If you want to precisely see the original angle a Knife is sharpened, using a marker on the edge and softly work on the edge a stroke or two, look at the edge and readjust the angle according to the marks on the edge
Also, after using the ink on both sides of the profile, I use a jewelers lens to make sure that equal amounts are taken of each side, and that the 2 sides are apexing at the point of the knife making sure they meet. This must be done when setting a new profile, which any sharpening system will have to, as it varies from the original grind
This is a fantastic trick! - Also - The manufacturer of the knife should be able to tell you the angle of sharpening. Victorinox 91mm knives are 15 Degrees. - That is all I know :p
Thanks for the information. I was wondering how to determine the proper angle but didn’t want to ask a stupid question. I was thinking about ordering this system so when I saw this video I watched it and I just ordered it from the link in the description. 👍
@@TeddDecker This is a great tip as in my experience many knives(especially those w/ full flat grind) don't sit in the clamping jaws perfectly in the middle. I've noticed this in cheap sharpening rigs and my TSPROF.
One thing that I always make sure to do when going for a nice looking edge, not just sharp, is to wipe the blade down with a cloth (wet or dry) to remove the grit that might be on the edge from previous stones. When you get to the finer stones, the previous larger grits can make gouges in the finish and you would then have to go back through the progression to remove those scratches. You will still get a great cutting edge, but if you are chasing that mirror polish, wipe it down between grits.
That's good advice. I ran a custom woodworking business for years and was constantly trying to improve the edge on my lathe chisels and blades. I spent years trying to work out the kinks but wiping the blade/tool off during sharpening is VITAL. Those microscopic metal shavings can have a dramatic impact on the final edge.
I have the original unit, and, I found that the stones would eventually start to " bind" ,on the rod. Spraying a little pure silicone oil on the rod smoothed things up, nicely.
Back in the day I carried the lansky system in my rucksack. It is the same concept as this but breaks down into a skinny little case. My platoon members always gave me their knives to sharpen. I now have this new work sharp device and I love it.
@@actontreadway1168 it has always gotten my blades sharp.It takes up very little room in a backpack or Rucksack which makes it great for in the woods use. I do have to ask why you've used it for 30 years if you hate it...🤣
@@LSwick-ss6nm because it works. But, the right angle guide rods fall out constantly and there is no amount of tightening I can do to keep them in. If they had used a straight, flat rod with a hole in it, then the tightening screw could go right through the hole and not come out until you wanted it to, but no, they had to do it the way they did and sharpening is a nightmare, as a result.
I have used/tried several “guided sharpening” systems over the past several years and can’t see ever going back to a freehand sharpening technique. I could never get a freehand edge as sharp as a guided sharpener system. The consistency of the angle makes all the difference in my experience. This seems like a well designed product and I am sorely tempted to pick one up!
I've always had trouble freehand sharpening getting the angle consistent through the whole process, this system has definitly made my life way easier. Definitely recommend it, would say to go ahead and spend the extra on the elite though. More money but it would've been cheaper than buying everything separate.
Same, i have the worksharp guided field sharpener and ken onion edition and both help get a sharp edge, especially impressed with the guided field sharpener
I never go by number of strokes. I adjusted the o rings on mine to be able to do passes across the full length of the stone rather than abusing one small section of the stones. I go by feel and how the knife edge looks since I've used it so many times. Also, when you finish with whatever passes you do on each stone, do one full pass strictly pulling towards you. It makes a MAJOR difference in my experience.
I just got mine today and was using it while watching this video. This system most definitely works. Money well spent. Took me only about the length of this video to get two blades razor sharp.
Hey Zac, you can also buy attachments to use better stones and a brace for the clamp. Trust me when I say get the clamp. It helps so much with keeping the right angle.
This sharpener is legit. Bought mine a few months ago and it puts an amazing edge on a blade. I use for my kitchen knives, pocket knives and everything in between.
I own a works sharp, its more or less the best kit UNDER 400$ (when I bought mine) I had a huge knife collection of dull knives. Now I enjoy using them again. Great vid!
Really glad to see you and Jaime doing videos again. You need to have a few guest appearances by Ben (and Athena, who we know is a major force in that operation). Great video!
I just bought. It comes tomorrow and I’m excited to sharpen some knives. I have their hand held belt sander, but never got a great edge with it- I bought it like 12 years ago. This looks much more refined. Can’t wait!
When it first came out, this Work Sharp was the first "rod" system that I saw that was a reasonable price, not that big, and good quality. All the others seemed to be huge expensive things.
Zac , my extreme thanks to you for the great video. I bought the system , and it worked wonders on my custom titanium Bugout with CPM-S90V. Just an fyi, there is a simple way to compensate for the flexing that occurs with the clamp; just use the free hand to grip the base and the four fingers to apply a slight amount of upward counter pressure at the rear portion of the clamp vise. The four fingers are safe since they are not near the blade's edge. Also, this grip technique helps establish a crisper edge with a more accurate angle.
I just picked up one of the basic Precision Adjust sharpening systems today from Work Sharp. I wanted to see how well it worked before I went all in with it. For me it was a game changer. My old beat-up knives that I thought were hopeless are back in operation. They are way sharper now than they were after hours of work on a traditional stone. Not the stone's fault -- I just couldn't get the hang of it. But this product is easy enough to use, there isn't much you can do to screw it up.
Am the same it’s my favourite system this and I just have the base model got my Victorinox huntsman and spyderco hair shaving sharp without the extra grits
I’m so glad the work sharp sharpener, I had mentioned in a few videos back that I’m still new the knife hobby and started around the time you started doing the videos with Ben and I’m not a pro at sharpening either and I’ve owned the work sharp for about six months now and I use it to sharpen my work knife, my plain S30V shaman and I can get a decent edge on it. I’m glad I’m not the only one out there that isn’t a pro sharpener. Thanks Zac
Sorry, I really need to proof read before I hit send. I’m meant to say I’m so glad that a you like the work sharp too and that I’m not only one out there that loves knives but maybe doesn’t feel like the best sharpener.
I hand sharpen mine and others knives with just a few different stones and I can get it sharp enough to shave. I'm not doing anything commercially so no need to have exactly the same edge. My hand is pretty steady anyways. I can see sometimes I do have a bit of a different angle but everything still works and is super sharp
I started sharpening on a little pocket stone with a leather pouch as a kid. In 30 years of sharpening I have lost that stone, but amassed a collection of sharpening stones, strops and other tools. I can't convince myself to go with a system when I need to sharpen, because with a stone set and a strop I can get some amazing results. Every knife I own has a super sharp mirrored edge that looks flawless under a microscope. In fact over the weekend I accidentally rammed one of my favorite knives into cement, brutalizing the blade. It took me about 45 minutes, but I got every chip out and can now see my reflection in that entire edge. Could I have accomplished that more quickly with a sharpening device? Possibly, in fact probably, but it wouldn't have been nearly as rewarding as fixing it the way I did. Besides all of that, there's just something about running a blade across a sharpening stone that I thoroughly enjoy.
Thank you, great video. I've been the same with sharpening stones, and recently purchased this sharpening kit! I haven't used it yet, so appreciate this video as you've inspired me to sharpen my knives!
Just a thought..saw a crazy expensive Russian design you could "add on" stop collars at the ends of the sharpener rod...it baffled me for a minute & then it makes GREAT sense as those allow "max travel" ea pass so that ur stones...or even films, will wear evenly...
I went back and forth between the Elite and the powered Belt models from WorkSharp. Decided on the Elite because time isn't a real issue...felt I could maintain more control over the edge with the way the Elite adjusts the angle.
Good choice. I have the powered version. It rounds off the edge if you aren’t extremely careful. Getting this manual one now to fix all the screwed up tips. Lol
The powered version isn't bad but as the first guy said it can take off steel that you don't want removed. Especially if you don't immediately begin to pull the knife towards you. It will make a curve near the hilt.
I was finally able to catch up on the videos that you’ve posted more recently. Happy to see any new content from you, man. Doesn’t matter to me if it’s knife, van, shop, philosophical, or whatever (although I am glad you covered this sharpener as I’ve been eyeballing it for a while). I’ve always loved your attitude and outlook. Keep it up!
