QUESTION OF THE DAY: Would you sharpen your knives more often if it only took 3-4 minutes per knife and gave professional results? What method do you currently use?
I already sharpen at least two knives a day by hand. This would make it more fun. I sharpen pocket and dinner knives every other day. The question is, how much does it cost?
I believe it's around $129. Somewhere I heard the cost of around .03 per knife to sharpen. Eventually the belts need replacing. On another note, the best carpet guy I've ever seen would spend several minutes sharpening his utility knife before cutting the carpet. He eventually retired, which was a sad day for me as a builder. Sharp knives make a difference.
Im using a lansky diamond kit and chefs choice 4643 but im definitely getting the ken onion sharpener. When you have kids and a business to run its too difficult to get the time to sit down and use the lansky system. Something like the ken onion is perfect for me
What makes work sharp great are how well all there products work .second work shop videos has help my group of 4 disable veterans become so happy they are learning to sharpening knifes.we thank work shop
I have had this system for about a year and a half now. It is fantastic. My wife loves the way the knives work when I have given them a touch up. I am in a small apartment with a small kitchen, otherwise, I would leave this set up all the time. My brother just got this system and he is ecstatic.
Yes, it's way better than the wet stone sharpening method I previously used. I'm working on another video featuring the blade grinding attachment. It should be interesting for mower blades and other misc items.
Thanks for the great demonstration. I have my Ken Onion Work Sharp sharpener arriving tomorrow. I'm looking forward to putting it to work on my hunting and camping knives. John
XLNT video......just got my Ken Onion......Im gonna use it for the first time in the morning.....Thanks for the great tips Mark. Mostly kitchen knives for me.
This is probably the best video I've watched about the Work Sharp Ken Onion yet. I really need to get one. I only have a sharpmaker & it's great for touch ups on smaller blades but I think I'd have much more success with the Work Sharp.
Thanks man, appreciate it! I never used to keep sharp knives around the house or kitchen. It's amazing what this sharpener can do in just a few minutes.
Just recently picked up 2 ken onion designed Kershaw pocket knives and was blown away by the factory edge they came with and how smooth and tight they are. I go out of my way to purchase U.S. made anything especially tools and knives and I was thinking to myself how I could build a mini belt sharpener as they use at the factory and wouldn’t you know I discovered this sharpener today. The bonus is it’s also a Ken Onion design and I couldn’t be more excited. Once I get through Christmas I’m going to order it for myself. I have many different sharpening systems already but nothing like this. Crazy I was thinking about this and stumbled upon this dream come true. Thanks for the demonstration. Merry Christmas!
That's an interesting story. I've tested several of these sharpeners, but haven't bought a Ken Onion knife yet. It's on my to do list. I need to figure out what one would work best for edc. I'm using a knife in the work kitchen that's currently very dull. It's so annoying to me and I need to give it a quick sharpen. Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas!
I was in the meat business for many years this looks to me like a very good piece of equipment to sharpen knives I think I would be buying one as long as I could purchase extra belts
This thing works amazingly well. My six-year-old grandson sat with me yesterday as I sharpened knives and asked, Poppy, can I have this when I get older? I said, you bet! As long as you keep my knives sharp! Deal!!!
What is even better is to buy the elite blade sharpener attachment for the Ken Onion sharpener. That is a game changer. I have found that instead of keep checking the level of the knife before each pass I use the small round bubble level that is sold on Amazon for a couple of dollars. I attach it to the knife using a piece of fridge magnet. Keep the bubble in the center while you pass the knife over the belt. Viola a few passes and you can shave with that knife. Better than all the stone or the Russian sharpeners.
Ha, ha...I've got the same - small, round spirit level! That's ingenious! Haven't tried it yet, but I'm thinking it'll be handy to gain the so-called "Muscle memory."
I had the original for less than a month and the motor broke so they sent me a new one, but the one they sent was the ken onion edition, I was so excited
I have the original work sharp belt sharpener it looks similar to this. I have had it aprox 8 years now and it is the best sharpener out there guaranteed.super fast and amazing results...cant beat it.
quick tip. Get an old knife from a garage sale or goodwill and practice with it. I have one that I got from goodwill that has turned out to be one of my favorite knives, now that it is sharp.
Mark, nice video review. Take note though, the recommended sharpening procedure by Work Sharp is to do the coarsest belt on the same side of the knife until the burr forms on the opposite side. Then move the blade to the opposite side. When you move to the next level of coarseness belt you begin alternating from side to side. Hope this helps.
@Tom John Yes, very happy with it. It's important to follow the instructions and go slow. Whenever using an electric sharpener you run the risk of bad things happening fast. If you're diligent and meticulous you can sharpen knives to scalpel sharpness.
@Tom John Believe it or not, I got very good results from the first use. I did get better as time went on, but I never ruined any knives. I watched quite a few instructional videos that helped alleviate any beginner mistakes. What takes a little time to master is getting the 'feel' of the sharpener and the blade in hand. Good luck with your entry into the Ken Onion Sharpener. It's a lot of fun coming away with a surgically sharp knife. Be careful, they are sharp ;)
This system is amazing I done 3 beater pocket knives on it had to reprofile and fix 2 of them got them all scalpel shaving sharp, done my brothers full kitchen knife set as well as our homes chefs knife yesterday on the blade grinding attachment it’s now wicked sharp it thinly slices a lemon no problem I had an accident on it today unfortunately but that will definitely teach me to be careful with knives from now on especially after being sharpened
@@MarkThomasBuilder It’s definitely worth the money just got to be careful with it you don’t wanna damage the temper of the steel so using a beater knife you don’t care about helps to practice and obviously be careful with sharp knives they aren’t toys
I just pulled the trigger on this bad boy after watching your review. I can hardly wait until it's delivered to sharpen all of the knifes in the kitchen and out at my grill/smoker shack. I have been using a chef choice for years and have been pleased with the results, but it took almost 10 minutes per knife. Plus, I like the versatility of the Ken Onion Work Sharp tool!
