Work Sharp Elite (blade sharpener) flipped my thinking...

[TNBillyEarl]

I have tried more than a few stones, oil, and water over the years to sharpen my hunting knives. Alas, I never could get the edge I wanted. (And I refused to pay $10 to have someone do it for me.) After I discovered Havalon a few years back I didn't expect I would use anything else for hunting. I even picked up an Ozark something or another w/ larger, replaceable blades for processing. I have been on this course for almost a decade; but no more.

Last month a buddy suggested I try the Work Sharp Elite. I do believe it is foolproof. I spent 15 minutes each on my old Case lock blade and pocket knife. The edges I got were impressive. There are many YouTube reviews and how-to's out there, much better than I could type, but I wanted to write this review about a lesson learned w/ a traditional knife.

I went and got a cheap BuckLite Max to throw in my hunting pack. (It comes sharp, but the Elite can make it even sharper.) This week I dressed my first deer with a fixed blade in almost a decade. For me, it is now a much better option than the replaceables. I had become numb to the fact the disposable blades give and bend. I immediately realized I am more precise and get better feedback w/ something firm that has no flex. (I also broke a handful of blades each of the last two years. That was always an inconvenience in the field.) And that's it - the scalpels are wonderful and made my life better - until I found a blade sharpener I could use. I guess I should add that there is a bonus in the household that my wife's kitchen knives are all sporting new edges to boot.

-B

 

[JD338]

Do you have a link you can post?

JD338

 

[xphunter]

disposable blades break easily as well, and can cause harm. A friend about lost any eye to one.
I understand there should be some restraint when using them (Disposables).

 

[3 Meter Para Bellum]

I assume this is the system you are referring to?

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/WSWSBCHPAJELT/work-sharp-precision-adjust-elite-knife-sharpener-with-seven-different-grits-carrying-case

I like the look of it and have considered getting something like it a few times. However, I am very old fashioned for a young person and really wanted to become profficient at free hand sharpening. After 4 years of practice I finally feel like I have a fair foundation of basic skill. I can get pretty much any knife I have gotten my hands on to scrape shave hair at any grit that I have available to me, from about 140 to 1200 grit. I still struggle with speed and certain types of blades can be a headache, it is always a continuous learning process, but I have really enjoyed the sharpening journey. My most recent accomplishments were getting my axes and machette to shave hair for the first time.

 

[salmonchaser]

I have tried more than a few stones, oil, and water over the years to sharpen my hunting knives. Alas, I never could get the edge I wanted. (And I refused to pay $10 to have someone do it for me.) After I discovered Havalon a few years back I didn't expect I would use anything else for hunting. I even picked up an Ozark something or another w/ larger, replaceable blades for processing. I have been on this course for almost a decade; but no more.

Last month a buddy suggested I try the Work Sharp Elite. I do believe it is foolproof. I spent 15 minutes each on my old Case lock blade and pocket knife. The edges I got were impressive. There are many YouTube reviews and how-to's out there, much better than I could type, but I wanted to write this review about a lesson learned w/ a traditional knife.

I went and got a cheap BuckLite Max to throw in my hunting pack. (It comes sharp, but the Elite can make it even sharper.) This week I dressed my first dear with a fixed blade in almost a decade. For me, it is now a much better option than the replaceables. I had become numb to the fact the disposable blades give and bend. I immediately realized I am more precise and get better feedback w/ something firm that has no flex. (I also broke a handful of blades each of the last two years. That was always an inconvenience in the field.) And that's it - the scalpels are wonderful and made my life better - until I found a blade sharpener I could use. I guess I should add that there is a bonus in the household that my wife's kitchen knives are all sporting new edges to boot.

-B

I have the same system. It’s effective enough I left my Havalons at home and carried my old fix blade knifes on my moose hunt. I get my kitchen knifes so sharp you can read the recipe card though a slice of tomato!

 

[JD338]

I've used ceramic cross sticks and an old leather belt for years. I'm thinking I might upgrade.
Thanks for posting this.

JD338

 

[truck driver]

When I was around 12yrs old my sisters boy friend taught me how he was taught by the USN to sharpen a knife using a wet stone and spit. I soon learned I could get a sharper edge using oil. Then I discovered the Lansky sharpening system when I was in my late 20ys. I wore my first out a few years ago and have replaced it with a new one.
This is the first I have heard of the Work Sharp which looks like a top end piece of equipment.