Glad to see your smiling face again! I bought a WorkSharp system a couple of months ago, and you just motivated me to get busy sharpening my knives! Thanks. Keep the content coming!!
I used a Lansky kit for 20 years and it looks like they finally made a better version, I’d definitely use a cutting oil , or any oil really to lubricate the stones , they will last much longer and the result will be much better 👍
@@polyuniverse1908 probably so you have to replace them regularly, $$$ , I’ve always used oil on a rag to wipe the stones , great finish and don’t have to replace stones 🤨
When I'm at home I have always just used some flat stones of varying coarseness and a ultra fine or ceramic to finish it off. I get it pretty sharp but not mirror or even close, just a good working edge. However, day to day I have typically just used my little pocket sized Lansky Carbide/Ceramic sharpener that has little rod for serrated edges. That little sharpener will put a decent edge back on a pocket knife in about 3 to 4 minutes.
I'm a hand tool woodworker, I keep my hand tools (chisels, hand plane blades, etc) with diamond stones and leather strop very sharp. For my pocket knife, I have one of those v-shape coarse (carbide) and fine (ceramic) sharpeners. I sharpen my pocket knife almost every week because it literally takes all of 15-30 seconds. It not as sharp as I can get my woodworking tools, however for pocket knife needs it is good enough AND it is so quick I do it weekly. There are lots of systems out there for sure. For my pocket knife, what matters most is that I sharpen it often and quickly and get a decent not sharpest blade. Then again, I have been carrying a pocket knife literally since I was 7 years old in 1975 and see it as a tool and had no obsession over it. Then again, there wasn't an internet to make me think I needed to do anything more complicated.
innovation is a good thing, try a modern power tool some time, you might like it. As for pocket knives, some of these newer steels are much easier to sharpen w/ a guided jig.
Wife got me the Work Sharp with one 3 stone insert, WSBCHPAJ for Christmas. I got my Civivi Elementum with D2 steel to shaving hair off my arm sharp in 10min or so of fumbling around learning how to use it. This is one great system for guys and gals who don't have a big stone system or the time to learn how to use them to get razor sharp blades.
So glad to see you back on your own channel. I own the standard precision adjust model and I just love it. Been sharpening knives of friends and familly ever since. Looking forward to see more cool videos from you.
Zac You’re doing an excellent job. Im a knife fanatic too, but been loving your non knife content also. Definitely tons of interesting things to watch you do. Thanks for the content brother. Good seeing you regularly. ✌🏽
Bought the WorkSharp a year or two ago. I have used stones or a steel most of my life and have never been able to get a razor edge. The workshop did the job the first time and I've used it on several of my knives since. Also, learned that a steel is all you need between sharpenings to maintain an edge, so that was helpful.
I wanted to say i really enjoyed the learn as we go attitude and your personality was much better than an infomercial or sales pitch. You hit on most of the crucial steps of sharpening, for a novice, was really good. Minor things to help with it, the "number of strokes" is whatever it needs to be. start coarse, get the bur. before switching to the next stone, use a light single stroke on each side a few times to straighten the bur before it gets broken off into the much finer grit, it makes a nasty crunching sensation, just wipe the stone after the first stroke on each side until it goes away, then do your counted number of strokes per side to get the bur and remove scratches. Crucially the last and only other missing tip for a razor edge, is as described above, do some light straightening strokes to straighten the bur before your strop. the dramatically helps fine ness and speed. (Machinist, knife maker, sharpening freehand for 20 years)
The system is excellent for the money, I have the regular version and it is quite enough for me. People exaggerate when they grind one knife for 45 minutes. Literally every knife is shaving sharp in 15 minutes with 3 basic granulations. Later, I just pull on the leather strop a couple of times and that's it
Looks pretty nice! I've never really understood the angle adjustments on these as the angle between the knife and the system is defined by the how far the knife's edge is away from the holder or am I missing something?
imagine your looking at a triangle , with horz. side say on the right . adjusting the angle on these is like having a taller or shorter horz side . this changes the angle on the other side , as a blade has 2 sides that meet
Not entirely sure what you are trying to say, as that does not change that the geometry is such that the angle of the edge is dependant on the height of the knife. So no matter what you will need some kind of gauge of you want your angles to be exact. That is not to say that this Jig is bad, just that it still can be improved.
You also need to make sure to explain to people that with any fixed angle system if you don't line up your edge with the tip to the end of the sharpened edge in a straight line to the swing of the arm you will have a bevel that will widen/shallow towards the belly and tip. Fixed angles can be great, but you have to know what your doing.
!!!awesome brother!!!! There's just nothing like having your own work shop!!!!! You can make it any way you want!!!!!I love the system!!!and as I'm sure they're not expensive to replace.. I'm just wondering how long the stones last!!!!!and yes please please please do workshop videos.... we'll take anything lol motorcycles, shop projects, modding your knives doesn't matter lol we're just so happy your back making content... love you brother!!!! Please say hello to Kyle, Jamie and Kurt if your still in contact with those guys!!
I’m so stoked for the new shop! It’s a huge thing for me! Glad to hear you’re down for shop content! I’ve got some plans for sure. I’ll tell all the guys you said hi👊
I did four blades on the worksharp that I've only just gotten. It's the one with 320, 600 and ceramic. Free handing the final leather stropping. They might not be sharper than my stone sharpened blades. But the edge is way more consistent, only getting the slight angle change towards the tip. It's such an easy thing to use. Pressure going from light to near none
I bought the original system when it came out and loved it! When they came out with the elite kit I upgraded! It's a great system it's fast and easy to get a razor edge on just about any knife! I can use a stone about like you I can get a decent edge but never as good as with this system.
I have a friend who is a very well known turner/wood lathe artist. One demo he did, he dulled his skew chisel on the lathe bed, sharpened it on a 60 grit CBN grinding wheel, stropped it, and it shaved his arm hair down to the skin in one pass. If you are sharpening a butter knife, you may want to start at 80 or 120 grit. If you have a knife that is kind of sharp, then 220 to 400, though maybe 600, kind of depending. If it is a kitchen knife that just needs touching up, then 1200 or so grit would work fine. The purpose of the strop is to remove the burr. If you do not remove the burr from your sharpening stones, the blade will not cut well. A 'steel' is used to straighten up the 'teeth' of the blade. Cutting edges are pretty much razor saws. They do not chop well, but slice excellently. Watch how a Katana swordsman slices through those rolled up grass matts. Scratches from grits over about 700 grit are invisible to the human eye. I am left wondering what grit the ceramic side is.
Well, my Rat Trap got here, and I did give it a good try out. The Jury is still out. First, I took a brand new Wustoff boning knife to it, and that knife had a significant burr on it, which is bad on their part. A standard steel would not take it off, and I never got around to taking it out to my shop where all my strops are. So, ran it through the Rat Tray several times and the burr appears to be gone. Since the Rat Trap is a steel, and it rubs both edges of the knife blade at the same time, I am wondering if it just straightened up the burr so it can't be felt from either side of the blade of if the burr is gone. Only use will tell me that. I did take it to a small carbon steel chef's knife and a small paring knife I have, and they would barely cut paper. Several times through the Rat Trap, and they would cut paper again. So, at the very least, I would consider it better than the standard steel. Main reason is that it puts a better edge on the knife. It is easy for all but the lightest touch, when using a steel, that you will turn a burr, which is not good becasue your knives will not cut well. I may buy them for my daughter and a friend, haven't decided yet...
Avoid using a grinder to sharpen a knife…the heat generated will destroy the heat temper good knives all have on them…pretty much wrecking it’s ability to hold an edge and be a good knife any longer.
I’ll usually mark the edge with a sharpie and see where it goes away on first stroke at 20° to check my angle if I’m unsure.. this sharpener looks legit. I might just try the basic model, but I’ll probably suffer from FOMO if I don’t get the elite.
Let me just tell you guys, I have been in the hobby for several years. I have never been good at sharpening so I got the precision adjust (base model). I like it but still couldn’t seem to get a crazy razor edge going. Until this very video, I’ve always thought all the knife guys get a hair splitting, laser-guided razor sword that could split an atom. I now realize that I have had a good solid edge this whole time! It is incredibly liberating to see a knife pro do this and describe his edge and it match my own experience. I feel a lot better now hah!
