The best sharpening systems for knives. The best knife sharpeners

Before you start choosing a sharpener, you need to determine the following points:

1. Blade type of your knife(s)

Knives with straight blade and double-sided sharpening can be sharpened on most types of sharpening tools.

Single-sided knives require special equipment - suitable, , or for Asian knives.

Serrated knives (with a file) sharpened or with triangular sharpening elements. The editing of such knives can be carried out in a special groove of some models . The editing of such knives can be carried out in a special groove or at the polishing stage (with ceramic discs) of some models.

Knives with a wavy edge on one side only , are sharpened with small ones, suitable in diameter to the notches on the blade. Working hooks are sharpened on diamond or ceramic blades.

Fishing hooks, needles, arrows are sharpened on hand sharpeners with a special recess for pulling the tool through.

2. Sharpener type

Determines the level of sharpening. It is necessary to pay attention to the following characteristics of sharpening tools:

Device size
Your skill level
Portability of the device
Purpose

Some universal sharpeners can sharpen almost all types of knives and tools, while others are designed only for specific purposes.

For example, you can sharpen a variety of knives and tools. However, you will not be able to sharpen bread knives or scissors. Conversely, serrations will do an excellent job of sharpening serrated knives, but will not be suitable for working with tools.

A preset sharpening angle will help a beginner “not to overwhelm” the knife, while an experienced sharpener will be able to set any angle to the cutting edge of his knife on a stone. So, analyze all types of sharpeners and choose the one that suits your experience and goals.

Sharpeners with a fixed sharpening angle.
Suitable for quickly sharpening your regular set of knives with a minimum of effort and skill.

Suitable for those who don't mind spending more time and effort, but want to achieve a perfect cutting edge. Requires a certain skill or, at a minimum, additional. devices: sharpening angle holder.

Ideal for everyday easy and quick sharpening of knives. Not suitable for sharpening very dull knives.

Allows you to set any sharpening angle for a knife or tool, but is somewhat difficult to install.

Ideal for sharpening heavily damaged knives or very hard steel knives. An excellent option if you need to sharpen a large number of knives.

3. Abrasives

Exist four main types of abrasives : Arkansas stones, carbides, ceramics and diamond.

Each group has its own unique characteristics and capabilities. It doesn't matter which abrasive you choose, each of them gives a good result.

The choice comes down primarily to how quickly and in what volume you want to remove metal from the cutting edge.

Diamonds:

Diamonds- the most solid, known to man, therefore, sharpeners with abrasives made from diamond chips are the fastest, most wear-resistant and very effective. They are quite aggressive and quickly remove metal from the cutting edge.

Carbides:

A very aggressive material that quickly removes metal from the blade, ideal for restoring a cutting edge in 3-4 pulls.

Ceramics:

Removes a minimal amount of metal. Excellent for finishing and polishing phases.

Arkansas stones:

Natural stone, mined in Arkansas (USA), removes a minimal amount of metal. On such stones, knives are polished, bringing the cutting edge to a mirror-like surface and razor sharpness.

We advise you to actively consult with sellers for correct selection sharpening device, because the quality and life expectancy of your knives depends on it.

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The kitchen of any housewife is full of all kinds of utensils. And knives occupy a large niche here. For slicing, cutting, filleting - there are many and each has its own function, without giving up its conquered place to anyone. But any material tends to wear out over time, and a knife is no exception. Dull blades become useless.

But this does not mean that you should throw away the entire set and buy a new one. It’s easier to choose a knife to suit your taste.

Types of scissors

In order to maintain kitchen scissors and knives in working condition, you need to regularly sharpen the blade. At the moment, the main options for knife blades are the following:

Sharpening stones. The old “old-fashioned” method is a stone with an abrasive coating. They come in different coating structures and perform different functions.
Mechanical. The simplest device with discs on which abrasive is applied. The knife is manually passed between these discs to the desired state.
Vacuum. This option is also mechanical, but has a vacuum attachment to the surface.
Electric. A device that processes knives very quickly, working automatically.

