results with my Ken Onion Sharpener.

[@johnmuehlberger2269]

Very Informative. I just got a Ken Onion sharpener and your video helped quite a bit. Thanks.

[@audiorazor]

Was trying to decide which sharpening kit to get and after watching your video I have decided on this one. thanks for the easy to understand info!

[@ChrisRobertson1212]

Great video, thanks for posting. Just got my sharpener today, can't wait to give it a try.

[@matth.9468]

Good teaching never gets old. Thanks!

[@DGA2000]

VERY helpful. I want one now. Thanks for sharing the details

[@90grains]

Very informative and a far better instruction video than what comes with the unit. There is definitely a learning curve with this system.

[@Jaybird-oo3ih]

awesome information Doug Thanks for all you do!!

[@davidwebb5988]

Great review, relaxed, no hype and informative. Thanks...

[@Ripper7620]

Thank you very much for this tutorial, I appreciate it. I really want to get the Tormek T8, but it's gonna take me some time to save up for one, so my plan is to get the Ken Onion with the blade grinder attachment, along with all the different grit belts that are available. Then, after I'm getting closer to being able to afford the Tormek, I'm going to send this to my Son, who desperately needs both a good sharpener, and to learn how to use it. My main concern is that I've mainly only sharpened kitchen cutlery, and will be getting some tactical knives, some with deep hollow point profiles, which I have no experience with sharpening, so I was pleased to see you sharpening a bowie style knife.

[@MrTangent]

Great review/overview. Thanks for doing this.

[@peter-radiantpipes2800]

Excellent video! I’ve watched many now having just got this and yours is the best. I’d suggest explaining out a burr for those that don’t know what that is. This is a better video than the company video

[@WillyGonka66]

Just ordered this. Same day Amazon!

[@Higusky]

Thanks for posting this video helped me tons!

[@williammoore4673]

Ive had mine for a couple of years now! After watching this video have discovered that I am one of those doing it all wrong. Will blow the dust off of it and play with it today. I see that this is an old video so I’m hoping your still at it. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I truly enjoyed the lesson.

[@ChuckBradfordPhotography]

Very good sir, thanks for the review, and instruction.

[@cillaloves2fish688]

Thank you Doug! I'm a woman who loves her knives and this kept me busy all day sharpening every knife in the kitchen, plus some pocket knives and various outdoor knives! That would've taken a lot longer the way I used to sharpen!! Awesome video, I learned a lot and I'm not afraid to use it now... I just need more belts!!

[@MethodOverRide]

How do you like it after having it awhile?

[@FinanceMan]

Have it coming Wednesday and am so excited

[@TimHPop776]

Very, very instructional! I had no idea. I take my knives to a shop to sharpen @ $6 a piece. Thank you!

[@1ronhall]

Terrific video ....... my two attachments should arrive tomorrow!

[@BCJerbs]

Thanks for the video I keep getting told to get this sharpening system but still a little out of my price range! But seriously thanks a bunch for sharing your thoughts and experience with us! Watching from the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island in Canada! Cheers, Jerbs 👍🏼🇺🇸🔪🇨🇦👍🏼

[@TheDaclub]

Just one of these glad I watched your video👍🇺🇸

[@vetteluvnh]

Outstanding! Thank you

[@joepalone5200]

Great vid Doug!! Liked and subbed! Just got mine and I'm loving it!

[@tacobell5150]

very helpful video by the way, thank you.

[@fldiverjc4496]

Great video..nice to see more on the work sharp ken onion..purchased one few months back and love it..feel its one of the best overall sharpening systems out there..and very expandable.

[@WorkSharpEasy]

Hi Joseph. Thanks for your words, glad you love your Ken Onion sharpener. I (of course) think it's by far the best sharpener available for the money. I have a new video on You Tube and on my website, on sharpening garden tools. Check it out.

[@AllenScantland]

Great Video, nice walk-through. After years of trying wet stones, ceramic stones, diamond files, this Ken Onion ed. Work Sharp is looking very promising. I'm in Canada and just a tad envious of that great weather. I have a just a few feet of snow piled up. Cheers.