Work sharp knows what they're doing and they're worth the money! I've been really happy with my Ken Onion edition (their fancier belt sharpener). I'm pretty tough on my folder, even using it to baton some tinder for a fire a few times. It's definitely used as a tool and had some good chips on the edge. It took those right out and after going up through the 1200 grit belt I was able to do swirly cuts in paper and almost loop back on itself. The blade was starting to lose it's profile so I was actually able to grind the spine down a little bit and bring the point back easily without dragging out a file. It took all of 5 minutes to get it done from the time I plugged the sander in. Gone are the days of trying to keep a constant angle on the whetstone (they have their place). The original belts are a bit expensive but I was able to find some replacements on amazon that were significantly cheaper; about 1/4 of the price per belt.
I also have the Jen onion sharpener but ever since I got the precision adjust the ken onion only gets used on my kitchen knives to get a quick edge on them. Both great systems though
I have this one and a lansky and my only complaint is with the clamp that holds the blade it’s hard to get a consistent edge if the blade isn’t locked tight
I feel like if they "knew what they were doing"... the clamp on this unit wouldn't need an added plastic block to maintain the proper angle. Aside from that it looks like a decent sharpener.
I never learned on a stone. I always struggled with keeping the right angle across the whole edge. So i bought a lansky and have been using that. I may upgrade to this now
Looks pretty cool, and I'm sure it works well when new. Myself, I will not spend that much on anything with a plastic base and assemblies. Thank You for the demonstration.
@@phillipendersby6964 know my blitz 360 will outlive me, and probably whoever I hand it down to, well worth the $300, and as a lover of tools, the precision machining just makes it a joy to use.
Great video man. Im glad you stuck with you tube after leaving BHQ. I dig your content man! One thing, Ive got this same system also and a little tip, move those O rings down/up the rod so that you can use the whole stone. Someone prob already mentioned this, but I didnt want to read all 200 comments to find out. Anyway, Thanks again man, dig the content!
FYI - Worksharp themselves did a video testing different stroke methods to see what truly gives the best edge. The back and forth you're doing, which is what the instructions say to do (I have this also), did not give the best edge. Going up, against the profile was shown to produce the best edge. I do like this system to make it simpler, but it has its drawbacks, which is what steel it's efficient with. For easy to sharpen steals, from 1095 to even good Japanese kitchen knives, it works great. For tougher steel like my Zero Tolerance, I have to go back to a real whet stone to put a shaving edge on it.
The trick that works for me is changing the direction of the stroke several times to take off more steel. Running the same grain took forever on my kme.
I'm no expert, but I would definitely use the Sharpie method for finding the angle here, then make notes on each knife for future uses. I'd also cover the entire length of the blade with each pass. One little section of the blade at a time seems like it would create some inconsistency. I do like the system.
The dirty little secret that Worksharp doesn't tell you is that as you move the sharpening stone back and forth, the screw mechanism will ever so slightly continue to rotate on you making every subsequent sharpening stroke OUT OF PLANE with the previous ones (effectively negating getting a truly sharp edge). I like the system (and own one), but this is the achilles heel of these units. They need to redesign the screw mechanism that adjust the sharpening angle so that it has a LOCKING COLLAR on it which will keep your angle the same for the duration of the grinding. You've been warned...
Just got mine today, and to keep it simple, it’s badass, wanted to really test it and did what any knife enthusiast fears, got my knife and rubbed it on a brick then whacked into it, to say the least my knife made a full recovery and even has a mirror polished edge
I had always sharpened my knives with a couple of stones, and managed to get them shaving sharp with some time and work. I splurged and bought one of these, and I have to say it was the best thing I have bought in a long time. I can sharpen any knife in the house in under 10 minutes, with no effort. The secret is to not put a lot of downward pressure, and let the stones do the work. Start on one side, and go until you feel a bur on the backside of the blade. (Try to keep track of the number of strokes you made) - Flip the knife over and repeat...gradually work up to the finer stones using the same technique. (I only use the 220 if I need to re-profile) - I use the 400, then the 600, then the ceramic, and close with a couple of swipes with the leather rod. It is also helpful if you keep track of the angles you use for your knives. I like 15 on the kitchen knives and about 22 on EDC blades. I have sharpened as large as an 8" kitchen knife, not sure how it would handle blades larger than this, but I think you would have trouble with larger blades unless you were using a larger angle.
I confess to being a knife sharpening cheater. It all started with just a little hit from an original Lansky system years ago. Since then, it has only spiraled out of control. Today, I use "angle holding" sharpeners almost daily for everything including touch-ups. Sometimes it feels like I can hardly wait to get my next fix. Even my wife's kitchen knives are no longer safe in my presence. Finally admitting this feels very liberating... as if I've taken the edge off. (Hey, I have a sharpener for that!)
Ha, I can relate. I too have a Lansky but it's only good for pocket knives or paring knives up to about 6". It worked especially well on one particular blade that was exceptionally hard. Only then was I able to properly couture the edge with the course diamond stone then change the angle up for the finer diamond stone. No need to regrind the entire edge with the fine stone, wearing it out prematurely. The fine stone set about 10 Degrees steeper will cut faster and give a sharper more satisfying edge. It all similar to grinding wood chisels with a triple grind, Each stone has it's own polish color, a sharpy marker can help you see this as can a good magnifying glass or even your smart phone. A jig is the only way to get repeatable sharper results. For my chefs knifes I use a chefs steel about every third use, family member's are all scared of my knives, they will cut, especially those that use them improperly like my wife.
I recently bought the kit that just has the one tri edge. My dad had a kit similar to this many years ago, and I’ve always looked for something similar. This is it but better. I was impressed with how quickly it can sharpen knives.
Great video. It's nice to see you come out of your comfort zone with sharpening. May I suggest buying the universal 4" stone holder from gritomatic designed for this system. It truly unlocks the potential of this system to the point it will give systems costing 10x thr price a run for the money. With that simple aftermarket upgrade you can now use every 4" format stone....and the options become endless. The system as shown works great, but if you truly want next level in sharpness and mirror finish, try that add on you certainly will be impressed
The consistency is amazing, only thing I’ve had to watch is making sure you don’t have to much pressure applied or you’ll find over time that the angle adjuster can be accidently changed by unscrewing. I’ve seen some people use the system and claim it doesn’t provide the ability to achieve a mirror finish. That isn’t true, what they fail to do is spend the time to achieve that finish on the finest stone. You have the ability to refine it further with a strop. But the finest stone they provide can and will give results.
Basically a Lansky Sharpener. I have the WorkSharp field sharpener and use it all the time. I also use a lansky styled sharpener with the WorkSharp, that's because my lansky sharpener comes with 7 different stones but no ceramic or strap bits. I recommend wet sanding or wet stoning. The metal plates that WorkSharp uses won't soak up water or oil like stones do. If you use a stone or ceramic and put oil on it then you have to use oil on that stone forever or it will get clogged because the oil and water won't mix and add metal flex to it and it makes a mess. If your used to using oil then stick with that. But I prefer water. These plates do get clogged with flex and need to rinsed off or brushed off. The field kit has it's plate held in place with magnets which magnitizes the blade. Good luck out there.
Having declared my dissatisfaction with this sharpener last night ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxDcr-y2Pf6xdnrFHrSP7dl9kpKaCozcSQ I thought about the problem some more. It occurred to me that I might be undoing each attempt at achieving a sharp edge by the repeated attempts. So, I tried to clean up the unsatisfactory result by honing with only positions 3 and 4.Miracle!! A really nicely sharpened chef's knife, more than enough to handle my needs. Admittedly, it did not reach professionally sharpened razor-fineness, but it is now significantly sharper than it was. A bout of breaking down carrots convinced me. So, major apologies to the manufacturer, Amazon, and all happy and potential owners! Follow the directions: don't buy it if you have ceramic blades; and don't overwork your knife blade.
you should try the Wicked Edge sharpening system..hands down the best there is...sharpening both sides of the blade at the same time is a plus and you can get a mirrow edge without any trouble at all...I have been using one for the past 3 years and would never change....good luck
I use a 10x magnifier to inspect the blade edge as I go. Look on the edge to insure full contact by your stone. If you are only hitting part of the edge then use a coarse stone to 're-profile' it. Then go to the finer stones. Oh and high end steel needs high end sharpening. I use diamond stones to re-profile. And then real stones for maintaining. And a strop of course. How well does it hold various knife blade shapes?
