I started out with a Lansky sharpener. I bought it a couple years ago. It's "ok" at best. It was just too hard to adjust correctly and get everything aligned so the stones did their job at the correct angle. I was never a fan of the little pedestal you had to perch the knife holder upon. It wobbled back and forth. I couldn't get a good edge ever, and I did try a lot.
Anyway, I just ordered this Worksharp knife sharpener kit from Amazon. Like the Lansky, this kit is supposedly made in America. I hope it is. So far, I'm impressed. There are a few things I wish were better. The housing which holds the knife and the diamond sharpener is made of plastic. I wish it were aluminum. But, it's very easy to dial in the angle you want to sharpen a particular knife. AND, nothing rubs. On the Lansky, if you wanted a 15 or 17 degree edge, the rod rubbed against the knife holder.
On this Worksharp, the jaws that hold the knife have pieces of rubber to protect your knife from scratches. This is missing on the Lansky.
Another thing I wish they would have are higher sharpening stones. It goes 200, 300, 400, 600, 800 then diamond polish and a leather strop. I would like to have a 1000 and 1500 also. I browsed their website and didn't see any. I'll have to look again though. But there should be something between an 800 stone and the diamond polishing stone.
Anyway, it was on Amazon for a little over $100. I do think it's worth it. The Lansky is about 1/2 that, but this kit is far superior.
Someday I'm going to have to bite the bullet and order one of the Wicked Sharp kits. But I just didn't have the courage to order one this time. Perhaps next time...
Here are some pictures. But first a gratuitous dog picture...
Rainy...
Here is the knife sharpener I'm talking about.
Here is the knife in the holder, with the sharpening stone resting on the blade. The 600, 800 and diamond polish are on a rotating insert in the plastic holder. Aluminum would be so much nicer.
Here is the sharpener with a paring knife in the holder. Once it's clamped in, you can rotate the knife pretty easily to do the other side.
Here is how you can dial in the exact degree of edge you want for a particular knife.
Again, if the housing were aluminum it would be nicer. The plastic can flex and move some.
Finally, the rod holding the sharpening blocks attaches to the housing with a magnet. It's very secure and
a pretty good design really. That steel rod goes up into a hole and clicks to the magnet. Since you
don't use much pressure, it stays in place.
Anyway, I just ordered this Worksharp knife sharpener kit from Amazon. Like the Lansky, this kit is supposedly made in America. I hope it is. So far, I'm impressed. There are a few things I wish were better. The housing which holds the knife and the diamond sharpener is made of plastic. I wish it were aluminum. But, it's very easy to dial in the angle you want to sharpen a particular knife. AND, nothing rubs. On the Lansky, if you wanted a 15 or 17 degree edge, the rod rubbed against the knife holder.
On this Worksharp, the jaws that hold the knife have pieces of rubber to protect your knife from scratches. This is missing on the Lansky.
Another thing I wish they would have are higher sharpening stones. It goes 200, 300, 400, 600, 800 then diamond polish and a leather strop. I would like to have a 1000 and 1500 also. I browsed their website and didn't see any. I'll have to look again though. But there should be something between an 800 stone and the diamond polishing stone.
Anyway, it was on Amazon for a little over $100. I do think it's worth it. The Lansky is about 1/2 that, but this kit is far superior.
Someday I'm going to have to bite the bullet and order one of the Wicked Sharp kits. But I just didn't have the courage to order one this time. Perhaps next time...
Here are some pictures. But first a gratuitous dog picture...
Rainy...
Here is the knife sharpener I'm talking about.
Here is the knife in the holder, with the sharpening stone resting on the blade. The 600, 800 and diamond polish are on a rotating insert in the plastic holder. Aluminum would be so much nicer.
Here is the sharpener with a paring knife in the holder. Once it's clamped in, you can rotate the knife pretty easily to do the other side.
Here is how you can dial in the exact degree of edge you want for a particular knife.
Again, if the housing were aluminum it would be nicer. The plastic can flex and move some.
Finally, the rod holding the sharpening blocks attaches to the housing with a magnet. It's very secure and
a pretty good design really. That steel rod goes up into a hole and clicks to the magnet. Since you
don't use much pressure, it stays in place.