Expensive branded mechanical knife

Pros and cons of different types of sharpeners

When choosing any purchase, it is worth examining not only the positive variants of the varieties, but also the negative ones. Only then can you form your own subjective opinion and decide what you like most. Let's go through the entire list.

The advantages of sharpening stones are their low cost and availability. Cons - you need at least three different whetstones to sharpen, grind and polish the edge of the knife. In addition, you need to be able to do it correctly, and this point already makes the option not acceptable for everyone. Well, the use of physical force during the sharpening process is also not the most positive thing. However, in the kitchen of a bachelor who is not used to preparing lavish feasts, the bars can find a place for themselves.
The advantages of a mechanical knife are low cost and widespread use. This type sharpeners may have several removable attachments for different varieties knives. The list of positive aspects includes safety of use. Disadvantages - the physical costs of working with such a sharpener are almost more than using whetstones.
The advantages of a vacuum sharpener are primarily in the design. The device is attached to the table with a vacuum suction cup and is convenient and safe to use. The sharpening blades are arranged in such a way that they adapt to any knife configuration, including the “teeth”. No special power consumption is required. Disadvantages - the cost of such a device is much higher than that of previous options. And it takes longer to sharpen than the last option.
The advantages of an electric knife are speed and ease of use. A wide selection of models allows you to choose sharpening discs for materials - ceramics, steel, diamond chips. The sharpener sharpens and polishes the blade quickly and efficiently. Plus, anyone can use it. Minuses - high price and differences between models that need to be carefully examined.

Note to the hostess

You shouldn’t skimp on a knife for fear that your expensive purchase will quickly break. The sharpening parts of the devices are made of high-strength materials and are designed for long-term operation.

Choosing and purchasing is only half the battle. The second half is to get used to regularly and timely processing your knives, maintaining their working condition. After all, it’s much more pleasant and easier to cut bread and vegetables, peel them, and separate the fillets with sharp knives.

And finally, a video about sharpening knives on water stones from a professional. We look and remember how to sharpen knives correctly.

Updated: 09/18/2019 23:59:41

Expert: Laila Weiss

*Review of the best sites according to the editors. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

The Japanese say: “The knife contains the heart and soul of the cook.” To cook delicious dishes, you need not only skill, but also good tools - sharp knife. With its help, you can cut any product efficiently, saving time. A dull one will only wrinkle, forcing the user to make great efforts to cut meat, poultry, vegetables, fruits, etc. There are knives on sale that do not require sharpening, but most often this is a marketing ploy. As time passes, the person who bought such an instrument notices that, like an ordinary one, it begins to become dull. We advise you not to succumb to advertising gimmicks, but to purchase a good sharpener. It will allow you to always have a sharp knife in the kitchen. There are different types of sharpeners, and each has its own benefits. Since there are not a large number of knives in the home kitchen, you can choose any type of knife.

Do not confuse sharpening with editing. The first option involves cutting the metal from the blade to form a sharp edge. The second - without cutting, changes the angle of the cutting part, as a result of which even dents and other defects invisible to the eye are leveled out. Editing is done using musat and ceramic discs.