 

[clearwater]

I've used ceramic cross sticks and an old leather belt for years. I'm thinking I might upgrade.
Thanks for posting this.

JD338

I use a worksharp for the initial edge but find the ceramic cross sticks give a sharper edge and are mostly what is needed to maintain it. The worksharp removes a lot of material fast, too fast for high quality knives that hold an edge.

It looks like the worksharp model I have doesn't include stones, so it may indeed be a superior system.

 

[IdahoCTD]

The Outdoor Edge replaceable blade knives are much stiffer than the Havalon and Gerber knives. They have an aluminum spine the blades slide into that makes them much stiffer. I havent run a fixed blade knife in forever it seems. I carry 2 with me and a elk usually takes both to bone out. Its easier to grab another knife rather than trying to change a blade in the middle and they are super light. I have used my Worksharp to sharpen the blades in the past.

 

[orchemo]

What is the angle for the Worksharp?

 

[Wolfshead]

I make knives and I use something similar.

KME Precision Knife Sharpening System – KME Sharpeners LLC

Product Description The KME Precision Knife Sharpening System comes in a large hard case that is big enough to accommodate the base and as many accessory stones as you want to add.The cases are lined with soft foam in both the base and lid to protect your sharpener and accessories. An additional...

kmesharp.com

I’ve had mine for over ten years and it gets knives shaving sharp.
They have a good warranty (or at least they did) and customer service is great.

 

[TNBillyEarl]

What is the angle for the Worksharp?

It is adjustable from 15-30 degrees.

-B

 

[salmonchaser]

The only complaint I have with the worksharp is sharpening thin blades at 15 degrees,The strone runs into the jaws. At 20 there is enough clearance. I took a jewelers file to the jaws and solved the problem. Keeping a ceramic “steel” around tunes them up quickly. Really only takes a couple of stokes.

 

[hunter24605]

The guys that let us hog hunt with them in Alabama had one in their camp. Hog hair is death on blades, especially when the group has 12-15 hogs to cut up. After using it a few times, we quickly divided up the cost and got one for our deer camp. A great item to have...I do like the outdoor edge replaceable blade knives too.

 

[6mm Remington]

It's not as fancy but I use the Lansky guide rod system with the Super C Clamp which makes it a lot easier and safer to sharpen blades. The Super C Clamp can be attached to a table, bench, or just about anyplace in a few seconds. I have had no complaints from folks I sharpen knives for as they have been extremely pleased with them. I'm a firm believer that the guided systems if they are well made that a person can get an edge that is far better than any factory edge and they will be razor sharp. I have a friend who used a Work Sharp system with the belts. He got decent edges on his kitchen knives but he would not use this system on his expensive Ruana knives. The reason being they just were not as good as I could put on them. He told me that the edges I put on his knives were much sharper, and they stayed sharp longer. Now he won't even touch his kitchen knives with it and just brings them to me to do for him.

 

[salmonchaser]

I got one of the hi end belt systems to keep our fillet knives sharp up at the lodge. We would fillet 100 to 120 fish a day. It was better than I could do otherwise and in a hurry. I used the belt drive once on my hunting knives. Wont do that again. I’m not convinced the work sharp stones are much better than the Lansky but I can sure get a good durable edge on my good knives.

 

[diverdown]

What is the angle for the Worksharp?

My workshop has an adjustable setup for Angles. That's one of the advantages.

 

[diverdown]

Do you have a link you can post?

JD338

Jim, I purchased mine from Bass Pro Shop approximately two years ago. A great piece of equipment. You can adjust blade angle and sharpen just about any blade that needs it.

 

[6mm Remington]

I got one of the hi end belt systems to keep our fillet knives sharp up at the lodge. We would fillet 100 to 120 fish a day. It was better than I could do otherwise and in a hurry. I used the belt drive once on my hunting knives. Wont do that again. I’m not convinced the work sharp stones are much better than the Lansky but I can sure get a good durable edge on my good knives.

I agree with you using the belt system when you need knives sharpened quickly so you can get back to work. That would be the best system for that use of the fillet knives for sure. The guide systems are slower to use absolutely. A knife I have put a proper edge on when I think it needs touched up will only take 10-15 minutes tops usually for me to get it back to where it should be, but still that's slower than a belt system can do for you. My friend was smart enough to not use the belt system on his prized hunting knives. He trusted those to me.

 

[Ridge_Runner]

I use a diamond stone, 1200 grit, 3minutes from dull to sharp.