Dan - If you're using the Trizor 15, I think your Onion Work will later sit on the shelf. I believe the Onion might make a slightly sharper blade, but the Trizor is so quick and easy to use. Let me know how that works out for you.
@@JohnBowl14690 Thanks, I will check the Trizor 15 out! Did you actually use the Ken Onion sharpener with the upgraded "grinder attachment" for knifesharpening?
@@danlawson3782 - No, I haven't tried the upgraded version. I'm just going off of this video. The Trizor is so fast and easy to get past all 3 stages of sharpening in about 30 seconds per knife. Maybe the new upgraded Onion is better. I don't know. But that said, the Trizor is very easy to use and makes knives very sharp, so for me...it's a very good balance between convenience and performance. Just my humble opinion.
It's so easy to sharpen all types of knives. I'm happy to have a bunch of sharp knives in my house now. I even sharpened my scissors, which we're nicked up.
Just bought it and it's a great sturdy, easy operating good designed sharpener. I had the chef's choice cc120. The knives got sharp with this one but not razor sharp. The Ken onion does it. The only thing I don't like is the dust from the sanding belts.
I get the best results by pulling the knife 5 time on one side, then 5 times on the other side. Then I switch to the fine belt and do 3 time on each side. I have the older version but when I'm done, it cuts paper just like your knifes.
I keep the quick guide handy when sharpening. Your method sounds like it would work very well., especially when your touching up previously sharpened knives.
I have the standard work sharp sharpener like this and it's amazing. If like to upgrade eventually just learned about this today looking for replacement belts. Might have to get myself a Christmas present this year😂
You convinced me man. I just put in an order for the ken onion kit. Can't wait to use it. Using whetstone is real nice and laid back and gets my mind off things..but making time for it is hard these days. This is the way to go.
Thanks for the demonstration. I enjoyed it. I'm planning to start a knife sharpening business. Any recommendations, tips? Mostly will be EDC and hunting knives.
If you practice and get good at it, I recommend going to local farmers markets and setting up a booth. I just seen someone there last Saturday with a booth. I would upgrade from this sharpener to the blade grinder attachment. It comes with upgraded sanding belts.
Hope it works well for you. Just an FYI, the company is introducing a new $99 sharpener in April. I hope to have it on my channel this month. I don't know much about it yet.
That makes quick work out of something that took longer to do before and it’s more better I always had a hard time keeping the edge thanks for the great test and review
I received my Ken Onion today , i sharped 4 differents knifes following the method guide , i just say (WHAOU) ,i never had so sharped Blades . I didn t test the garden s tools but i will . It s really impressive and very good sharper tool . I m just wondering how long last tapes ? how could you know if the tape is worn out , have nice day
@@MarkThomasBuilder thanks you for replying , i sharped differents blades today but there s one i think i chosed the wrong angle . i think it was more between 20 or 22.5 ° and i sharped with 17° or 16° , and know cutting it s not so good , do i have to sharped it back ?
@@MarkThomasBuilder thank you for replying tomorrow i will try 2 or 3 kitchen knifes with 17.5 ° and other knife like a tanto at 22.5 . Kitchen that i sharped before are very sharped and works well ,have a nice day
How many knives will one dedicated belt sharpen before needing replaced? I like this system, already looked it up on amazon, but don't want to be replacing belts after 4 or 5 sharpenings.
I sharpen blades on the upgraded attachment to this, the Blade Grinding Attachment which uses wider 1 inch belts. I sharpen knives here and there and probably get about 1.5 years use per set. You'll get a lot more than 4-5 sharpenings.
I would look at different options for sharpening lawn mower blades. It will touch them up, but I normally wear my blades where they need deeper sharpening.
It takes practice with the grinder attachment. The thing I like about it is the bigger belts. If you don't go with it, you still get good results with the original sharpener.
I've heard that you could use it as a business, but never did a lot of research to see what the pros use. We have a local farmers market with a sharpening business that has a booth. I thought I'd bring a couple kitchen knives there and see if they can do any better and also see what their sharpener looks like.
@@vernkay. I know of at least two fellows that have very successful sharpening businesses and they both use several of these... I understand the Work Sharp machines are very well built, and last a long time...
I have been using KO for my Zwilling kitchen knives, however I cannot get knives as sharp as shown to be able to slice a paper. Strictly follow instructions, watched many videos... disappointed with results. Looks like I do something wrong. Any advices?
The one extra thing I do is use a leather strop after. Here's a link to one... amzn.to/3HOvV1b I rub the green compound on the rough side and white on the smooth side. Hope that helps get the paper to slice.
@@MarkThomasBuilder thanks for response and advise. Yesterday I ordered BeaverCraft Leather Paddle Strop 15 x 3 IN with Polishing Compound LS1P1. Waiting for delivery and will try thereafter. Should this work or need exactly as you recommended?
