Friday, January 24, 2025
Knife Sharpeners: Compare
Compare
Price
Report Card Grade
Pros
Easy-Track Guidance system offers fast, foolproof sharpening; one of a few sharpeners to be NSF certified for its superior safety features; removable/replaceable parts provide easy cleaning/upkeep; pressure sensitive motor protects knives from excessive wear
Moderate price point; exceptionally versatile sharpener; gentle on knife blades; right- and left- handed compatibility; good, compact storage system; no lubricants required; set angle of abrasive stones eliminate guesswork
Cons
Relatively expensive; does not accommodate serrated knives
Ceramic stones are easily broken if dropped; requires time and effort to master technique; instruction manual somewhat confusing; sharpening can be time-consuming especially if restoring notched and damaged blades
Type
Commercial Electric Sharpener
Manual Crock Stick Knife Sharpener
Price
$384-$533
$50 - $95
Warranty
1-year limited warranty
Lifetime limited warranty
Product Size (W x D x H)
9.8" x 4.8" x 4.0"
5.0" x 4.0" x 2.0"
Weight (lbs.)
11
2
Number of Stages
1
4
Abrasive Materials
A 240-grit alumdum grinding wheel is the only abrasive in the sharpener.
Triangular high alumina ceramic stones are the abrasive materials in this system.
Sharpening Angle(s)
22° (11° on each side)
40°, 30° and 25° (20°, 15° and 12.5° on each side)
Sharpening Technology
It uses Edlund's Easy-Track Guidance System, which is designed to quickly sharpen blades at exactly an 11° angle (steeper than domestic knife sharpeners). The motor has 1 ½ amps of power and runs at 1550 rpms, but it will shut off automatically when too much pressure is applied to the guidance system in order to protect the knife from excessive wear.
Keyed slots and holes in the base of the travel case hold the abrasive ceramic stones at various set angles that can be adjusted depending on the type of edge being sharpened. The stones also have a thin groove cut into them for sharpening pointed objects, and they can be converted into a benchstone when necessary.
Description of Stages
The 1st and only stage is electric and quickly sharpens the edge to an 11° angle.
The brown, medium grit stones are used in the 1st and 2nd stages, and the white, fine grit stones are used in the 3rd and 4th stages. During the 1st and 3rd stages, the blade is pulled over the triangular edges of the stones, and, during the 2nd and 4th stages, the blade is pulled over the flat edge of the stones. The corners of the white stones can be used to sharpen serrated edges. For extremely dull knives, Spyderco diamond embedded abrasive stones can be purchased separately.
Passes to Sharpen
1-2 passes
Up to 160 passes
Types of Knives Sharpened
It is specifically designed to sharpen kitchen knives in a commercial setting.
It can sharpen a variety of serrated- and straight-edge blades including both European (20° angle) and Asian (15° angle) kitchen knives and sporting/pocket knives. It can also be used to sharpen pointed edges (ie. fishhooks, darts, awls) and scissors (12.5° angle).
Sharpens Entire Blade (Tip to Bolster)
Yes
Yes
Product Design
It has a simple rectangular design with an all stainless steel housing and contains no magnets. The knife guidance module is removable, so it is easy to clean, and both the knife guidance module and the grinding wheel assembly are replaceable.
All of the sharpening components come in a black and grey ABS plastic traveling case that doubles as the base into which the ceramic stones are inserted.
Safety Features
It is NSF certified, the width of the knife opening is only 3/16", and there is also a lighted on/off switch to indicate when the motor is running. Additionally, an interlock switch won't allow the machine to operate until the guidance system is properly in place.
It comes with 2 brass safety rods that fit into keyed holes in the base to protect your hands during the sharpening process.
General Questions
- Why are there specialized sharpeners for Asian and European kitchen knives?
- Is it better to use a manual or electric knife sharpener?
- Do I need a sharpener if my knife set came with a sharpening steel?
- What is the best manual knife sharpener?
- What is the best electric knife sharpener?
- How much do knife sharpeners cost?
- What is the least expensive type of knife sharpener?
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