[@matswaern8916]

Helt lysande

[@johnkennedy9078]

Do you have any issues with sharpening certain folding knives? Are you able to fully sharpen the entire edge? I have around $1000 into my Wicked Edge and considering buying this bc the WE takes so long. I just watched a demo of this sharpener at Gander Outdoors and was honestly blown away when he took a dull blade and sharpened it in about 7 mins

[@jcwbroker]

Doug, excellent video. A lot of people use a product a few times and make a video just to post a 'look what i can do' video. You really immersed yourself into this sharpener and learned it inside and out. Great job!

[@craigfuhr]

Another great video!!! I’d love to see you use the Ken Onion Sharpener to do a smaller pocket knife, with say...a 2.5-3” blade.

[@felipeestradas3853]

Great video!!!

[@iv2996]

Great review. thank you from Russia.

[@1Ggirl1959]

Wow, thanks for the detailed instruction. I've watched many videos, but I'm still not getting my knives super sharp. I think this will he me.

[@shramj]

Just ordered one

[@davidstepeck2644]

Doug, Thank you for all your videos. The problem I am having is the left side of the blade (sharpening on the right side of the Work Sharp) since the right side of the sharpener "sucks" the blade down with rhe belt, just a little bit, I have a steeper (wider) edge on the left side. Because of this, I cannot get a razor sharp edge and I have to try and make a "wider" edge on the right side of the blade by hand.. Very frustrating

[@BeSafeCCW]

Good video Doug! Thanks for the excellent knowledge you've passed on to all of us 'newbies' to professional knife sharpening! :-) Just got my "Ken Onion Edition" knife sharpener yesterday and knew to take it slow with the learning curve and you're video is really helpful! I'm subscribing to your channel and checking out the other videos. You do a very good job speaking in the videos and your demeanor is a plus. As a professional firearms instructor, I know what I'm talking about. It's not easy putting up a camera, gathering all that you need and of course, speaking well. :-)

[@giulianozarabini4605]

Eccellente video. Grazie infinite.

[@dpax7965]

Love the instructional videos you post here, they should be on the DVD you get with purchase of the sharpener. Also, you seem to have a decent collection of knives, would you mind listing the knife you're using as well? Thanks!

[@benjaminserrano2282]

I live in Ventura County. Love my ken onion sharpener

[@ericwiltse8054]

Love my Ken Onion Edition sharpener. Next step,guided Sharpening System

[@wesnellans]

Thanks for the great vid. In another video (or is it this one?) you mention and show using painters tape over the guides to cut down on scratches on the blade while sharpening. Would that not be better to do to the blade itself? I'd think that the tape on the guide could hold grindings and such just as well as the guide itself and would still scratch...? Thanks for all your vids, sir!

[@Sharpbevel]

Very well-done video. Thanks for doing this. Oh by the way, what is the knife you're using? It's a very nice looking piece.

[@jimmeyer9648]

Great video- just bought one-- can I do my straight razor too?

[@jerzyswinoga4828]

Dziękuję za obrazowy instruktaż użycia ostrzałki !

[@bbusigful]

Hi. Very informative video. I would really like to buy one. The thing is, i live in Sweden and we have 220v. If i could find some kind of converter maybe i could use it here. I could probably find a dealer in Sweden but it would probably cost me moore to buy it here. Found some good deals at Amazon. What is your recommendation? Benny.

[@benandsylvia]

Excellent video. Not to seem pedantic, but at 1 second per inch of blade it seems you were going twice as fast. About 2-3 seconds for a 6 inch blade,when it should have taken 6 seconds. Still, it came out razor sharp! I'm getting one for Father's Day, I'm so excited.

[@alexwill3722]

Same thought here and it was nowhere near just over 1 second for the whole length of the blade.