When you sharpen both side of a knife, the turning direction can be reverse on the machine? Or 1 side sharpen to front of the edge, and other side is sharpen back?
The belt only spins in 1 direction. When the knife is on the right side, the belt spins away from the knife edge. When the knife is on the left side, the belt spins towards the knife edge. If you get the blade grinding attachment accessory, then the belt always spins away from the knife edge. Hope that helps. I'm currently using the attachment for all my sharpening.
I bought the smaller or older version, its ok..the plastic part that covers the bands broke and the bands ot belts sometimes come off the pulleys. It does sharpen no doubt but it has it issues. I'll try the bigger version or newer model ur showing I hope it does better. Still. Way better than anything I've ever used to sharpening a knife.
Nice and infomative, thanks! FYI your knives will stay sharper if you cut like you sharpen, one stroke from heel to tip, with only the tip hitting the cutting board.
Hi Mark, terrific review and totally agree the KO work sharp is a fabulous tool. I purchased the complete system and all the available accessories a year or two ago. Thanks for the videos and I’m a new subscriber to your channel.
Thanks man, that's awesome! I use kitchen knives quite frequently and it's nice to have a sharp edge all the time. The KO makes it a breeze to maintain.
I haven't tried this to sharpen a serrated knife with this yet. It looks like it would work well. If not, they sell an angle set knife sharpener that has a tapered ceramic rod for sharpening serrated blades. That might be your best option.
No, I bought it and returned it. It works fine, ,,,,,,but you can achieve the same results or better with other less expensive sharpeners. Here is why; You are suppose to rest the knife against the guide and pull, that works for big knives. But I found that for small EDC pocket knives, only 3/4 of the knife make contact with the belt. The tip of the knife misses the belt using this method, which is "to maintaining the knife resting against the guide and pulling it". If I have to come off the resting guide to sharpen the tip of the knife, (minute 6:35) then you are no longer at the specified angle that makes this tool so appealing. At that point you are simply guessing a sharpening angle. I do believe your video is very informative and you show exactly how the tool works. I just feel is a bit price for my application which is small knives.
They advertise that you can sharpen scissors on them. I worked on a pair of scissors which had some issues and it seemed to help. I'd say this would work for touching them up from time to time. I now have the Ken Onion attachment that may work better for sharpening scissors. I need to give it a try.
I would like to know how this Ken Onion Work Sharp tool compares to the original Work Sharp version? What are the differences for price comparison since the Ken Onion version is $129 99 compared to the Work Smart version for $79.00?
I haven't tried the original Work Sharp sharpener. From what I've seen, this one has more belts, including a stropping belt. The original may not be a variable speed.
I have both and find the Ken Onion sharpener very fast and does an amazing job. I also recommend the additional attachment accessory, which works even better.
thanks for you reply , it s very cheap price , in Europe i pay it 211 € on amazon you re lucky guy . Ok i hope the new edition will shrap fine. Best regards , and have a nice day
I used one tonight on some kitchen knives. How do you hold it at the perfect angle against the belt when you come close to the tip? That's where I've been having some trouble.
I found that it takes practice and I used another knife that's not too important to me to work with first. I eventually bought the blade grinding attachment, which I use for all my knives. I still get good results with this sharpener though.
I have had a a Ken Onion edition for a few years. The down side of the unit is the way it uses belts, they do not seem to last more than a hand full of sharpenings. With new belts it does a great job. The instruction manual could be better.
I watched several videos, especially ones from Work Sharp before using it. I've been using the blade grinding attachment with bigger belts. Those seem to last a long time.
This will help me out a great deal for I could not sharpen a knife to save my life but the 200$ makes it something I will have to wait for quite awhile to get one.....
I wish I could post a video I made where my knife actually cut through a slow cooked rack of dinosaur beef ribs literally easier than a hot knife through butter. The weight of the knife made the cut in one motion forward then back.
the best way to test the sharpness of a blade is to see if it will shave your hair (arm or leg) without pulling. If it feels as smooth as using a shaving razor then it's sharp.
doing the thumb thing i learned in 1980 but with a stick of hard plastic that testin other ways to, still can be bought, you are holding thumb way wrong, your holing thumb to flat with zero angle, you must hold thumb at 45 deg . put thunmb nail stright up on table andgoo down half way which is 45 deg, and if less then 45 even better, any half ass sharpening will grab at the angle your thumbis, the first known book was written in late 70's or early 80's i still have his fine stone none of his stones use water and worse oil, the carse gets full of brolen peices of stone you brush off and it leaves a news surface, they go quik but good price, their fine will last 4 ever. I still use it for more like work horse blades or gardening machetes . his name is well known by old timers, John Juranich
Be careful at the beginning and end of your stroke or you'll round over knife points and make a dip in the blade near the handle. Otherwise, I've had mine for almost 10 years and I love it.
I have a parking knife I use on cardboard boxes. And I need to sharpen mower blades. Anda bunch of kitchen knives. Now I just have a worn out diamond stick. This looks like the sharpener I need.
Look I love my KO sharpening device but don’t use a blade that you really care about and can’t get all the way back to the bolster with it’ll leave a Dip in the blade unless you free hand it. Belts are expensive I’d suggest buying sharpening compound to help belts last longer. On custom knives or your hunting knifes I would learn to freehand those for a real edge. I’m a rookie so take all that for what you want! Lol great video
I'm very happy with the results of this. The one knife that I should probably freehand is a hawksbill design blade, which has a big curve at the end. It's a great knife for opening boxes.