How to choose a knife sharpener

Varieties. There are three main categories: completely manual, mechanical and electric. Manual ones include sharpening stones, which only a professional can handle, because you need to choose the right grain size of the stone, the angle of inclination and be extremely careful in the process so as not to get hurt, and sharpeners with fixed rods located at an angle of 20 and 25 degrees, where you need to vertically move the knife, which simplifies the work. Mechanical ones include classic sharpeners with table support, characterized by compactness, ease of use and safety; vacuum, with one or two sharpening zones and a special suction cup, which is used to fix it on the table; sharpeners in the form factor of brass knuckles - they are put on the hand, and despite the fact that the sharpening does not last long, due to their convenience and low cost, they are excellent for use in the countryside. Electric cutters are portable and compact devices that allow you to quickly and effortlessly sharpen a knife of any length and thickness. After the procedure, the tool remains sharp for a long time. If this is your priority, then choose an electric sharpener. Musat is not a sharpener; it is used to straighten the cutting edge. Used on final stage sharpening to achieve greater sharpness and increase the period during which the knife will remain sharp. Musat can be used when the tool is slightly dull to trim the blade. Since the musat does not remove metal from the blade, the service life of the knife increases significantly. In restaurants, chefs use musat dozens of times a day because the process takes just seconds.
Knife material. For steel knives, you need to purchase sharpeners with abrasives that are harder than the steel of the tool. It can be ceramics, diamond chips, carbides or Arkansas stone. For ceramic knives (made of black and white zirconium ceramics), only diamond-coated abrasives are suitable, since ceramics are a rather fragile material that can break if handled incorrectly.
Price segment. Manual sharpeners with metal disks, as well as coarse-grained whetstones, will cost the least - 300-500 rubles. For natural and synthetic stones, the simplest electrical and manual models you will have to pay 500-3 thousand rubles. Fine-grained and two-layer combined bars, two-stage, three-stage, electric with the possibility of mechanical polishing cost between 3-10 thousand rubles. Professional devices belonging to the group of sharpening stations with diamond-coated abrasives and having three-stage sharpening will cost 10 thousand rubles or more.

Rating of the best knife sharpeners

Nomination	place	Name of product	price
Best Manual Knife Sharpeners	1		1,750 RUR
	2		891 RUR
	3		850 ₽
	4		590 ₽
The best electric knife sharpeners	1		RUB 15,590
	2		RUB 3,671
	3		2,790 ₽
The best sharpeners for knives from AliExpress	1		4,870 ₽
	2		1,350 RUR
	3		680 ₽
	4		270 ₽
	5		150 ₽

Best Manual Knife Sharpeners

In first place in the rating category tabletop hand sharpener with diamond grinding stone abrasive. It will handle sharpening effectively and quickly; you just need to place the blade in the slot with the tip pointing down, swiping it towards you several times. The sharpening angle is optimal, prevents damage to the metal blade and prevents the formation of scratches. There are three slots for different stages: preliminary, fine and coarse sharpening. This approach allows you to process even very dull knives. The case has a laconic design and is made of stainless steel. It takes up very little space, so you can store the sharpener in drawer where spoons, forks, knives are located, then the product will always be at hand.

Advantages

ergonomic shape;
acceptable cost - 1650 rub.

Flaws

not found.

The second position goes to a model of a manual sharpener with abrasive plates coated with natural diamonds and profiled ceramic plates. The product not only sharpens knives perfectly, but also secures the result so that the sharpness is maintained long time. To restore sharpness, it is enough to run the blade 10-15 times, first in the first slot, then in the second. The user does not have to exert much effort by pressing hard on the knife. At the bottom of the case there are six legs with rubberized pads that provide reliable fixation. The body itself has a Soft Touch coating, so when holding the sharpener with your hand, the risk of slipping is minimized.

Advantages

the ability to sharpen serrated knives;
protective plexiglass cover included;
easy to disassemble for cleaning;
plastic ergonomic handle;
budget cost – 870 rub.

Flaws

not found.

The third place is occupied by a manual sharpener for knives and kitchen hatchets. If you like to cook and use not only knives, but also hatchets for cutting, then this is the device you should pay attention to. The body is made of durable plastic. The user has one slot equipped with ceramic disks. Thanks to the ergonomic design, holding the sharpener in your hand during the process is easy. Users note that the sharpener makes the blade so sharp that after the procedure the knife is able to produce very thin slices. Cutting veins, cartilage, and cutting raw beet has become much easier, which was also expressed by housewives in reviews.

Advantages

quick sharpening in half a minute;
removable lid for easy cleaning;
budget cost – 850 rub.

Flaws

not found.

The fourth is a manual sharpener with metal and ceramic cutters. The design, like all analogues, is simple. The body has a comfortable ergonomic handle, and at the bottom there are rubberized inserts that prevent the device from sliding on the surface on which the sharpener is installed. The upper part with a silicone insert guarantees a comfortable hand grip without slipping. The device is equipped with two slots: for main (coarse) and final (fine) sharpening. A two-step approach to blade processing allows you to extend the life of the blade's sharpness. You can only sharpen steel knives; for ceramic ones, it is better to purchase another model. An additional block with cutters is supplied in the kit.