[@alexwill3722]

I have watched several "videos" on the Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition knife sharpener. One guy really stressed 2 points and you also mentioned them in the beginning. Draw the blade at a speed of 1 inch per second, and stop the belt when the tip of the knife is halfway across the blade. The 2nd point about the tip is pretty easy to understand why that would be important but what about the draw speed. This Bowie Knife appears to have about a 6-7 inch ;long blade. You drew the entire blade across the bely in just over 1 second. I guess going too slow would actually be worse than going a little too fast and that the consistency of the speed of the draw is also more important. I watched my first "video" of this Sharpener about a year ago and waited until my Birthday in October for my "hints" to produce the sharpener. No luck and Christmas didn't pan out either. I finally bought it for myself 2 weeks ago at "House of Knives" while on a shopping road trip in a larger city 8 hours drive away.. Your video is the one I chose to watch before my first crack at sharpening some knives. I have a Damascus "carving knife that I bought off a friend who had become a vegetarian. It was sharp as a razor the first time I used it to carve a turkey ( almost like your cutting the paper ). Also, I noticed that at some point the tip has been bent over for about 1/32nd of an inch. Can this sharpener do anything about that or would drawing the tip over the belt slice the belt?

[@paulvilleneuve9628]

Wish I watched this video before I bought the Work Sharp basic model!

[@williaimestrada921]

Can you use this device in the field? What is the current draw? How big of an inverter is needed?

[@danielducu]

Is it possible to sharpen recurve blades with this setup (small and big) ? Tnx

[@jackcrackerman]

I've got one of these, I keep my parents, my sisters and my knives all shaving sharp because I can't stand to use knives at their houses that suck. I've done by hatchets, my lawn mower blades... it's great.

[@1ronhall]

Erasmus_Tycho does it really do a good job on lawnmower blades? I have a new KO sharpener and both attachments being delivered tomorrow.

[@rjazco51]

@@1ronhall I use mine only for the final filing passes. ... U waste bands if U first try taking down a rounded Lawn mower Blade. Just my though.

[@1ronhall]

meandyou youandme much thanks!!

[@Zaerek]

wow I live 10 mins south of you in Oxnard

[@jasonbyu75]

To me, it looks like a 15 degree angle setting represents 15 degrees from vertical. In other words, it would give the edge a 30 degree inclusive edge angle (plus some for the convex nature this system produces). Am I correct in thinking this? Because I don't know why you'd go any higher than 30 degrees for most knives. Also, If you place a beveled edge on the edge guide, it lowers the angle the edge makes with the grinding belt. Just something to consider.

[@standodge5536]

Didn’t stop the belt as per the instructions. Did you round that tip off that you said would happen if you did that?

[@traeucity6087]

Thank you for this well presented video. I noticed what appeared to be a lot of scratches on the blade. Is that from years of service; or was that caused by the abrasive belts? Some of my knives have protective coatings that I don't want damaged.

[@iRtraviss]

Trae UCity You could always apply blue masking tape to protect the coating.

[@traeucity6087]

Thank you! That is a good idea.

[@shawnholliday4138]

It's not from the belts he sharpened a polished finished knife of mine and it's spotless and razor Sharp all the way to the tip

[@tacobell5150]

no matter what I do, I cannot get both sides of the blade the same, I constantly end up with on side of the blade edge way wider than the other, almost like it's defective or something, very very frustrating...

[@scarter176]

Nice Bowie

[@tonyenglish7176]

You mentioned getting a "convex" edge but bushcraft knives have other grinds like sabre, scandinavian, full flat, convex and hollow grind knives. Will this sharpen these type of edges also?? Thanks.

[@ChuckBradfordPhotography]

+Tony English Yes, the convex refers to the edge profile, the grind refers to the blade profile.

[@Deputy276]

I'm a bit confused. You say at the beginning to NOT go past that "stop" section in the middle of the belt. But when I see you sharpening the knife, it looks like you are pulling it all the way through and not stopping. Are you just releasing pressure on the knife or lifting it up or what?

[@proverbs9103]

Do you think this would be able to sharpen a sword I got a couple of swords that I really don't want to mess up the blade on

[@mackmcnasty27]

I have the first edition and you can not do scandi grinds, but can you do scandi grinds with this edition?