Returned This Damn Thing It Ate Belts Up Like Crazy. Get A $30 Table Grinder From Harbor Freight And Buy The Razor Sharp Paper Wheel With 3 Passes Your Knifes With Be Sharp As A Light Saber.
@@MarkThomasBuilder Thanks for the reply, enjoy your channel if you ever get the chance try the above mentioned system wont harm your wallet in the long run.
I wouldn't use any liquid with this sharpener. The belts are made for dry sharpening. If I'm using other methods like a sharpening stone, then I use oil or water.
Thanks for showing the sharpener, but I wish you didn't push everything so close to the camera that it goes out of focus - very uncomfortable to watch.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Would you sharpen your knives more often if it only took 3-4 minutes per knife and gave professional results? What method do you currently use?
I already sharpen at least two knives a day by hand. This would make it more fun. I sharpen pocket and dinner knives every other day. The question is, how much does it cost?
I believe it's around $129. Somewhere I heard the cost of around .03 per knife to sharpen. Eventually the belts need replacing. On another note, the best carpet guy I've ever seen would spend several minutes sharpening his utility knife before cutting the carpet. He eventually retired, which was a sad day for me as a builder. Sharp knives make a difference.
markthomasbuilder I have this sharpener. I love it! So easy to maintain kitchen knives.
Im using a lansky diamond kit and chefs choice 4643 but im definitely getting the ken onion sharpener. When you have kids and a business to run its too difficult to get the time to sit down and use the lansky system. Something like the ken onion is perfect for me
I use my whet stones all the time. Regardless of the time it takes. In all honesty I would never let any of my good knives see that thing.
What makes work sharp great are how well all there products work .second work shop videos has help my group of 4 disable veterans become so happy they are learning to sharpening knifes.we thank work shop
That's great to hear, thanks for sharing!
... all their* products / disabled* veterans / ...knives*.* We* thank Work Sharp*.*
I have had this system for about a year and a half now. It is fantastic. My wife loves the way the knives work when I have given them a touch up. I am in a small apartment with a small kitchen, otherwise, I would leave this set up all the time. My brother just got this system and he is ecstatic.
I have this sharpener. I love it. So quick to keep knives sharp.
Yes, it's way better than the wet stone sharpening method I previously used. I'm working on another video featuring the blade grinding attachment. It should be interesting for mower blades and other misc items.
best sharpener that I've ever owned, so easy and fast!
It nice when your knives are always sharp. I normally drink iced tea every day and really appreciate a sharp knife for cutting lemons.
Thanks for the great demonstration. I have my Ken Onion Work Sharp sharpener arriving tomorrow. I'm looking forward to putting it to work on my hunting and camping knives. John
Awesome, it's nice having sharp knives. I have a few around the house that need attention.
Excellent information and instructions. I’m getting one for Christmas. Thank you!
I think you'll like it. It's been really helpful for keeping my knives sharp and easy to use.
Did you get it for your Christmas?
Thoughts?
@ Yes I did. I couldn’t be more pleased. It works great.
I just sharpened my 36" longsword with this thing. Freaking awesome!
Wow, awesome!
XLNT video......just got my Ken Onion......Im gonna use it for the first time in the morning.....Thanks for the great tips Mark. Mostly kitchen knives for me.
You're welcome! I mostly sharpen kitchen knives too. I use them all the time and glad I can sharpen them quickly.
Decent 5 minute video! Thank you
Glad you liked it! Thanks for stopping by!
This is probably the best video I've watched about the Work Sharp Ken Onion yet.
I really need to get one. I only have a sharpmaker & it's great for touch ups on smaller blades but I think I'd have much more success with the Work Sharp.
Thanks man, appreciate it! I never used to keep sharp knives around the house or kitchen. It's amazing what this sharpener can do in just a few minutes.
I bought a Ken Onion Worksharp recently. I love it. Best Sharpener I've ever had.
Good choice. Nothing like a sharp knife and it's so easy to maintain.👍
Nice! Just got one with the attachment. Blade attachment.
Good choice!
Just recently picked up 2 ken onion designed Kershaw pocket knives and was blown away by the factory edge they came with and how smooth and tight they are. I go out of my way to purchase U.S. made anything especially tools and knives and I was thinking to myself how I could build a mini belt sharpener as they use at the factory and wouldn’t you know I discovered this sharpener today. The bonus is it’s also a Ken Onion design and I couldn’t be more excited. Once I get through Christmas I’m going to order it for myself. I have many different sharpening systems already but nothing like this. Crazy I was thinking about this and stumbled upon this dream come true. Thanks for the demonstration. Merry Christmas!
That's an interesting story. I've tested several of these sharpeners, but haven't bought a Ken Onion knife yet. It's on my to do list. I need to figure out what one would work best for edc. I'm using a knife in the work kitchen that's currently very dull. It's so annoying to me and I need to give it a quick sharpen. Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas!
I have one after seeing your video and I love it. You did a great job showing how to use it!
Awesome! Thank you!
The best knife sharpening video I have seen beautiful hunting knife
Thank you! I'm loving how easy this works and always having sharp knives!
I was in the meat business for many years this looks to me like a very good piece of equipment to sharpen knives I think I would be buying one as long as I could purchase extra belts
Yes, thanks for sharing. You can definitely get replacement belts, no problem.
