Work Sharp Sharpeners
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It doesn’t matter how good your knife is. Eventually, you’ll have to do more to care for it than just wiping off tape residue from opening boxes. Regardless of how good the steel is, it will dull over time, especially if it’s earned a spot in your EDC and gets daily use.
Maintaining the edge of your EDC knife takes some know-how and special tools since there are plenty of different sizes, shapes, and blade materials. Thankfully, Work Sharp has you covered with various tools to help you maintain and extend the life of your most-used EDC knives.
Overview of Work Sharp Sharpeners
Work Sharp sharpeners bring precision tools right to you, with many different options to help you keep your blade in tip-top shape for longer so you’ll never be caught with a dull edge again. Its offerings range from a standard benchstone knife sharpener to a pocket-sized one for maintenance on the go, all the way up to the Ken Onion Edition Knife and Tool sharpener that looks more like a cool modified hand grinder.
Features and Benefits of Work Sharp Sharpeners
The Work Sharp line of sharpeners has many features that make it useful for anyone looking to extend the life of their EDC knives. If you’ve spent any time studying your knife, you’ll see that edge is not angled identically on every blade. Thankfully, Work Sharp offers angle guides so you can match the original angle of your knife perfectly when sharpening. There’s also a wide range of abrasive belts you can choose from to cover whether you’re looking to fix your knife or apply an excellent new polish to it. The Work Sharp sharpeners offer a quick and consistent grind every time, allowing you to spend more time using your knife and taking care of it less.
Which Model Should You Get?
Knife and Tool Sharpener Mk.2
Purchase
Ken Onion Edition Knife & Tool Sharpener
Purchase
Ken Onion Angle Set Knife Sharpener
Purchase
Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener - Elite
Purchase
Benchstone Knife Sharpener
PurchaseUsing Work Sharp Sharpeners
It may seem obvious, but safety is critical when using Work Sharp sharpeners. Regardless of what knife you will be sharpening, start slowly to get the hang of the motion. The last thing you want is an accident because your mind is wandering. Thankfully, Work Sharp products are designed to minimize risk with plenty of places for your hands so you can sharpen safely. All Work Sharp products also come with a 3-year warranty, so if anything breaks down, you’re covered, though it’s worth mentioning that it's only available in the United States and Canada.
Work Sharp Sharpeners vs. Competitors
Typically, the tried-and-true method for sharpening a knife is to use a whetstone. While there is a reason it has stood the test of time, there’s more that goes into using one correctly than scraping your knife against it. Whetstones leave it all up to you. You need to keep your knife at a consistent angle by hand, know how much pressure to apply, and which whetstone to use. The Work Sharp line of sharpeners takes care of most of that for you. They come with angle guides, multiple grit plates, and even ceramic rods for serrations. You’ll still be doing everything by hand but without the guesswork.
Work Sharp Sharpeners Accessories
Depending on which tool you choose, Work Sharp has you covered with plenty of accessories to ensure you have everything you need to keep your knives sharp for years. You can get accessories specifically for the tool you want. So if you get the Guided Field Sharpener, you can also get spare diamond plates for a backup. Similarly, if you go with the Ken Onion Knife and Tool Sharpener, you can get replacement abrasives, guides, and grinding attachments. You can use these tools to keep your EDC blades sharp for years.
Pros and Cons of Work Sharp Sharpeners
Using Work Sharp tools over other methods has its benefits. For one, they work great. Used properly, you’ll get a consistent blade every time. They also come with everything you need, so whether you’re working on a super dull knife or putting a final finishing touch on it, they come with the grit strips and belts you’ll need to complete the job. The downside is that some of the gear is fairly expensive and come with a slight learning curve. That said, they're well worth it if you’re willing to invest a little time and money.
Conclusion
Whatever sharpener you choose, you’ll take an essential step towards maintaining your knife. The last thing you want is to find yourself in a severe slicing situation only to find that your blade has dulled over the years and can’t perform. Even when doing something less critical, a dull blade can lead to injuries because it’ll slip and still be sharp enough to hurt you when you least expect it. A sharp knife is a safe knife, and a little proper maintenance can go a long way. Make sure to check out the Work Sharp offerings and start building out your maintenance system.
FAQs
What is the difference between the Work Sharp Precision Adjust and the Ken Onion Edition Knife and Tool Sharpener?
The Ken Onion Knife and Tool Sharpener has a motorized belt and knife guides that let you slide your blade through while holding down the trigger. Thanks to the dual-speed motor and multiple abrasive belts, you can get a nice and precise grind all the way through. On the other hand, the Precision Adjust is a clamp that holds your knife in place while you run the abrasive plate over it by hand. Both work perfectly fine for your average EDC knife, but take different approaches.
What kind of knife sharpeners do professionals use?
Professional knife sharpeners will typically use either whetstones or knife sharpening machines to run the knives through.
Can you sharpen knives on a Work Sharp WS3000 Woodworking Tool Sharpener?
It isn’t recommended, as the Woodworking Tool Sharpener was designed for tools like chisels and scrapers. Sharpening a knife requires a finer grit to sharpen its edge adequately.
Is Work Sharp made in the USA?
All Work Sharp products are designed and assembled in the USA, and they source as many of their components from North American suppliers as possible. Any suppliers that come from overseas need to meet stringent quality control metrics.
How We Picked
Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.
What is Everyday Carry?
Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily life. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise in the industry and familiarity with design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.
In addition to their expertise in the tech realm, Adam possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in everyday carry gear ranging from watches to niche carabiners. He has used more backpacks than he can count, a plethora of different kinds of wallets, all kinds of multi-tools, and many random gadgets that never even make it into a recommended buying guide. Adam has developed a deep understanding of the nuances and practicality that make these items indispensable to modern-day life.
Adam is an avid runner and reader in their spare time and loves to learn random skills. Adam is the go-to resource if you are looking for an expert opinion on a product or want to learn more about everyday carry. They are happy to answer any questions and help you find the best products for your needs.
Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.
In addition to being the editor-in-chief and main social media personality for EverydayCarry.com, Bernard is an avid gearhead and collector in general. His personal collections span technical bags, fountain pens, digital cameras, retro gaming hardware, personal hi-fi audio gear, and mechanical wristwatches, to name a few. Bernard Capulong is a prominent figure and trusted authority in the everyday carry industry with a career dedicated to helping people discover this hobby and stay prepared with quality gear.
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