I'm looking at purchasing a work sharp and want to know exactly how well this system works. Along with if anyone thinks another particular sharpener is better. Pros cons tips trick etc all welcomed.

Secondly, does the work sharp have guides? Something to hold the proper angle while sharpening.


Anyhow, thanks.

I'm a bit of a wannabe blade-aphile ("wannabe" in that I know too many guys that put my meager collection to shame, so I'm not in that "club" yet). I'm also a woodworker and leatherworker, so I spend a lot of my life sharpening. My leather cutting round knives and my coon skinners see a lot of aggressive service, but putting the edge back on with a leather strop goes really fast.

I'm not a fan of motorized sharpening systems. For what it's worth, I've never felt that they could speed up my process enough to warrant the cost, and the risk of ruining a good blade outruns the benefit of speed (or lack thereof). Once I put an edge on a blade the first time, which typically takes around 10-15min depending on how rough the factory edge might have been, then putting it back on only takes a minute or two.

To put on an edge, I use 2 or 3 progressively finer wet stones, then strop with a rouge rubbed leather strap. 10min. After that, it's incredibly rare that I'll ever touch a hard stone to the blade again unless I'm REALLY mean to it (like cutting bone).

To resharpen, if I'm really mean to the blade, then I'll go back to the ultrafine stone, otherwise, I just take a few strokes on each side on the strop.

Edge management, for me, is about sharpening more often. The further you get from sharp, the more damage you have to do to the blade to get it back.

I use a soft and a hard Arkansas and a strop. When done, they will shave you.

I got one lession from a commercial knife sharpener years ago on stones. I've been doing hunting knives, fishing knives, household knives, Thanksgiving carving knife, Christmas carving knive, paring knife, and every knife that needs sharpening.

It sort of became a hobby in itself -knife sharpener.

Never did get into the expensive knife sharpeners. And I fondly remember that professional knife sharpener.

I use an Apex Edge Pro. It puts an amazing edge that is limited by the amount of time and polishing you want to put in. A little pricey, but your can sharpen you kitchen knives (and any other knives) also.

some kind of consistent edge knife sharpening system like the apex pro or wicked edge system. I use the wicked edge sharpening system, amazing. up to .0125 micron. any bevel angle you wish. any knife, Mohawk, machete.

I've always used Arkansas stones, but I've heard tons of good things about the Spyderco Sharpmaker.