Advantages

fast sharpening;
the ability to replace blocks with the ones you need;
fixed angle;
budget cost – 600 rub.

Flaws

not found.

The best electric knife sharpeners

Chef's Choice 120

In first place is an American-made electric sharpener, suitable for sharpening regular and serrated (serrated) knives. It processes the blade in three stages: in the first stage, rough sharpening occurs with diamond-coated abrasive discs, forming the first bevel; on the second - with fine-grained abrasive, a second bevel is formed; on the third, even finer ceramic abrasives grind and polish the blade, creating a third final bevel that is sharp. The user can independently choose a combination of steps to obtain different results. The sharpener can also be used for processing folding, hunting, tourist, sports, fishing and other knives.

Advantages

power – 75 W;
instant sharpening;
sharpening angle control – 20 degrees.

Flaws

high cost - 16 thousand rubles.

The second position is occupied by electrical appliance for sharpening knives, recognized as the best in terms of quality and price. The model is much cheaper than the leader in the category, but is not inferior in quality and practicality. The case with a metal insert looks massive, so initially it seems that the device will weigh a lot, but this is not the case. The sharpener is lightweight and has a neutral design. There are rubberized inserts on the bottom so that the device does not slip on the table surface. Only knives made of stainless, alloy or carbon steel can be sharpened. Geared tools may only be processed in the polishing slot. Simple and clear instructions included.

Advantages

synthetic and ceramic abrasives;
suitable for sharpening different sizes knives;
sharpening angle adjustment;
ergonomic handle.

Flaws

low power– 6 W;
relatively expensive - 4600 rub.

Receives third place electric sharpener for knives, characterized by high power. The device operates in two stages, first sharpening and then grinding the blade. The device is equipped with professional discs made of corundum and ceramics, thanks to which the device sharpens even very dull knives in a matter of minutes. Using the guides you can create the correct sharpening angle. The body is equipped with legs with suction cups that firmly fix the sharpener to the surface.

Advantages

power – 40 W;
easy cleaning;
suitable for sharpening ceramic knives;
acceptable cost - 2800 rub.

Flaws

not found.

The best knife sharpeners from AliExpress

In first place is an electric sharpener, characterized by its versatility. The model is suitable not only for sharpening a variety of knives, but also for processing screwdrivers, scissors and other tools. The device has six grooves with different abrasives that provide sharpness to the blade. High power reduces processing time, allowing you to return the canvas to working condition in 1-2 minutes. For protection, the manufacturer has provided an automatic shutdown that is triggered during overheating. This protects the motor from failure. The body is made of high quality plastic. Users note that the device does not emit any foreign odors. Among most similar sharpeners, this model stands out due to its excellent results.

Advantages

power – 60 W;
ergonomic design.

Flaws

relatively expensive - 4 thousand rubles.

The second line goes to the professional manual sharpener. The body of the device has a vacuum suction cup at the base, with which the device is securely attached to the surface so as not to slip off during the sharpening procedure. Users note the high sharpening speed. Abrasive stones of different grain sizes (120, 320, 600, 1500 units), attached to plastic strips, allow you to conveniently sharpen the blade. Color-coded sharpening angles (10, 15, 20, 25-30 degrees) help you navigate the work process. The device is also suitable for scissors, screwdrivers and other tools.

Advantages

choice of sharpening angle;
organizer bag and microfiber cloth included;
knife fixation system;
fixed stand;
acceptable cost - 1300 rub.

Flaws

requires some skill;
It is necessary to wet the bars during sharpening.

The third position goes to a manual knife sharpener with a large base that has a rubberized insert to prevent slipping. Thanks to the ergonomic body, it fits perfectly in the palm of your hand and does not slip out during sharpening. There are four grooves on the body: two for conventional and two for Japanese asymmetric sharpening. The model is capable of processing knives of any length. Users also note that the metal sheet can have any thickness. For perfect sharpening, you need to swipe the cutting edge only 6-7 times.

Advantages

metal and ceramic abrasives;
fast sharpening;
budget cost – 700 rub.