[@dmontes4192]

That knife has a mean recurve towards the hilt. Did the worksharp do that ?

[@jhebertutube]

Demo knife. Probably done more knife shows than The Rolling Stones have done concerts. I’d wager it serves many demo purposes and it’s original shape was lost long ago.

[@georgemartin1167]

Did you say that you sell the sharpener and attachments?

[@josephbailey7601]

Does the differing direction of belt travel per side have any impact on sharpness?

[@sgtgrantham]

Thats the reason i havent bought one.

[@markschlueter4913]

Pulling far to fast. This is an amazing tool. If you pull at one inch per second you will get much better results.

[@aaronwag2459]

Will this sharpen a recurve

[@horseinsport]

Do you live in Ventura? I’m familiar with that view!!

[@mcdicksemployee]

Shit you must think that knife is only a inch and a half long

[@tomvangroningen4534]

That’s more than I got, I never received a video

[@peterconnolly2724]

Question: I have one of the smaller Worksharp sharpeners. Is this 'Ken Onion' version available unbranded? Never heard of this Onion person, and I don't like sponsored items.

[@tonyavery3764]

how much are they I need one

[@MLStein-tx5wd]

purchased the Ken Onion Edition last week and have a question. when sharpening steel kitchen knife, it cuts paper quite nicely but doesn't cut a tomato...found if i use the X22 medium grit, the tomato cuts nicely but anything finer doesn't cut the tomato. am i doing something wrong...i have tried a few times but have to resort to the X22 grit.

[@Jor0r]

If the edge gets too polished, it simply slides off the waxy tomato-skin. Regarding specificly tomatoes and other food with wax like skins, you get better performance from a somewhat coarser grit, the knife edge then 'bites' much better into the skin due to the coarser edge. You can stop at the medium grit, then strop on a leather with compound to keep the rougher edge but to clean off any burrs...

[@pokerchannel6991]

Hi: I got the onion edition. I really like it. I do want to know one thing: Is it my imagination or does it seem that I shave hair better after just using the 'fine' paper; and the extra fine paper does not shave hair as well as just the 'fine?' what am I doing wrong? Or does it have to do with 'fine' has more micro abrasions and they catch hair easier? [btw, I have no hair left. lol. gone!] Please let me know what I am doing wrong, or is it just my imagination and the extra fine is actually shaving better? thx! Also, how does this extend to using polishing compound? ie: if I think fine is better than extra-fine, then how does 'fine' compare to using no grit, but just polishing compound? Will I see super improvement if I get the polishing compound and no grit setting? thank you!

[@rubengonzales57]

But I'm left handed is there a KO for a south paw

[@olarky1]

I'm a southpaw too , this tool is not lefty friendly in fact the precarious way you have to operate the power button is a hazard . I suggest getting a cut resistant glove for your right hand . Amazon has them and not expensive , I use mine cooking and wash it in the washing machine when they get dirty . Be nice if they made a lefty friendly model . Most tools are easaly adapted but not this one , do use every precaution with this thing .

[@osbaldohernandez9174]

What the brand of that knife

[@kenroman777]

@ Doug Houser.. good video but you are ignoring the 1" per second instruction so why do you tell us to do that ?

[@CHiLDisHCOrBinO]

I've been looking into the Ken Onion edition and it seems to be a great device. You make it look so easy. I am also getting into making my own knives. The Grinder will be a great help. Great presentation (even with the wind) haha. Could you do a knife blank grinding video? thanks -Corben

[@bigmike9558]

Says 1 inch per second then pulls 3 inches per second lol

[@Jan-gj8bm]

Big Mike lmao ikr

[@SergeantExtreme]

The speed of how fast you pull the knife through the sharpener isn't anywhere near as important as the *CONSISTENCY* of how you pull the knife through the sharpener. Fast or slow, as long as you pull the knife through the sharpener at a *CONSTANT* speed, you're going to get good results.