I never advanced beyond the sharpening stone, but did learn there are better types of sharpening stones. I don't use a "system" unless I come across a blade that needs reprofiling, and when I do, this is the type of sharpener I use. Nice video, thanks!
I've wanted one of these for a while now. It just seems like such a convenient way to sharpen a knife, without relying on electricity or pure free hand sharpening. Because electricity is basically magic that I don't trust (I am but a dumb lawyer and not an electrician, which I am convinced requires greater intelligence), and I've tried free hand sharpening and i'm not great at that either. So this seems like a fantastic option! Anyway your videos are awesome Zac! I look forward to them and rewatch the old ones! Fantastic stuff!
For a lot of years I would always say I knew enough about electricity to get my self killed🤣. Electricians are definitely magicians. Thanks for tuning in!👊
As an electrician of 15 yrs I can confidently say your opinion of our intelligence is misplaced to put it mildly. Basic requirements for the job. 1). Not color blind. 2). Ability to count to ten. That's pretty much it.
Ty for this vid. I could not find a non free hand sharpener that does smaller width blades like smaller pocket knives or smaller kitchen knives. This looks like it will work great for those.
Great video! Very engaging. Thanks! I would some sharpie on the knife edge and run the tool across at a high grit once or twice and see if it taking off all of the black marker and adjust accordingly. You won’t worry if your knife is ok anymore.
I have many many knives folding and fixed blade. And have been on the fence about what system to get. You Zac are making me take another look at the work sharp. Nice write up 🤘🏻
Great video. Only thing this system is missing is a clamp that is designed for traditional knives that have a shorter, not as tall of a blade. I find that with the traditional knives the stone can hit the clamp.
Oh shit! you brought Jamie with you!? Awesome!! I also finally bit the bullet on one of these sharpeners and regret NOTHING. Looking forward to more of your videos.
I have the basic Work sharp precision adjust sharpener with 320 & 600 diamond plates and ceramic polishing stone tri - brasive. It's made sharpening a breeze for every knife I own *except* for my recurve blades and my very thin Laguiole knife. The Laguiole knife is only 5/8" wide from spine to edge so it will rub the clamp at anything shallower than 23° which is ok, just not razor sharp. For my recurve blades I use a cheap Lansky crock stick sharpening kit with medium and fine rods. Surprising easy to keep them sharp, but reprofiling is difficult. Might need a coarse rod for that. But I love my Work Sharp. Wouldn't mind a second set of tri - brasives though 😉 I haven't used my flat stones for anything except my chisels since I got it. It's that good 👍
,I am most definitely a reluctant sharpener, specifically with my rare/discontinued/irreplaceable, sentimental and $valuable$ pieces. Definitely not confident enough with my freehand game for many of my blades. And I do like me some recurve and compound grinds, also some "exotic" steels, and I have a good deal of larger folders.I have been searching for a "user-proof", versatile system that is not Rubik's Cube in setup and use. Worksharp has been singing to me for some time. I am not sure which setup to get; the pivot response system in the guided field sharpener and benchtop versions have intrigued me, and man, SUPERB video, definitely put my eye on this model; love that you demonstrated it fresh out of the box with your first experience in assembly and use, so cool and helpful, definitely resonates. Worksharp's innovation, ingenuity, and intuitive designs are very impressive, and seem incredibly capable. Wasn't sure whether or not this system was going to be a bit more on the technical/advanced side, but I love what I see. Plus all of the aftermarket or more "elite" components readily available to supe up their products or suit specifications is a big bonus. Does this model support recurved blades? I may just have to acquire all 3. If you or any of these fine folks have any recommendations on which trees to bark up, would greatly appreciate your input. Again, excellent, informative video, well delivered, great vibe. Thanks!
This system can do recurve. The only restrictions I could for see would be just blade size. This is definitely a very user friendly system that I wouldn’t hesitate using on any of my knives. Just make sure you are 100% positive on the angle of your edge. Hope that helps a bit👊!
Good video, good information. This sharperner system is similar to the Lansky system. That system has a fixture that you attach to your knife, basically two L-shaped brackets with holes on the long side of the L. Those holes determine your sharpening angle. The stones themselves are similar to your system however they had guide rods that passed through the bracket holes. The Lansky deluxe set also had a stand to place the sharpening fixture into while sharpening. Thanks for the video.
I have a Lansky system and I can tell you just from watching this video that the Lansky system is far inferior to this rig. I've bookmarked the link for this system and will be buying for a birthday present to myself in a week or so.
If the tip is hitting the table when you rotate it, just lift the whole system up and rotate so you don’t have to readjust the blade. Or just lean it back until the blade passes while rotating.
I have a worksharp and I have for a good while, however, I don’t have the elite system. The one I have works very good. Thank you for showing the elite system. I may have to upgrade.
I have this system, and it WILL give a razor sharp edge. The problem with it is it doesn't hold larger blades, or does so very poorly. The clamp struggles to keep the blade from slipping out of the gripper. Also, the little grommets holding the stone fall off and get lost, so the stone slips off the metal rod. I still use it for critical use smaller knives like wood carving blades, but mostly just use my 1 x 42 with up to a 1000 grit belt for anything larger or quick sharpening.
As I watch this video, I have the same sharpener rolling around in the floor of my truck. I ordered mine a few years ago and went to order more and they were no longer available. I see they are now available again. I Guess some people will be getting some of these for Christmas this year.
Bro I'm so happy to see you doing videos like this! Don't know the full story about you guys leaving BHQ but BRO has the quality went down over there since you guys left! I remember I couldn't wait for week 1 Wednesdays they were so awesome!
I guess you can say any clamp system can trace lineage to the lansky but that is where the similarities end. This system is far more precise and there are some aftermarket stone carriers that greatly enhance this system. This system is more in line with how the kme system is set up but far easier to use and at fraction of cost.
If you want to precisely see the original angle a Knife is sharpened, using a marker on the edge and softly work on the edge a stroke or two, look at the edge and readjust the angle according to the marks on the edge
Also, after using the ink on both sides of the profile, I use a jewelers lens to make sure that equal amounts are taken of each side, and that the 2 sides are apexing at the point of the knife making sure they meet. This must be done when setting a new profile, which any sharpening system will have to, as it varies from the original grind
This is a fantastic trick! - Also -
The manufacturer of the knife should be able to tell you the angle of sharpening.
Victorinox 91mm knives are 15 Degrees. - That is all I know :p
Thanks for the information. I was wondering how to determine the proper angle but didn’t want to ask a stupid question.
I was thinking about ordering this system so when I saw this video I watched it and I just ordered it from the link in the description. 👍
@@TeddDecker This is a great tip as in my experience many knives(especially those w/ full flat grind) don't sit in the clamping jaws perfectly in the middle. I've noticed this in cheap sharpening rigs and my TSPROF.
Will be purchasing one of these. Thanks for the great content.
One thing that I always make sure to do when going for a nice looking edge, not just sharp, is to wipe the blade down with a cloth (wet or dry) to remove the grit that might be on the edge from previous stones. When you get to the finer stones, the previous larger grits can make gouges in the finish and you would then have to go back through the progression to remove those scratches. You will still get a great cutting edge, but if you are chasing that mirror polish, wipe it down between grits.
Great tip!
That's good advice. I ran a custom woodworking business for years and was constantly trying to improve the edge on my lathe chisels and blades. I spent years trying to work out the kinks but wiping the blade/tool off during sharpening is VITAL. Those microscopic metal shavings can have a dramatic impact on the final edge.
This is great. Thanky
Very good point! Using “Windex” does a great job removing the embedded metal shavings in my diamond stones, so they continue to cut effectively.
I have the original unit, and, I found that the stones would eventually start to " bind" ,on the rod. Spraying a little pure silicone oil on the rod smoothed things up, nicely.
Back in the day I carried the lansky system in my rucksack. It is the same concept as this but breaks down into a skinny little case.
My platoon members always gave me their knives to sharpen.
I now have this new work sharp device and I love it.