I do have one, and yes I agree its the way to go if you enjoy sharpening them your self.
Yes, this sharpener works well and it's pretty quick and easy to do.
This thing works amazingly well. My six-year-old grandson sat with me yesterday as I sharpened knives and asked, Poppy, can I have this when I get older? I said, you bet! As long as you keep my knives sharp! Deal!!!
That's cool that he took an interest in it. I often slice a lemon daily for my iced tea. Nothing like a sharp knife for that.
What is even better is to buy the elite blade sharpener attachment for the Ken Onion sharpener. That is a game changer. I have found that instead of keep checking the level of the knife before each pass I use the small round bubble level that is sold on Amazon for a couple of dollars. I attach it to the knife using a piece of fridge magnet. Keep the bubble in the center while you pass the knife over the belt. Viola a few passes and you can shave with that knife. Better than all the stone or the Russian sharpeners.
Ha, ha...I've got the same - small, round spirit level!
That's ingenious!
Haven't tried it yet, but I'm thinking it'll be handy to gain the so-called "Muscle memory."
I do have one, and yes I agree it’s the way To go If you enjoy sharing them your self.
👍💯
I had the original for less than a month and the motor broke so they sent me a new one, but the one they sent was the ken onion edition, I was so excited
Oh nice!!
I've been looking at this sharpener for a while, thank you for the great demonstration!
Great video. I have the Ken Onion Model and you just taught me how to use it.
Glad I could help!
Looks like what I need I use my pocket knives a lot of work now and not really good at sharpening this is pretty easy though.
This is quick and easy. I recommend practicing with with an old knife first before using it on your good one.
I have the original work sharp belt sharpener it looks similar to this. I have had it aprox 8 years now and it is the best sharpener out there guaranteed.super fast and amazing results...cant beat it.
Thanks for sharing!
quick tip. Get an old knife from a garage sale or goodwill and practice with it. I have one that I got from goodwill that has turned out to be one of my favorite knives, now that it is sharp.
That's a great idea! I have a cheap knife that is nice but doesn't hold an edge as long. No problem since I can sharpen it quickly when needed.
Mark, nice video review. Take note though, the recommended sharpening procedure by Work Sharp is to do the coarsest belt on the same side of the knife until the burr forms on the opposite side. Then move the blade to the opposite side. When you move to the next level of coarseness belt you begin alternating from side to side. Hope this helps.
Ahh, good point. I cut a lot of lemons for iced tea and it's nice to have a sharp knife for that. This sharpener does a great job!
I own the Ken Onion also and couldn't agree more. It's an amazing sharpener. You've got a great delivery in your review. Keep it up.
@Tom John Yes, very happy with it. It's important to follow the instructions and go slow. Whenever using an electric sharpener you run the risk of bad things happening fast. If you're diligent and meticulous you can sharpen knives to scalpel sharpness.
@Tom John Believe it or not, I got very good results from the first use. I did get better as time went on, but I never ruined any knives. I watched quite a few instructional videos that helped alleviate any beginner mistakes. What takes a little time to master is getting the 'feel' of the sharpener and the blade in hand.
Good luck with your entry into the Ken Onion Sharpener. It's a lot of fun coming away with a surgically sharp knife. Be careful, they are sharp ;)
This system is amazing I done 3 beater pocket knives on it had to reprofile and fix 2 of them got them all scalpel shaving sharp, done my brothers full kitchen knife set as well as our homes chefs knife yesterday on the blade grinding attachment it’s now wicked sharp it thinly slices a lemon no problem I had an accident on it today unfortunately but that will definitely teach me to be careful with knives from now on especially after being sharpened
I'm very happy with my sharpener as well. I normally drink iced tea with a lemon every day and it's nice to have a sharp knife.
@@MarkThomasBuilder It’s definitely worth the money just got to be careful with it you don’t wanna damage the temper of the steel so using a beater knife you don’t care about helps to practice and obviously be careful with sharp knives they aren’t toys
I just pulled the trigger on this bad boy after watching your review. I can hardly wait until it's delivered to sharpen all of the knifes in the kitchen and out at my grill/smoker shack. I have been using a chef choice for years and have been pleased with the results, but it took almost 10 minutes per knife. Plus, I like the versatility of the Ken Onion Work Sharp tool!
Awesome, nothing like having sharp knives when preparing food.
Dan - If you're using the Trizor 15, I think your Onion Work will later sit on the shelf. I believe the Onion might make a slightly sharper blade, but the Trizor is so quick and easy to use. Let me know how that works out for you.
@@JohnBowl14690 Thanks, I will check the Trizor 15 out! Did you actually use the Ken Onion sharpener with the upgraded "grinder attachment" for knifesharpening?
@@danlawson3782 - No, I haven't tried the upgraded version. I'm just going off of this video. The Trizor is so fast and easy to get past all 3 stages of sharpening in about 30 seconds per knife.
Maybe the new upgraded Onion is better. I don't know. But that said, the Trizor is very easy to use and makes knives very sharp, so for me...it's a very good balance between convenience and performance.
Just my humble opinion.
I really need to get one of these! Thanks for the review!
It's so easy to sharpen all types of knives. I'm happy to have a bunch of sharp knives in my house now. I even sharpened my scissors, which we're nicked up.
Got one, works great!
😎👍
Excellent review! I am sold on it now!
I've also tested a few other sharpeners of theirs. The blade grinding attachment is a nice addition to this.