Flaws

not found.

The fourth is a manual sharpener, which processes the blade in two stages (coarse and fine sharpening). The body is made of high quality plastic. The base has feet that prevent slipping and provide a secure fit. Thanks to its small dimensions (10 x 4.5 x 5.5 cm), the device fits comfortably in the hand, adding convenience when working. Two finger grooves are responsible for ergonomics. Suitable for processing metal knives, but for ceramic ones it is better to find another model, since this one can lead to damage to the tool if used carelessly. The majority of user reviews have a positive assessment of this product - people received the product best quality than expected.

Advantages

abrasive discs made of of stainless steel;
budget cost – 300 rub.

Flaws

not found.

In fifth place in the budget manual sharpener category. You can purchase it on the website for only 150 rubles. At the base of the case there is a vacuum suction cup that provides an anti-slip effect. You can attach the device not only to the table, but also to the tile. A special arrow clearly shows how to place the knives in the grooves to sharpen them right angle. Users complain that sharpening does not last long, only 2-3 days. Considering the low cost and short time required for sharpening, we recommend purchasing the product, because the device can sharpen knives at least every day.

Advantages

fast speed sharpening;
strong fixation.

Flaws

chemical smell.

Attention! This rating is subjective in nature, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

Even expensive professional knives made from advanced alloys periodically become dull. As a result, they cannot effectively perform the tasks for which they are intended. To fix this problem, you need to choose a sharpener for kitchen knives.

Such a thing is almost indispensable in a modern kitchen, but, depending on the type of knives and user requirements, you should give preference different types devices. Our rating of the best knife sharpeners will help you decide on optimal solution for purchase among manual and electric options, as well as water stones. Let's study the top ranking of 2018-2019.

The best manual knife sharpeners

The review opens with a good manual sharpener for kitchen knives from BORNER. This is the simplest, but at the same time quite effective kitchen device. With its help, you can maintain the sharpness of new knives or bring life back to old knives. The universal sharpener for kitchen knives has three zones:

Sharpening. Pobedite cutters allow for rough processing of the blade. This zone can be omitted if the knife is not too dull.
Edit. Diamond rods for finer processing.
Finishing. Ceramic zone that allows you to remove the smallest irregularities.

The classic BORNER sharpener is perfect for all types of travel and kitchen knives, excluding ceramic products. The blades are sharpened at an angle of 23 degrees.

Most buyers will find the Tima TMK-001 manual mechanical sharpener quite familiar. This is not surprising, since dozens of other manufacturers use a similar design solution.

The device consists of a main frame, the shape, weight and rubberized base of which provide ease of grip and stability, as well as a block with two sharpening zones. The latter is removable and can be purchased separately. Such an element costs an average of 250 rubles, which is about half the price of the best budget sharpener for simple kitchen knives from Tima.

Sharpener for kitchen knives Mayer& Boch MB-26003

The Mayer&Boch brand is considered one of the leaders in the quality sharpening segment. Kitchen utensils from this brand are always distinguished by excellent quality, convenience and, most importantly, attractive prices.

Thus, model MB-26003 can be found for about 900 rubles. For this amount, the consumer will receive three sharpening zones:

Tungsten is an ideal rod for sharpening knives.
Diamond – for rough sharpening of stainless steel.
Ceramic is an excellent rod for removing roughness and fine turning.

If desired, the Mayer&Boch MB-26003 main unit can be replaced with a new one. But finding it on sale is not so easy. However, this convenient sharpener can last for many years even with frequent use, because it is made in Germany.

Universal sharpener for knives and scissors RSCHEF S1602 is one of the most interesting solutions in the category up to a thousand rubles. This device has three slots for knives, as well as one for sharpening scissors.

The abrasive surfaces of a quality knife sharpener are metal and ceramic, allowing for coarse sharpening and fine grinding. Other advantages of the S1602 include an attractive appearance, excellent assembly and thoughtful design, thanks to which RSCHEF is comfortable to hold on the table. On average, to sharpen one knife well, the consumer will have to perform 10-15 movements, which is slightly more than stated by the manufacturer.