I have that one too, it's great 👍
oh man I hate the lansky; I've used it for 30 years.
@@actontreadway1168 it has always gotten my blades sharp.It takes up very little room in a backpack or Rucksack which makes it great for in the woods use.
I do have to ask why you've used it for 30 years if you hate it...🤣
@@LSwick-ss6nm because it works. But, the right angle guide rods fall out constantly and there is no amount of tightening I can do to keep them in. If they had used a straight, flat rod with a hole in it, then the tightening screw could go right through the hole and not come out until you wanted it to, but no, they had to do it the way they did and sharpening is a nightmare, as a result.
@@actontreadway1168 I put a tiny set of pliers in the case to get the rods together enough. That definitely is the most irritating part of the design.
I have used/tried several “guided sharpening” systems over the past several years and can’t see ever going back to a freehand sharpening technique. I could never get a freehand edge as sharp as a guided sharpener system. The consistency of the angle makes all the difference in my experience. This seems like a well designed product and I am sorely tempted to pick one up!
I've always had trouble freehand sharpening getting the angle consistent through the whole process, this system has definitly made my life way easier. Definitely recommend it, would say to go ahead and spend the extra on the elite though. More money but it would've been cheaper than buying everything separate.
Same I’be been knife sharpening for about 3 weeks and I can get the knives sharp with my whetstones but not ultra sharp like the guys in the videos.
Same, i have the worksharp guided field sharpener and ken onion edition and both help get a sharp edge, especially impressed with the guided field sharpener
I never go by number of strokes. I adjusted the o rings on mine to be able to do passes across the full length of the stone rather than abusing one small section of the stones. I go by feel and how the knife edge looks since I've used it so many times. Also, when you finish with whatever passes you do on each stone, do one full pass strictly pulling towards you. It makes a MAJOR difference in my experience.
Pretty much came to say the same thing
i wish i could save this comment for when i get one
@@bootymagician you get one yet?
@@snoopywl8880 not yet
@Not Milk I picked one up but I haven't tried it out yet just been watching videos on how to use it
I just got mine today and was using it while watching this video. This system most definitely works. Money well spent. Took me only about the length of this video to get two blades razor sharp.
Hey Zac, you can also buy attachments to use better stones and a brace for the clamp. Trust me when I say get the clamp. It helps so much with keeping the right angle.
Great to know! I’ll check it out💪
The brace for the clamp is a must for heavier knifes you can visually see the clamp start to droop throwing off the angle.
@@jamesthorn2585 is it from Worksharp or a 3rd party?
@@jamesthorn2585 I’d love to know as well.
All the ones I have and have seen were on Etsy mostly all 3d prints if your a wood worker I'm sure you could make one yourself.
This sharpener is legit. Bought mine a few months ago and it puts an amazing edge on a blade. I use for my kitchen knives, pocket knives and everything in between.
I own a works sharp, its more or less the best kit UNDER 400$ (when I bought mine) I had a huge knife collection of dull knives. Now I enjoy using them again. Great vid!
Nothing worse than a dull blade.
Really glad to see you and Jaime doing videos again. You need to have a few guest appearances by Ben (and Athena, who we know is a major force in that operation). Great video!
Definitely!🤘
100% agree!
I just bought. It comes tomorrow and I’m excited to sharpen some knives. I have their hand held belt sander, but never got a great edge with it- I bought it like 12 years ago. This looks much more refined. Can’t wait!
When it first came out, this Work Sharp was the first "rod" system that I saw that was a reasonable price, not that big, and good quality. All the others seemed to be huge expensive things.
Zac , my extreme thanks to you for the great video. I bought the system , and it worked wonders on my custom titanium Bugout with CPM-S90V. Just an fyi, there is a simple way to compensate for the flexing that occurs with the clamp; just use the free hand to grip the base and the four fingers to apply a slight amount of upward counter pressure at the rear portion of the clamp vise. The four fingers are safe since they are not near the blade's edge. Also, this grip technique helps establish a crisper edge with a more accurate angle.
I love sharpening my knafs and this system makes it soooo easy! Great to see you and Jaime making some great content like this.
I’m really digging the simplicity of it!
I just picked up one of the basic Precision Adjust sharpening systems today from Work Sharp. I wanted to see how well it worked before I went all in with it. For me it was a game changer. My old beat-up knives that I thought were hopeless are back in operation. They are way sharper now than they were after hours of work on a traditional stone. Not the stone's fault -- I just couldn't get the hang of it. But this product is easy enough to use, there isn't much you can do to screw it up.
Am the same it’s my favourite system this and I just have the base model got my Victorinox huntsman and spyderco hair shaving sharp without the extra grits
I’m so glad the work sharp sharpener, I had mentioned in a few videos back that I’m still new the knife hobby and started around the time you started doing the videos with Ben and I’m not a pro at sharpening either and I’ve owned the work sharp for about six months now and I use it to sharpen my work knife, my plain S30V shaman and I can get a decent edge on it. I’m glad I’m not the only one out there that isn’t a pro sharpener. Thanks Zac
Sorry, I really need to proof read before I hit send. I’m meant to say I’m so glad that a you like the work sharp too and that I’m not only one out there that loves knives but maybe doesn’t feel like the best sharpener.
We all have our strengths and weaknesses for sure😁
I love the shaman, that's my work knife as well. I also sharpen it with the worksharp, it's a good system for the money
I hand sharpen mine and others knives with just a few different stones and I can get it sharp enough to shave. I'm not doing anything commercially so no need to have exactly the same edge. My hand is pretty steady anyways. I can see sometimes I do have a bit of a different angle but everything still works and is super sharp
Awesome to see you and Jaime together again! You two are the reason I got into knives!
Thanks for the video. I’m sold! Great to see your videos again and miss your personality on that big knife outlet channel. Happy New Year!
I started sharpening on a little pocket stone with a leather pouch as a kid. In 30 years of sharpening I have lost that stone, but amassed a collection of sharpening stones, strops and other tools. I can't convince myself to go with a system when I need to sharpen, because with a stone set and a strop I can get some amazing results. Every knife I own has a super sharp mirrored edge that looks flawless under a microscope.
In fact over the weekend I accidentally rammed one of my favorite knives into cement, brutalizing the blade. It took me about 45 minutes, but I got every chip out and can now see my reflection in that entire edge. Could I have accomplished that more quickly with a sharpening device? Possibly, in fact probably, but it wouldn't have been nearly as rewarding as fixing it the way I did.
Besides all of that, there's just something about running a blade across a sharpening stone that I thoroughly enjoy.
Glad you found a system and practice that is so full! There is definitely something to sitting down and tuning up your blades.
@@zacinthewild it can be quite relaxing, maybe even cathartic. I definitely enjoy sharpening.
My son got me this system for Christmas!! Thanks for the tutorial! Can't wait to try it out!
Thank you, great video. I've been the same with sharpening stones, and recently purchased this sharpening kit! I haven't used it yet, so appreciate this video as you've inspired me to sharpen my knives!
Do it! It’s a great system.
Just a thought..saw a crazy expensive Russian design you could "add on" stop collars at the ends of the sharpener rod...it baffled me for a minute & then it makes GREAT sense as those allow "max travel" ea pass so that ur stones...or even films, will wear evenly...
I went back and forth between the Elite and the powered Belt models from WorkSharp. Decided on the Elite because time isn't a real issue...felt I could maintain more control over the edge with the way the Elite adjusts the angle.
Good choice. I have the powered version. It rounds off the edge if you aren’t extremely careful. Getting this manual one now to fix all the screwed up tips. Lol
The powered version isn't bad but as the first guy said it can take off steel that you don't want removed.
Especially if you don't immediately begin to pull the knife towards you. It will make a curve near the hilt.
If this is not a paid advertisement it should have been. You convinced me, I'm going to buy one!
I was finally able to catch up on the videos that you’ve posted more recently. Happy to see any new content from you, man. Doesn’t matter to me if it’s knife, van, shop, philosophical, or whatever (although I am glad you covered this sharpener as I’ve been eyeballing it for a while). I’ve always loved your attitude and outlook. Keep it up!
Thanks man! More on the way🤙
Glad to see your smiling face again! I bought a WorkSharp system a couple of months ago, and you just motivated me to get busy sharpening my knives! Thanks. Keep the content coming!!