@@MarkThomasBuilder Thinking about buying it soon. It's $139.99...
It's a nice accessory to work your way up to. The other sharpener on it's own is amazing too.
Nice. Thank you. Looking to get one!
You should! It's very handy for quick sharpening.
Just bought it and it's a great sturdy, easy operating good designed sharpener. I had the chef's choice cc120. The knives got sharp with this one but not razor sharp. The Ken onion does it. The only thing I don't like is the dust from the sanding belts.
I have a workbench with a silicone work mat where I do my sharpening. The grooves in the mat catch the dust which I easily vacuum.
I've heard of some using magnets attached to the W.S. to capture the swarf, or metal dust...
I get the best results by pulling the knife 5 time on one side, then 5 times on the other side. Then I switch to the fine belt and do 3 time on each side. I have the older version but when I'm done, it cuts paper just like your knifes.
I keep the quick guide handy when sharpening. Your method sounds like it would work very well., especially when your touching up previously sharpened knives.
I have the standard work sharp sharpener like this and it's amazing. If like to upgrade eventually just learned about this today looking for replacement belts. Might have to get myself a Christmas present this year😂
Good job.
Thank you!🙌
You convinced me man. I just put in an order for the ken onion kit. Can't wait to use it. Using whetstone is real nice and laid back and gets my mind off things..but making time for it is hard these days. This is the way to go.
I know what you mean. I like being able to have a sharp knife all the time with easy maintenance.
I bought this sharpener from watching this video.
It's great for keeping sharp knives around the house. Let me know how it works out for you.
I'm about to do the same
That one is pretty cool because it also gives you a convex edge.
It's a nice edge for a knife.
I came for the review of the sharpener but stayed for the Minnesota North Stars hat!!!
Haha, that's awesome to hear! Those hats are getting hard to find.
Thanks for the demonstration.
I enjoyed it.
I'm planning to start a knife sharpening business. Any recommendations, tips? Mostly will be EDC and hunting knives.
If you practice and get good at it, I recommend going to local farmers markets and setting up a booth. I just seen someone there last Saturday with a booth. I would upgrade from this sharpener to the blade grinder attachment. It comes with upgraded sanding belts.
Is there a left hand version?
No, there's only 1 version.
I'm mostly a South-Paw, too and I'm about to try learning the WS - Ken Onion...
I'm mostly a South-Paw, too and I'm about to try learning the WS - Ken Onion...
I'm mostly a South-Paw, too and I'm about to try learning the WS - Ken Onion...
i ve just ordered one i will let you know my experience
Hope it works well for you. Just an FYI, the company is introducing a new $99 sharpener in April. I hope to have it on my channel this month. I don't know much about it yet.
Another great informative video.
Thanks man!
That makes quick work out of something that took longer to do before and it’s more better I always had a hard time keeping the edge thanks for the great test and review
You bet! Thanks!
I really like mine
It definitely get your knives sharp in a short amount of time.
Excellent video, thank U 🙏
You are very welcome
I received my Ken Onion today , i sharped 4 differents knifes following the method guide , i just say (WHAOU) ,i never had so sharped Blades . I didn t test the garden s tools but i will . It s really impressive and very good sharper tool . I m just wondering how long last tapes ? how could you know if the tape is worn out , have nice day
I think you'll get several years from the original belts, as long as you're not sharpening all the time. I'm still on my same ones.
@@MarkThomasBuilder thanks you for replying , i sharped differents blades today but there s one i think i chosed the wrong angle . i think it was more between 20 or 22.5 ° and i sharped with 17° or 16° , and know cutting it s not so good , do i have to sharped it back ?
If it's not working for you, then yes I'd try 20 and see what happens.
@@MarkThomasBuilder thank you for replying tomorrow i will try 2 or 3 kitchen knifes with 17.5 ° and other knife like a tanto at 22.5 . Kitchen that i sharped before are very sharped and works well ,have a nice day
That thing looks awesome. I use a sharpening stone, but I'm not that great at using them as it's kind of an art. Great vid
Thanks, bro! This one's easy to learn and master. You can sharpen a knife in 3-4 minutes only!
Would this work well to sharpen throwing knives and double edge knives 🔪 🔪?
Yes, I would think so.
Great review, thanks 👌
Glad it was helpful!
How many knives will one dedicated belt sharpen before needing replaced? I like this system, already looked it up on amazon, but don't want to be replacing belts after 4 or 5 sharpenings.
I sharpen blades on the upgraded attachment to this, the Blade Grinding Attachment which uses wider 1 inch belts. I sharpen knives here and there and probably get about 1.5 years use per set. You'll get a lot more than 4-5 sharpenings.
Better, brand-name belts can be had via Curry Custom Cutlery, "Trizact," "Cubitron," etc and even the Scotch Brite belts...
I see it sharpens axe and tools, would you use it for lawn mower blades
I would look at different options for sharpening lawn mower blades. It will touch them up, but I normally wear my blades where they need deeper sharpening.
I'm sold!
It's quick and easy to sharpen with.
I bought the grinder attachment for the Ken Onion sharpener. Not sure I even need it. Doesn’t seem to get as accurate an angle or as sharp? Thoughts?
It takes practice with the grinder attachment. The thing I like about it is the bigger belts. If you don't go with it, you still get good results with the original sharpener.
Awesome video, do you recommend using a Ken Onion sharpener for a sharpening business?