The best machines and electric knife sharpeners

If you require the highest quality sharpening of your kitchen knives, then look no further than the Touch Pro Ultra. This is the most popular model produced by Ganzo, chosen by users who want to quickly and efficiently achieve sharp blades.

For convenience, the knife is fixed in the machine at a given angle to ensure uniform sharpening. It is then processed using strip stones that are fixed to the moving part of the Touch Pro Ultra. The consumer can independently purchase the stones he needs, but four elements for grinding and sharpening knives are already included in the package:

coarse-grained at 120 and 320 grit;
medium grain with 600 grit;
fine grit 1500 grit.

The Ganzo machine is made from durable ABS plastic and stainless steel. Touch Pro Ultra is great for all common types of knives, including not only kitchen knives, but also folding and hunting knives.

Multifunctional electric sharpener Luazon LTE-01 Gray 1170133 – perfect choice for its price. This device is available on the Internet for about 600 rubles, which is cheaper than many manual devices. The Luazon sharpener is not only great for all types of knives (except ceramic and coated models), but also allows you to sharpen scissors and even screwdrivers!

The user can achieve the required sharpness of the blades in just 10-15 seconds. Moreover, the electric knife sharpener is designed even for serrated blades. The power of LTE-01 Gray 1170133 is 20 W, and the device is powered from a regular outlet.

Electric knife Sititek “Mistress 31M”

The first place in the category is occupied by a rather expensive but extremely effective device – Hostess 31M from the Sititek brand. average cost This device costs 2,500 rubles, but, according to reviews of the sharpener from its real customers, it deserves to spend such money.

The power of the Hostess 31M is 40 W, which allows you to quickly and efficiently sharpen even very dull blades. The best electric knife sharpener in our rating is equipped with high-strength corundum discs, which have many advantages:

sharpening speed;
quality of blade processing;
disk durability;
easy to clean the device;
versatility.

Due to its well-thought-out shape, the sharpener fits well in the hand, and the strictly specified sharpening angle ensures not only professional sharpness of knives, but also maintaining it for a long time. The whole procedure is performed in two stages:

Formation of the cutting edge.
Final finishing and polishing of the knife.

This sharpening principle ensures the elimination of potholes, irregularities and chips on the blade.

The best sharpening stones for knives

Sometimes it is not enough just to choose a good sharpener based on price and quality, because it may require additional accessories. Thus, the Ganzo D100 cannot be used as a stand-alone device, since it is intended for machines, including the Touch Pro Ultra described above.

The sharpening stone in question is quite coarse (100 grit), so it is suitable for straightening deformed blades, quickly eliminating grooves on them, restoring very dull knives, and so on. If you purchase thinner stones for these tasks, then to achieve a similar result you will have to spend many times more time.

Finishing it to the final state will require the purchase of additional bars with a smaller grain size. Please note that under normal conditions you should not try to sharpen blades on stones exceeding one and a half thousand grit. The resulting spiciness will be excessive for the average kitchen.

The Fissman company is known among consumers thanks to high quality manufactured products and attractive pricing policy. The Danish brand has proven itself well in the sharpening stones segment. The model with index 2975 has a grain size of 1000 grit and is suitable for fine work with knives.

But, as noted above, knives that are too “killed” should not be immediately sharpened on this whetstone. If done correctly, a good sharpening stone will allow you to achieve a sharpness that allows you to cut paper sheets by weight. However, in this case there are no guides, so you need to learn how to correctly set the angle “by eye”.

Knife sharpener Ace ASH105, diamond coating – Ace

If you like to travel and go on hikes, where you often need a sharp blade, then this useful device, as a travel knife sharpener, is a must-have in your backpack.

One of best solutions in this segment is Ace ASH105. This sharpener has two diamond stones, 360 and 600 grit. Considering that camp knives are usually used for cutting and sharpening branches, cutting food on various hard surfaces and similar tasks, such surfaces are enough for any user.

If you sharpen it too much, it can go astray even faster than a coarser one. In general, based on reviews of the Ace ASH105 stone, we can conclude that this device is very convenient and of high quality, which average price at 675 rubles - important advantages.