More on the watt! Glad you dug it.
I used a Lansky kit for 20 years and it looks like they finally made a better version, I’d definitely use a cutting oil , or any oil really to lubricate the stones , they will last much longer and the result will be much better 👍
From what I read they do not recommend oil on diamond stones, I don’t know why though.
@@polyuniverse1908 probably so you have to replace them regularly, $$$ , I’ve always used oil on a rag to wipe the stones , great finish and don’t have to replace stones 🤨
When I'm at home I have always just used some flat stones of varying coarseness and a ultra fine or ceramic to finish it off. I get it pretty sharp but not mirror or even close, just a good working edge. However, day to day I have typically just used my little pocket sized Lansky Carbide/Ceramic sharpener that has little rod for serrated edges. That little sharpener will put a decent edge back on a pocket knife in about 3 to 4 minutes.
I'm a hand tool woodworker, I keep my hand tools (chisels, hand plane blades, etc) with diamond stones and leather strop very sharp. For my pocket knife, I have one of those v-shape coarse (carbide) and fine (ceramic) sharpeners. I sharpen my pocket knife almost every week because it literally takes all of 15-30 seconds. It not as sharp as I can get my woodworking tools, however for pocket knife needs it is good enough AND it is so quick I do it weekly. There are lots of systems out there for sure. For my pocket knife, what matters most is that I sharpen it often and quickly and get a decent not sharpest blade. Then again, I have been carrying a pocket knife literally since I was 7 years old in 1975 and see it as a tool and had no obsession over it. Then again, there wasn't an internet to make me think I needed to do anything more complicated.
innovation is a good thing, try a modern power tool some time, you might like it.
As for pocket knives, some of these newer steels are much easier to sharpen w/ a guided jig.
Wife got me the Work Sharp with one 3 stone insert, WSBCHPAJ for Christmas. I got my Civivi Elementum with D2 steel to shaving hair off my arm sharp in 10min or so of fumbling around learning how to use it. This is one great system for guys and gals who don't have a big stone system or the time to learn how to use them to get razor sharp blades.
This is how all instructional videos should be. Approaching it from your aspect was informative and refreshing to see. Great job!
So glad to see you back on your own channel. I own the standard precision adjust model and I just love it. Been sharpening knives of friends and familly ever since. Looking forward to see more cool videos from you.
Glad you found me! 👊
It amazes me how great this product is. Simple works great easy to operate.
Agreed!
I love my Precision Adjust! It is such an excellent system for such a reasonable price.
Such a great bang for the Buck!
I love Work Sharp products. I have and use their Ken Onion Elite system. Love how simple yet super fast it is.
Zac You’re doing an excellent job. Im a knife fanatic too, but been loving your non knife content also. Definitely tons of interesting things to watch you do. Thanks for the content brother. Good seeing you regularly. ✌🏽
Thank you so much for tuning in!🤘
Bought the WorkSharp a year or two ago. I have used stones or a steel most of my life and have never been able to get a razor edge. The workshop did the job the first time and I've used it on several of my knives since. Also, learned that a steel is all you need between sharpenings to maintain an edge, so that was helpful.
I wanted to say i really enjoyed the learn as we go attitude and your personality was much better than an infomercial or sales pitch. You hit on most of the crucial steps of sharpening, for a novice, was really good. Minor things to help with it, the "number of strokes" is whatever it needs to be. start coarse, get the bur. before switching to the next stone, use a light single stroke on each side a few times to straighten the bur before it gets broken off into the much finer grit, it makes a nasty crunching sensation, just wipe the stone after the first stroke on each side until it goes away, then do your counted number of strokes per side to get the bur and remove scratches. Crucially the last and only other missing tip for a razor edge, is as described above, do some light straightening strokes to straighten the bur before your strop. the dramatically helps fine ness and speed. (Machinist, knife maker, sharpening freehand for 20 years)
The system is excellent for the money, I have the regular version and it is quite enough for me. People exaggerate when they grind one knife for 45 minutes. Literally every knife is shaving sharp in 15 minutes with 3 basic granulations. Later, I just pull on the leather strop a couple of times and that's it
Looks pretty nice!
I've never really understood the angle adjustments on these as the angle between the knife and the system is defined by the how far the knife's edge is away from the holder or am I missing something?
imagine your looking at a triangle , with horz. side say on the right . adjusting the angle on these is like having a taller or shorter horz side . this changes the angle on the other side , as a blade has 2 sides that meet
Not entirely sure what you are trying to say, as that does not change that the geometry is such that the angle of the edge is dependant on the height of the knife. So no matter what you will need some kind of gauge of you want your angles to be exact. That is not to say that this Jig is bad, just that it still can be improved.
As a pro sharpener nothing will replace the bench stones!! I own a ton of sharpening gizmos and my go to are always my shapton stones
You also need to make sure to explain to people that with any fixed angle system if you don't line up your edge with the tip to the end of the sharpened edge in a straight line to the swing of the arm you will have a bevel that will widen/shallow towards the belly and tip. Fixed angles can be great, but you have to know what your doing.
Great point!
!!!awesome brother!!!! There's just nothing like having your own work shop!!!!! You can make it any way you want!!!!!I love the system!!!and as I'm sure they're not expensive to replace.. I'm just wondering how long the stones last!!!!!and yes please please please do workshop videos.... we'll take anything lol motorcycles, shop projects, modding your knives doesn't matter lol we're just so happy your back making content... love you brother!!!! Please say hello to Kyle, Jamie and Kurt if your still in contact with those guys!!
I’m so stoked for the new shop! It’s a huge thing for me! Glad to hear you’re down for shop content! I’ve got some plans for sure. I’ll tell all the guys you said hi👊
Happy to see you creating knife videos again! God bless
Thanks! Mixing all my passions in here.
I did four blades on the worksharp that I've only just gotten. It's the one with 320, 600 and ceramic. Free handing the final leather stropping. They might not be sharper than my stone sharpened blades. But the edge is way more consistent, only getting the slight angle change towards the tip.
It's such an easy thing to use. Pressure going from light to near none
I bought the original system when it came out and loved it! When they came out with the elite kit I upgraded! It's a great system it's fast and easy to get a razor edge on just about any knife! I can use a stone about like you I can get a decent edge but never as good as with this system.
I have a friend who is a very well known turner/wood lathe artist. One demo he did, he dulled his skew chisel on the lathe bed, sharpened it on a 60 grit CBN grinding wheel, stropped it, and it shaved his arm hair down to the skin in one pass. If you are sharpening a butter knife, you may want to start at 80 or 120 grit. If you have a knife that is kind of sharp, then 220 to 400, though maybe 600, kind of depending. If it is a kitchen knife that just needs touching up, then 1200 or so grit would work fine. The purpose of the strop is to remove the burr. If you do not remove the burr from your sharpening stones, the blade will not cut well. A 'steel' is used to straighten up the 'teeth' of the blade. Cutting edges are pretty much razor saws. They do not chop well, but slice excellently. Watch how a Katana swordsman slices through those rolled up grass matts. Scratches from grits over about 700 grit are invisible to the human eye. I am left wondering what grit the ceramic side is.
Most ceramic stones in kits are 1000-2000 +
Well, my Rat Trap got here, and I did give it a good try out. The Jury is still out. First, I took a brand new Wustoff boning knife to it, and that knife had a significant burr on it, which is bad on their part. A standard steel would not take it off, and I never got around to taking it out to my shop where all my strops are. So, ran it through the Rat Tray several times and the burr appears to be gone. Since the Rat Trap is a steel, and it rubs both edges of the knife blade at the same time, I am wondering if it just straightened up the burr so it can't be felt from either side of the blade of if the burr is gone. Only use will tell me that. I did take it to a small carbon steel chef's knife and a small paring knife I have, and they would barely cut paper. Several times through the Rat Trap, and they would cut paper again. So, at the very least, I would consider it better than the standard steel. Main reason is that it puts a better edge on the knife. It is easy for all but the lightest touch, when using a steel, that you will turn a burr, which is not good becasue your knives will not cut well. I may buy them for my daughter and a friend, haven't decided yet...