[@adamaj74]

So you can't sharpen a scandi grind with this sharpener?

[@jayunitedwestand1810]

if you don't mind me asking, what knife is that? it's real nice!

[@Arjen511]

+*night_stalker1975 * It's the "Elk Ridge Fixed Blade Hunting Knife Leather Handle".

[@jayunitedwestand1810]

if thats elk ridge i can't find any like that there all like 30 dollar knives.i don't think thats a cheap knife!!!

[@Arjen511]

+*night_stalker1975 * if you look closely at the blade in the video, you can see the words "Elk Ridge". That's how I found out. Doesn't look cheap, I agree!

[@jayunitedwestand1810]

lol and i can't find it anywhere, all the elk ridge knives are cheap and being this guy is no slouch i'm sure he is not going to carry a cheap knife..i thought maybe custom made 20 years old or something, if you see it anywhere please give me a shout out ok it's a awesome blade!!

[@Arjen511]

+*night_stalker1975 * or he could be taking a cheap blade as an example, to show that even those types of blades are easily sharpened using the Work Sharp haha.

[@codyholland5138]

That knife has a bad recurve down towards the hilt. That's what belt type sharpeners are good for. That's where a good flat stone comes in.

[@bugida3266]

the ken bone edition

[@cosmin6155]

what knife is that?

[@puma421]

what knife is that...??

[@dreamerweaver]

Nice. I want my knives so sharp I can cut atoms.

[@Idk-dr6dk]

I know I’m gonna sound like a noob but what does he mean by burr

[@codyholland5138]

Idk after you grind on one side of the blade, you will have a "burr" or "wire edge" on the other side. It's metal that you've ground of the edge, but it's still clinging to the edge. The finer grit you're using, the less burr it will form.

[@Idk-dr6dk]

Cody Holland ok thanks

[@peanutman6593]

I’ve had my Canon for many years, but used it very little. When I recently tried sharpening at low speed, it popped and sparked and died. I took it apart, the motor is junk and unrepairable.

[@kenroman777]

@Doug Holser in what world does your pull rate equal one inch per second for even if that is a 6 inch blade and it appears larger you are doing more than 4 inches per second since your strokes are less than 2 seconds and since you got the knife sharp I see that the 1 inch per second is just words that mean nothing,

[@zachster2016]

You sharpened it much slower on the left side than the right side

[@keithwilliams5151]

your motto should be "Work Sharp, not Hard". thanks for vids!!!

[@user-kitchenKatter]

Sharpening of the KO film Sharpening of very long knives, above the pulley stage (invention) kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYfboIJ6rLxqg8k

[@alexwill3722]

Your best point was READ THE INSTRUCTIONS, all of them!

[@fishbustin7926]

You're pulling 6 inches per second

[@sammyzonna8045]

he sure is

[@josephbailey7601]

Your momma pulls 6 in per second! Doug -

[@Gregg0112]

The first inch by the handle never got sharpened. By the time the rpm came up he was halfway down the blade

[@johnbiernacki2367]

He seems very knowledgeable and it would help if he was doing what he says. Teach by example

[@MrTangent]

I think he pulled it fast to speed up the review. It’d be pretty long if he actually did it per manual.

[@AnonymousAlcoholic772]

No matter how much I clean it no matter what I put on the guide, this damn thing keeps scratching up my knife blades. I’ve tried blowing it out with air. I tried cleaning it with Q-tips. Yeah I get to my sharp but it looks like shit. He just leaves the long linear gash on the side of the blade.

[@jeremys8360]

What a nice artificial recurve. That’s exactly why I don’t use belt systems

[@papageo5]

I see the recurve you're talking about. However, I have a worksharp, and I pay attention to what I'm doing while using. I have no recurve. Also if you like a convex edge, it's very difficult to do on a stone. I do admire those who can use stones, but I just don't have the skill or patience. Have you ever watched Virtuovice ? He is amazing.

[@RobDeelComedy]

Dude said, and showed, the instructions to stop at the blade tip, mid-belt. And then proceeded to do the opposite. LOL!