Which knife sharpener to choose for your home?

For convenience, we have divided the review of the best knife sharpeners according to reviews into 3 groups. The first includes hand tools. You won’t be able to achieve phenomenal spiciness with their help, but for the average kitchen the result obtained is more than enough.

In addition, the average price tag of such solutions is a modest 600 rubles, which makes them best choice for buyers on a limited budget.

From the second category, we recommend paying attention to the machine from Ganzo and the electric sharpener from Sititek. If the cost of the latter is too high for you, then LTE-01, included in the same price category, as mechanical models. It also includes the stones that close our rating.

Moreover, among them there is an interesting model Ace ASH105, which fans of hiking will appreciate.

You might be holding a piece of rough metal or a brand new Swiss Army knife, a piece of rusty WWI hardware, or a new item from Cold Steel. Whatever you use in everyday life, whatever knives you have to deal with - sooner or later you will be faced with the question of. And if at first you can get by with standard stones, over time, you will somehow want more (such is human nature). The outlines of an ideal cutting edge will flash before your eyes, and pieces of videos where knives whistle as they shave the hair on your arm and cut paper in midair. And then you will ask yourself a complex, important and practically unsolvable question, which we will try to answer in today’s material: “ How to choose a knife sharpener?»

The question of quantity and existential ways to solve it

I have a lot of knives. I have already removed most of them out of sight, but this does not change the fact that I sharpened each of them more than once. And, of course, I strived for perfection every time. And since I have many knives for different purposes, they are all in different conditions and need different types of editing and sharpening. I believe that whetstones and sharpeners also long to be several. However, not everyone feels this need at first. I want to buy one universal block, who at least bring the katana to a razor sharpness. Over time this will pass. But for now, we will compose our guide based on who you are regarding knives at the moment, and what your need for knife sharpener.

Beginning

On initial stage Standard abrasive or ceramic stones (‘boats’), which everyone saw in childhood, if not used themselves, will be quite enough. It is impossible to sharpen a knife into a razor with them, but this is how one acquires the skill of sharpening, which most people who deal with knife sharpeners for the first time, of course, no. You can choose boats based on their grain size. The smaller it is, the finer the grains and the more filigree sharpening is available to you on this whetstone. On the other hand, such a ‘boat’ will remove less metal, therefore, if the cutting edge needs to be sharpened completely, it will take much longer than with coarse-grained bars.

Abrasive and ceramic ‘boats’ are easy to handle working knives, scythes, axes, and machetes. Suitable for initial processing and restoration procedures when working with heavily damaged/dull blades of folding and higher quality knives.

Due to low quality (in the vast majority of cases) and manufacturing features (consists of small grains that produce sharpening, and an abrasive filling in which these grains are ‘scattered’) abrasive and ceramic bars quickly become unusable, which, in principle, is compensated by their extremely low cost and availability.

Experienced

So, you already know how to handle and have basic sharpening skills. From here it would be possible to jump straight to the next level (not without some bumps and mistakes made, but still), but our guide is moving progressively. The next level is inexpensive (relative to other sharpeners) and expensive (relative to tools at the previous level) sharpeners and stones.

Almost all Lansky products belong to the class of budget sharpeners. And since Lansky (and some other companies whose names we often don't know) are doing a lot of really cool stuff, it's worth breaking them down sharpeners into several categories.

Pocket (EDC) sharpeners

Small sharpeners, often folding, which most often allow you to set a strictly defined sharpening angle, easily straighten the blade and even make it sharp. He is already close to cutting through paper, cutting - not sawing - food and cardboard. It is convenient to carry such sharpeners with you in your bag or equipment pockets in case the cutting edge is accidentally damaged, or you have to do a fair amount of work with the knife (you never know...). There are also high-quality Lansky diamond stones in a leather case, which are also convenient for editing basically any knives: from harsh Finnish knives and bayonet knives to neat folding Japanese ones.