Avoid using a grinder to sharpen a knife…the heat generated will destroy the heat temper good knives all have on them…pretty much wrecking it’s ability to hold an edge and be a good knife any longer.
You can adjust the location of the o-rings to get a longer stroke, depending on the width of your blade.
Another great feature of this thing! I utilized it a bit when I started going through my long list of dull knives😁
Longer strokes are more satisfying!?... 😉🤣🖐️👍🍻
Yes, I believe you are " short stroking". This will introduce uneven wear on your stones.
I’ll usually mark the edge with a sharpie and see where it goes away on first stroke at 20° to check my angle if I’m unsure.. this sharpener looks legit. I might just try the basic model, but I’ll probably suffer from FOMO if I don’t get the elite.
Let me just tell you guys, I have been in the hobby for several years. I have never been good at sharpening so I got the precision adjust (base model). I like it but still couldn’t seem to get a crazy razor edge going. Until this very video, I’ve always thought all the knife guys get a hair splitting, laser-guided razor sword that could split an atom. I now realize that I have had a good solid edge this whole time! It is incredibly liberating to see a knife pro do this and describe his edge and it match my own experience. I feel a lot better now hah!
Glad it was helpful!
Just got mine yesterday, sharpened my SOG Seal XR. Love this thing. Mine only has the one tri-brasive rod though.
Work sharp knows what they're doing and they're worth the money! I've been really happy with my Ken Onion edition (their fancier belt sharpener). I'm pretty tough on my folder, even using it to baton some tinder for a fire a few times. It's definitely used as a tool and had some good chips on the edge. It took those right out and after going up through the 1200 grit belt I was able to do swirly cuts in paper and almost loop back on itself. The blade was starting to lose it's profile so I was actually able to grind the spine down a little bit and bring the point back easily without dragging out a file. It took all of 5 minutes to get it done from the time I plugged the sander in. Gone are the days of trying to keep a constant angle on the whetstone (they have their place). The original belts are a bit expensive but I was able to find some replacements on amazon that were significantly cheaper; about 1/4 of the price per belt.
I also have the Jen onion sharpener but ever since I got the precision adjust the ken onion only gets used on my kitchen knives to get a quick edge on them. Both great systems though
I have one, my one complaint is that wide handled knives end up missing a portion of the blade due to the jig. But it does make the blades sharp.
I have this one and a lansky and my only complaint is with the clamp that holds the blade it’s hard to get a consistent edge if the blade isn’t locked tight
I feel like if they "knew what they were doing"... the clamp on this unit wouldn't need an added plastic block to maintain the proper angle. Aside from that it looks like a decent sharpener.
I never learned on a stone. I always struggled with keeping the right angle across the whole edge. So i bought a lansky and have been using that. I may upgrade to this now
Looks pretty cool, and I'm sure it works well when new.
Myself, I will not spend that much on anything with a plastic base and assemblies.
Thank You for the demonstration.
Tsprof, Hapstone or Jende JIGS is the way to go imo
@@phillipendersby6964 Agreed
@@phillipendersby6964 know my blitz 360 will outlive me, and probably whoever I hand it down to, well worth the $300, and as a lover of tools, the precision machining just makes it a joy to use.
Great video man. Im glad you stuck with you tube after leaving BHQ. I dig your content man! One thing, Ive got this same system also and a little tip, move those O rings down/up the rod so that you can use the whole stone. Someone prob already mentioned this, but I didnt want to read all 200 comments to find out.
Anyway, Thanks again man, dig the content!
Thanks for the tip!👊
FYI - Worksharp themselves did a video testing different stroke methods to see what truly gives the best edge. The back and forth you're doing, which is what the instructions say to do (I have this also), did not give the best edge. Going up, against the profile was shown to produce the best edge. I do like this system to make it simpler, but it has its drawbacks, which is what steel it's efficient with. For easy to sharpen steals, from 1095 to even good Japanese kitchen knives, it works great. For tougher steel like my Zero Tolerance, I have to go back to a real whet stone to put a shaving edge on it.
The trick that works for me is changing the direction of the stroke several times to take off more steel. Running the same grain took forever on my kme.
Hahaha yeah a whetstone versus diamond for harder steels always works 😂😂😂 genius
Lol
I'm no expert, but I would definitely use the Sharpie method for finding the angle here, then make notes on each knife for future uses. I'd also cover the entire length of the blade with each pass. One little section of the blade at a time seems like it would create some inconsistency. I do like the system.
The dirty little secret that Worksharp doesn't tell you is that as you move the sharpening stone back and forth, the screw mechanism will ever so slightly continue to rotate on you making every subsequent sharpening stroke OUT OF PLANE with the previous ones (effectively negating getting a truly sharp edge). I like the system (and own one), but this is the achilles heel of these units. They need to redesign the screw mechanism that adjust the sharpening angle so that it has a LOCKING COLLAR on it which will keep your angle the same for the duration of the grinding. You've been warned...
cannot one try to fix the screw somehow to not rotate during sharpening?
@@boahgeil465 I wish that was the case, it's a serious oversight by Worksharp to not provide a locking mechanism for the screw device.
❤
Just got mine today, and to keep it simple, it’s badass, wanted to really test it and did what any knife enthusiast fears, got my knife and rubbed it on a brick then whacked into it, to say the least my knife made a full recovery and even has a mirror polished edge
I had always sharpened my knives with a couple of stones, and managed to get them shaving sharp with some time and work.
I splurged and bought one of these, and I have to say it was the best thing I have bought in a long time.
I can sharpen any knife in the house in under 10 minutes, with no effort. The secret is to not put a lot of downward pressure, and let the stones do the work. Start on one side, and go until you feel a bur on the backside of the blade. (Try to keep track of the number of strokes you made) - Flip the knife over and repeat...gradually work up to the finer stones using the same technique. (I only use the 220 if I need to re-profile) - I use the 400, then the 600, then the ceramic, and close with a couple of swipes with the leather rod.
It is also helpful if you keep track of the angles you use for your knives. I like 15 on the kitchen knives and about 22 on EDC blades. I have sharpened as large as an 8" kitchen knife, not sure how it would handle blades larger than this, but I think you would have trouble with larger blades unless you were using a larger angle.
Your stroke technique is flawless; good work!
I confess to being a knife sharpening cheater. It all started with just a little hit from an original Lansky system years ago. Since then, it has only spiraled out of control. Today, I use "angle holding" sharpeners almost daily for everything including touch-ups. Sometimes it feels like I can hardly wait to get my next fix. Even my wife's kitchen knives are no longer safe in my presence.
Finally admitting this feels very liberating... as if I've taken the edge off. (Hey, I have a sharpener for that!)
Ha, I can relate. I too have a Lansky but it's only good for pocket knives or paring knives up to about 6". It worked especially well on one particular blade that was exceptionally hard. Only then was I able to properly couture the edge with the course diamond stone then change the angle up for the finer diamond stone. No need to regrind the entire edge with the fine stone, wearing it out prematurely. The fine stone set about 10 Degrees steeper will cut faster and give a sharper more satisfying edge. It all similar to grinding wood chisels with a triple grind, Each stone has it's own polish color, a sharpy marker can help you see this as can a good magnifying glass or even your smart phone. A jig is the only way to get repeatable sharper results. For my chefs knifes I use a chefs steel about every third use, family member's are all scared of my knives, they will cut, especially those that use them improperly like my wife.
You can take a marker and mark the edge and run the sharpener across and if there’s any marker left you adjust the angle til it’s gone .
I recently bought the kit that just has the one tri edge. My dad had a kit similar to this many years ago, and I’ve always looked for something similar. This is it but better. I was impressed with how quickly it can sharpen knives.
Yes! “That sound… is it ok?, is it not?”. Keep doing these videos man, I really enjoy them.
Great video.
It's nice to see you come out of your comfort zone with sharpening.
May I suggest buying the universal 4" stone holder from gritomatic designed for this system. It truly unlocks the potential of this system to the point it will give systems costing 10x thr price a run for the money. With that simple aftermarket upgrade you can now use every 4" format stone....and the options become endless.
The system as shown works great, but if you truly want next level in sharpness and mirror finish, try that add on you certainly will be impressed
Could you provide link of the product you are talking ?
