Work Sharp WSKTS-W Knife & Tool Sharpener

I've been looking for a sharpening system mostly for our low-to-mid-quality kitchen knife set for some time. I've tried the stone/freehand method, which was nifty at first (you can really go down a rabbit hole on freehand/stone techniques) but it was too long to do each knife, and I'm unwilling to put in the time to master the technique, so the stone just lays around and I never use it anymore.Then, recently I thought I found a solution with the highly regarded Sharpmaker system (Spyderco), bought that, and found that it too takes time to master it (this idea of keeping the blade vertical free-hand, and also getting the blade to consistently lay flat on the flat surface just doesn't work for me), and it just took forever to get one dull knife back in shape. In the reviews for it, a lot of folks conclude that it's more of a "keep sharp" system, not a "make sharp" system, and that was exactly my experience. For fine knives, that are already sharp and you want do keep them that way, I'd say this system is the best. But not for the owner of a low/mid-quality knife set just trying to get them back in shape again.I was suspicious about the Work Sharp - it looked like a "brute force" method that probably would do an ok but not great job, and might easily grind way too much off the knife. But after the Sharpmaker didn't pan out (I'm selling that on Nextdoor now), I finally took the plunge and ordered one last week.So I got it and - Holy cow. It works really well. I got all of our kitchen knives and our steak knives in razor sharp shape in record time (maybe about 3-5 minutes per knife, from not cutting paper at all, to slicing paper like butter). It doesn't seem to take too much off the blade - no more than any freehand/stone type method - and it just really quickly gets you to super sharp. I know it takes all of the art out of knife sharpening, but I don't care. I wanted to find a way to keep our somewhat mediocre set of knives very sharp, and I've found it.The only drawback, is that it seems the sanding belts don't last a long time, and you gotta keep buying new ones if you use it a lot. But, I think I also wore them out faster than normal in just getting my whole set of knives up to snuff. Likely I'll not wear the belts out as quickly just maintaining them after that. At $7 for a replacement set (comes actually with two of each belt), this may be the gift that keeps on costing, but it works so well, I'll happily plunk down $7 a year or so to keep all our knives razor sharp . . . I was gonna knock off a star because of this fact, but naw - I love this thing, I don't care that I have to buy new belts every now and then. It's changed our kitchen for the better/safer, so it's worth it.There is a more expensive model that can do all sorts of other edge angles, and with a variable speed motor (Ken Onion Edition), and that probably appeals to folks with all sorts of knives to sharpen, but I just don't need all that. My kitchen knives are all super sharp, I'm done, and this basic model is all I need . . . .

After finally throwing away my bench belt sander because it quit (and never was all that great. I could never get my knives shaving sharp), I bought this little gem. And what a gem it is! My knives (and I have tons of them) are all sharp enough to shave with now, and it was so easy. For kicks I viewed a 10 best list for sharpeners and Work Sharp was on it, but the nightmare system that got chosen for number one cost a fortune, was incredibly complicated to use, and is a joke. For you out there interested in having sharp knives (that should include everyone) Work Sharp is the best, easiest to use, and cheapest solution to your quest. This is a seven star product!Update: I've had this thing half a year now. I've sharpened about 50 knives, including my impossible-to-sharpen German knives, some twice and my pocket knife three times. All on the same set of two belts, I'm color blind so color isn't a problem. I go by feel. To those people with rounded tips, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS! No rounded tips here or scuffed up surfaces. As far as sharpness goes, this sharpener will get your knives sharper than any other system, bar none. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS! My knives are as sharp as any razor on the market. My Wenger Swiss Army pocket knife works better on cardboard than a box cutter with a new blade. I found a case for my Work Sharp on Amazon for $9.00. When someone needs a knife sharpened, I arrive looking like a doctor on a house call (that would be 70 or 80 years ago) but with a much smaller bag.I have the less expensive model. Let Ken and his buddies spend twice as much to mess with the adjustable version. Some people just have to fiddle with perfection. Don't pay any attention to the nay-sayers. They can't follow instructions or maybe can't read. Possibly their hands are shaking from too much alcohol. I have exotic stones from around the globe and diamonds galore. No professional knife maker uses any of those to prep a knife for sale. They all use belts. It took me 81 years to find the right one. My poor father died 18 years ago at the age of 97 and never got his knives shaving-sharp. That's 97 years of failure! They would take the hair on your arm, but barely. They are all shaving-sharp now. May God rest his soul.

The first time I wrote this review, I thought I was writing a separate review for each of the two units they carry and I purchased. The less expensive Work Sharp WSKTS-W unit is a very good knife sharpener and one of the very best I have ever used; however, I returned it for its more expensive sibling the Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition to reduce the number of parts that you have to keep track of when you store it and for the ease of use its more expensive sibling provides. My review on the better unit is applicable to this one from a sharpening standpoint. If money is a concern, don't hesitate to get this one as it does an excellent job. However, in quality and ease of use the more expensive unit is just better all around. These units beat every other sharpener I have ever purchased and will get your knives razor sharp. This is especially relevant to the newer expensive stainless steel knives that are very hard to sharpen with a stone or steel like the older carbon steel blades (I still prefer). Slicing through skin on tomatoes is a piece of cake after sharpening with these units. I highly recommend and don't waste your time and money on a lot of the others that do a relatively poor job. These sanding belts provide a lot of surface area to remove steel effectively and the blade angling mechanism takes the difficult part and makes it easy.