Sharpeners for shelter (at home)

Sharpeners, specially adapted for comfortable and accurate work to bring the cutting edge into excellent condition. Often designed to be attached to a table, they often come with several bars of different grain sizes, both ceramic and diamond (professional sets also include sapphire, Arkansas, etc.). The bar mount can be made of either plastic (and screwed to the table using fasteners (Lansky Professional, Lansky Diamond)) or wood (and not be attached to the table surface (Lansky Four Rod). The latter can be easily carried with you and, on occasion, sharpen knives at a party, at work, in a cafe, or in some other less suitable place for this activity.

Diamond stones

Metal bars with diamond coating - the juice second level sharpener. They are reliable, durable, allow you to bring the knife into more than satisfactory condition (if you have the necessary skills, of course) and at the same time are easy to use. Due to the properties of diamond, they can be very light and compact: sometimes they consist of a thin diamond-filled steel strip attached to plastic holder. Depending on the grain size, they are able to work on knives with varying levels of damage, but always successfully and efficiently. Diamond coating, due to its properties, will last a long time. How much depends on the frequency of use.

Experienced

This is a ‘clinic’, what else can I say. For you, a knife either cuts like a razor, or it’s not a knife at all (and it shouldn’t cut. Never. Until it starts cutting like a razor). Either he shaves his hair and cuts the paper right away, or it’s better not to catch his eye at all. AND bars you need the corresponding ones. But seriously... For those who already have enough practice and experience, who have already tried more budget options, or simply wanted the extreme and complexity of the process to go off scale. Well, this is probably how a true master is born...

Natural stones. Arkansas

The concentration of SiO2 in this stone is greater than in rock crystal (more than 99%), and thanks to its unique structure, it is excellent sharpens knives. Arkansas isn't cheap and wears out quickly, but it's worth it. If you plan to sharpen only on it, buy three whetstones (soft, medium, hard) with different hardnesses (the higher the hardness, the less metal the sharpener removes, the less grain there is in it and the longer it will last). This will allow you to sharpen the blade more efficiently and, at the same time, preserve work surface bar for a longer time. Before work, such bars must be moistened with special oil to avoid clogging the pores with pieces of ground steel, and after work they must be washed thoroughly hot water, soap, clean with a hard brush. The process is complex, labor-intensive, time-consuming and expensive, but that’s why you fall into the “experienced” category. Nobody promised that it would be easy.

Japanese water stones

It seems to me that you can pray based on the name. The stones themselves will definitely become an object of worship when they appear. Learning how to sharpen them is, in principle, not difficult. To do this, it is advisable to have basic skills handling sharpeners and, just as important, to properly care for the stones. This, in principle, is the main difficulty. Stones should be kept in water before and after work (but not for too long), should not be left in the sun or dried artificially, and should not be exposed to high and low temperatures, need to be stored separately and prepared for work using a special stone to create a suspension on the surface of the bar.

Choosing Japanese water stones may not seem easy. But our guide will help you here too. Stones for you: ... - and then the grain size you need:

For final finishing and maintaining high sharpness of already sharp blades: 5000-8000 (several bars). They practically do not remove the steel from the cutting edge; they sharpen the knife ‘into a mirror’
For editing, bringing to a sharp state: 1000, 3000, 6000. The first one will be somewhat difficult to cut. The second one is the most basic, and it’s worth starting your collection with. Well, if it ‘goes’ to 3000, sooner or later, you will somehow come to 6000 - it’s just for finishing, polishing, for sharpening, after which they cut the silk threads on the fly and shave... everything...
For sharpening, working with damaged/dull blades: starting from 120-600. A serious set of stones for all types of work.

The grain size of the stones in the set should not vary greatly (the difference should be in the region of two times superiority of one over the other, i.e. 600-1200-2200-4000).

In general, Japanese water stones are an amazing choice for everyone who wants and can sharply sharpen your knives.

You can love knives and piercing and cutting to the point of insanity. You can praise them, worship them, buy them and choose the best ones ad infinitum. But it is impossible to achieve harmony without knowing how to sharpen them. IN correct sharpening- the soul of the knife, the key to its functionality, long service life and safety in use. Sharpening knives is something worth paying attention to, something worth struggling with, and something really worth learning.

Sharp blades to everyone.