I've heard that you could use it as a business, but never did a lot of research to see what the pros use. We have a local farmers market with a sharpening business that has a booth. I thought I'd bring a couple kitchen knives there and see if they can do any better and also see what their sharpener looks like.
@@MarkThomasBuilder I use a pull through sharpener for my knife sharpening business and it makes me money, just ordered a Ken Onion right now.
@@vernkay.
I know of at least two fellows that have very successful sharpening businesses and they both use several of these... I understand the Work Sharp machines are very well built, and last a long time...
So the original one is no good? Since it only has 20 degrees?
I have been using KO for my Zwilling kitchen knives, however I cannot get knives as sharp as shown to be able to slice a paper. Strictly follow instructions, watched many videos... disappointed with results. Looks like I do something wrong. Any advices?
The one extra thing I do is use a leather strop after. Here's a link to one... amzn.to/3HOvV1b
I rub the green compound on the rough side and white on the smooth side. Hope that helps get the paper to slice.
@@MarkThomasBuilder thanks for response and advise. Yesterday I ordered BeaverCraft Leather Paddle Strop 15 x 3 IN with Polishing Compound LS1P1. Waiting for delivery and will try thereafter. Should this work or need exactly as you recommended?
@@VK-xv3zx Any leather strop with green compound will work. The white compound helps, but not as essential to have.
@@VK-xv3zx
A bunch of TH-cam tutorials on stropping that you might find helpful...
Great video!
Thanks for the visit
When you sharpen both side of a knife, the turning direction can be reverse on the machine? Or 1 side sharpen to front of the edge, and other side is sharpen back?
The belt only spins in 1 direction. When the knife is on the right side, the belt spins away from the knife edge. When the knife is on the left side, the belt spins towards the knife edge. If you get the blade grinding attachment accessory, then the belt always spins away from the knife edge. Hope that helps. I'm currently using the attachment for all my sharpening.
you can get 220 up to 200 grit wet sandpaper , but you have to do whole knife and expect a satin finish wich is better than the nast scratches
Thanks for the advice!
their belts can be more recognizable, i always have to go through a box just to find the belt I need because theyre so similar they all look the same
Yes, it's a good idea to write the belt type on the inside with a Sharpee. I do that whenever I buy replacement belts.🙌
I’ve been wanting one of these there awesome!
I like this sharpener and started using the additional Ken Onion attachment, which has wider belts.
can this sharpen fish hooks?
I would think so, but haven't tried.
I bought the smaller or older version, its ok..the plastic part that covers the bands broke and the bands ot belts sometimes come off the pulleys. It does sharpen no doubt but it has it issues. I'll try the bigger version or newer model ur showing I hope it does better.
Still. Way better than anything I've ever used to sharpening a knife.
Let me know how the Ken Onion attachment version works out for you. I always use it now for sharpening.
@@MarkThomasBuilder
You bet I sure will.
So the friction on one side is going down while the friction on the other side is going up. Does this affect anything? Just curious.
Not that I noticed. I now use the blade grinding attachment, so the friction is the same.
Nice and infomative, thanks! FYI your knives will stay sharper if you cut like you sharpen, one stroke from heel to tip, with only the tip hitting the cutting board.
Hi Mark, terrific review and totally agree the KO work sharp is a fabulous tool. I purchased the complete system and all the available accessories a year or two ago. Thanks for the videos and I’m a new subscriber to your channel.
Thanks man, that's awesome! I use kitchen knives quite frequently and it's nice to have a sharp edge all the time. The KO makes it a breeze to maintain.
It's hard to find something good for a serrated knife?
I haven't tried this to sharpen a serrated knife with this yet. It looks like it would work well. If not, they sell an angle set knife sharpener that has a tapered ceramic rod for sharpening serrated blades. That might be your best option.
@@MarkThomasBuilder That's all I've found also.If you dont use something like that I guess you basically sharpening the whole knife down over time.
No, I bought it and returned it. It works fine, ,,,,,,but you can achieve the same results or better with other less expensive sharpeners. Here is why;
You are suppose to rest the knife against the guide and pull, that works for big knives. But I found that for small EDC pocket knives, only 3/4 of the knife make contact with the belt. The tip of the knife misses the belt using this method, which is "to maintaining the knife resting against the guide and pulling it".
If I have to come off the resting guide to sharpen the tip of the knife, (minute 6:35) then you are no longer at the specified angle that makes this tool so appealing. At that point you are simply guessing a sharpening angle.
I do believe your video is very informative and you show exactly how the tool works. I just feel is a bit price for my application which is small knives.
Does it sharpen cleavers?
Yes, I'm pretty sure they showed that as an item to sharpen.
Can you sharpen scissors on it? I do a lot of sewing and my scissors really need some help!
They advertise that you can sharpen scissors on them. I worked on a pair of scissors which had some issues and it seemed to help. I'd say this would work for touching them up from time to time. I now have the Ken Onion attachment that may work better for sharpening scissors. I need to give it a try.
@@MarkThomasBuilder Please do! And then make a video about it!
Will do.
I would like to know how this Ken Onion Work Sharp tool compares to the original Work Sharp version? What are the differences for price comparison since the Ken Onion version is $129 99 compared to the Work Smart version for $79.00?
I haven't tried the original Work Sharp sharpener. From what I've seen, this one has more belts, including a stropping belt. The original may not be a variable speed.
@@MarkThomasBuilder Thank you! I appreciate your reply! Excellent video too! 😊😁👍
Thank you!👊
Im on the fence use a stone or the works ken onion knife sharpener? Great video by the way 👍🏻
I have both and find the Ken Onion sharpener very fast and does an amazing job. I also recommend the additional attachment accessory, which works even better.
thanks for you reply , it s very cheap price , in Europe i pay it 211 € on amazon you re lucky guy . Ok i hope the new edition will shrap fine. Best regards , and have a nice day
I've heard good things about the new sharpener.
I used one tonight on some kitchen knives. How do you hold it at the perfect angle against the belt when you come close to the tip? That's where I've been having some trouble.
I found that it takes practice and I used another knife that's not too important to me to work with first. I eventually bought the blade grinding attachment, which I use for all my knives. I still get good results with this sharpener though.
You can get it even SHARPER if you got a polish wheel. Just make sure your grit paste is finer than your last belt grit
I use green compound on a leather strop. Do you recommend a different compound?
Where do you get it.
They're available through many places, even Amazon. I have a link to them in my video description.
I have had a a Ken Onion edition for a few years. The down side of the unit is the way it uses belts, they do not seem to last more than a hand full of sharpenings. With new belts it does a great job. The instruction manual could be better.
I watched several videos, especially ones from Work Sharp before using it. I've been using the blade grinding attachment with bigger belts. Those seem to last a long time.
This will help me out a great deal for I could not sharpen a knife to save my life but the 200$ makes it something I will have to wait for quite awhile to get one.....
They make a $59 tri-brasive manual sharpener that might be a good one to start with.
I wish I could post a video I made where my knife actually cut through a slow cooked rack of dinosaur beef ribs literally easier than a hot knife through butter. The weight of the knife made the cut in one motion forward then back.
Cool Video.....Thanks!
You bet!
13:00 that is the best, most foolproof way to take a good chunk off your fingertips. Plenty of vids on TH-cam on how NOT to lose digits!
the best way to test the sharpness of a blade is to see if it will shave your hair (arm or leg) without pulling. If it feels as smooth as using a shaving razor then it's sharp.
Yes, that's a great point. I'll try that next time in a video.
I need compact and good. 86 yrs 100 lbs
This one should work well for you.
doing the thumb thing i learned in 1980 but with a stick of hard plastic that testin other ways to, still can be bought, you are holding thumb way wrong, your holing thumb to flat with zero angle, you must hold thumb at 45 deg . put thunmb nail stright up on table andgoo down half way which is 45 deg, and if less then 45 even better, any half ass sharpening will grab at the angle your thumbis, the first known book was written in late 70's or early 80's i still have his fine stone none of his stones use water and worse oil, the carse gets full of brolen peices of stone you brush off and it leaves a news surface, they go quik but good price, their fine will last 4 ever. I still use it for more like work horse blades or gardening machetes . his name is well known by old timers, John Juranich
Thanks for sharing, I'll have to look up some info on John J.
Be careful at the beginning and end of your stroke or you'll round over knife points and make a dip in the blade near the handle. Otherwise, I've had mine for almost 10 years and I love it.
Thanks for that advice! Glad it hear it's working out for that long still.
I have a parking knife I use on cardboard boxes. And I need to sharpen mower blades. Anda bunch of kitchen knives. Now I just have a worn out diamond stick.
This looks like the sharpener I need.
I've had one of those diamond sticks too. This is way better. I even use a paring knife for my delivery boxes.
can i sharpen scissors with this?
I sharpened mine, but it doesn't seem as easy. I had to free hand it, with the guard off.
Look I love my KO sharpening device but don’t use a blade that you really care about and can’t get all the way back to the bolster with it’ll leave a Dip in the blade unless you free hand it. Belts are expensive I’d suggest buying sharpening compound to help belts last longer. On custom knives or your hunting knifes I would learn to freehand those for a real edge. I’m a rookie so take all that for what you want! Lol great video
I'm very happy with the results of this. The one knife that I should probably freehand is a hawksbill design blade, which has a big curve at the end. It's a great knife for opening boxes.
Just did all my knives in the kitchen. I'd swear I could split frog hair 4 ways.
Haha, that's awesome!
I just got one. I don’t understand the reason to stop the blade at the tip. Why not just leave it running and pull the blade all the way through.
I wondered about that too. I think it keeps the knife from twisting at the end and messing up the tip.
How much is it?
Around $129. I included an Amazon like to see the exact price and additional information.
Does it convex everything?
Yes
Returned This Damn Thing It Ate Belts Up Like Crazy. Get A $30 Table Grinder From Harbor Freight And Buy The Razor Sharp Paper Wheel With 3 Passes Your Knifes With Be Sharp As A Light Saber.
Wow, that's sharp! One belt of mine got ate up, but I think it was while sharpening a tool.
@@MarkThomasBuilder Thanks for the reply, enjoy your channel if you ever get the chance try the above mentioned system wont harm your wallet in the long run.
One Question Buddy, they said Never Sharpen any Knife without Liquid, Oil or so, what do you think about that?
I wouldn't use any liquid with this sharpener. The belts are made for dry sharpening. If I'm using other methods like a sharpening stone, then I use oil or water.
I enjoy the K.E WS. Naturally it has its own quirks but the worst thing about it is the price of the belts.
The belts on this seem to last a long time at least.
Thanks for showing the sharpener, but I wish you didn't push everything so close to the camera that it goes out of focus - very uncomfortable to watch.
Ok, thanks for letting me know.