The consistency is amazing, only thing I’ve had to watch is making sure you don’t have to much pressure applied or you’ll find over time that the angle adjuster can be accidently changed by unscrewing. I’ve seen some people use the system and claim it doesn’t provide the ability to achieve a mirror finish. That isn’t true, what they fail to do is spend the time to achieve that finish on the finest stone. You have the ability to refine it further with a strop. But the finest stone they provide can and will give results.
Basically a Lansky Sharpener. I have the WorkSharp field sharpener and use it all the time. I also use a lansky styled sharpener with the WorkSharp, that's because my lansky sharpener comes with 7 different stones but no ceramic or strap bits.
I recommend wet sanding or wet stoning. The metal plates that WorkSharp uses won't soak up water or oil like stones do. If you use a stone or ceramic and put oil on it then you have to use oil on that stone forever or it will get clogged because the oil and water won't mix and add metal flex to it and it makes a mess. If your used to using oil then stick with that. But I prefer water. These plates do get clogged with flex and need to rinsed off or brushed off. The field kit has it's plate held in place with magnets which magnitizes the blade.
Good luck out there.
I'm glad you guys are back you were by far my favorite knife youtuber and it was disappointing to see you go
Glad to be back!
Having declared my dissatisfaction with this sharpener last night ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxDcr-y2Pf6xdnrFHrSP7dl9kpKaCozcSQ I thought about the problem some more. It occurred to me that I might be undoing each attempt at achieving a sharp edge by the repeated attempts. So, I tried to clean up the unsatisfactory result by honing with only positions 3 and 4.Miracle!! A really nicely sharpened chef's knife, more than enough to handle my needs. Admittedly, it did not reach professionally sharpened razor-fineness, but it is now significantly sharper than it was. A bout of breaking down carrots convinced me. So, major apologies to the manufacturer, Amazon, and all happy and potential owners! Follow the directions: don't buy it if you have ceramic blades; and don't overwork your knife blade.
you should try the Wicked Edge sharpening system..hands down the best there is...sharpening both sides of the blade at the same time is a plus and you can get a mirrow edge without any trouble at all...I have been using one for the past 3 years and would never change....good luck
"We're going to learn together".... you are awesome man!
I use a 10x magnifier to inspect the blade edge as I go. Look on the edge to insure full contact by your stone. If you are only hitting part of the edge then use a coarse stone to 're-profile' it. Then go to the finer stones. Oh and high end steel needs high end sharpening. I use diamond stones to re-profile. And then real stones for maintaining. And a strop of course. How well does it hold various knife blade shapes?
I never advanced beyond the sharpening stone, but did learn there are better types of sharpening stones. I don't use a "system" unless I come across a blade that needs reprofiling, and when I do, this is the type of sharpener I use. Nice video, thanks!
Stead fast and loyal!!
Christmas gifts for my brother and uncle! Thank you!
I've wanted one of these for a while now. It just seems like such a convenient way to sharpen a knife, without relying on electricity or pure free hand sharpening. Because electricity is basically magic that I don't trust (I am but a dumb lawyer and not an electrician, which I am convinced requires greater intelligence), and I've tried free hand sharpening and i'm not great at that either. So this seems like a fantastic option! Anyway your videos are awesome Zac! I look forward to them and rewatch the old ones! Fantastic stuff!
For a lot of years I would always say I knew enough about electricity to get my self killed🤣. Electricians are definitely magicians. Thanks for tuning in!👊
As an electrician of 15 yrs I can confidently say your opinion of our intelligence is misplaced to put it mildly. Basic requirements for the job. 1). Not color blind. 2). Ability to count to ten. That's pretty much it.
After watching this video I ordered a Ken Onion model. I presently use a KME and can’t wait to replace it!
Ty for this vid. I could not find a non free hand sharpener that does smaller width blades like smaller pocket knives or smaller kitchen knives. This looks like it will work great for those.
Great video! Very engaging. Thanks! I would some sharpie on the knife edge and run the tool across at a high grit once or twice and see if it taking off all of the black marker and adjust accordingly. You won’t worry if your knife is ok anymore.
I have many many knives folding and fixed blade. And have been on the fence about what system to get. You Zac are making me take another look at the work sharp. Nice write up 🤘🏻
Great video. Only thing this system is missing is a clamp that is designed for traditional knives that have a shorter, not as tall of a blade. I find that with the traditional knives the stone can hit the clamp.
I've found that too. I've only used a lanky clamp system thou.
I have had one for a while now and have loved it. I would like to see a full knife collection tour. Keep up the great work.
Full knife collection definitely coming at some point. It will be a long one😁.
Do you have the elite or the base model
@@givematthiswalrus4825 I bought the base model then purchased the upgrade kit.
@@grantsimms2009 👍
That company that you used to work for does not have good videos like they did when you were there. Glad to have you putting out videos regularly.
Oh shit! you brought Jamie with you!? Awesome!! I also finally bit the bullet on one of these sharpeners and regret NOTHING. Looking forward to more of your videos.
It is a good one for sure!
Best sharpening system and value on the market change my edc world!
Agreed!
I have the basic Work sharp precision adjust sharpener with 320 & 600 diamond plates and ceramic polishing stone tri - brasive. It's made sharpening a breeze for every knife I own *except* for my recurve blades and my very thin Laguiole knife. The Laguiole knife is only 5/8" wide from spine to edge so it will rub the clamp at anything shallower than 23° which is ok, just not razor sharp.
For my recurve blades I use a cheap Lansky crock stick sharpening kit with medium and fine rods. Surprising easy to keep them sharp, but reprofiling is difficult. Might need a coarse rod for that.
But I love my Work Sharp. Wouldn't mind a second set of tri - brasives though 😉 I haven't used my flat stones for anything except my chisels since I got it.
It's that good 👍
,I am most definitely a reluctant sharpener, specifically with my rare/discontinued/irreplaceable, sentimental and $valuable$ pieces. Definitely not confident enough with my freehand game for many of my blades. And I do like me some recurve and compound grinds, also some "exotic" steels, and I have a good deal of larger folders.I have been searching for a "user-proof", versatile system that is not Rubik's Cube in setup and use. Worksharp has been singing to me for some time. I am not sure which setup to get; the pivot response system in the guided field sharpener and benchtop versions have intrigued me, and man, SUPERB video, definitely put my eye on this model; love that you demonstrated it fresh out of the box with your first experience in assembly and use, so cool and helpful, definitely resonates. Worksharp's innovation, ingenuity, and intuitive designs are very impressive, and seem incredibly capable. Wasn't sure whether or not this system was going to be a bit more on the technical/advanced side, but I love what I see. Plus all of the aftermarket or more "elite" components readily available to supe up their products or suit specifications is a big bonus. Does this model support recurved blades? I may just have to acquire all 3. If you or any of these fine folks have any recommendations on which trees to bark up, would greatly appreciate your input.
Again, excellent, informative video, well delivered, great vibe. Thanks!
This system can do recurve. The only restrictions I could for see would be just blade size. This is definitely a very user friendly system that I wouldn’t hesitate using on any of my knives. Just make sure you are 100% positive on the angle of your edge. Hope that helps a bit👊!
Good video, good information. This sharperner system is similar to the Lansky system. That system has a fixture that you attach to your knife, basically two L-shaped brackets with holes on the long side of the L. Those holes determine your sharpening angle. The stones themselves are similar to your system however they had guide rods that passed through the bracket holes. The Lansky deluxe set also had a stand to place the sharpening fixture into while sharpening. Thanks for the video.
I have a Lansky system and I can tell you just from watching this video that the Lansky system is far inferior to this rig. I've bookmarked the link for this system and will be buying for a birthday present to myself in a week or so.
Bought mine about 4 months ago, but still have yet to try it out. This reminded me to finally get going.
If the tip is hitting the table when you rotate it, just lift the whole system up and rotate so you don’t have to readjust the blade. Or just lean it back until the blade passes while rotating.
I have a worksharp and I have for a good while, however, I don’t have the elite system. The one I have works very good. Thank you for showing the elite system. I may have to upgrade.
Good news is that they sell an upgrade kit for people who got the base model only.
I have this system, and it WILL give a razor sharp edge. The problem with it is it doesn't hold larger blades, or does so very poorly. The clamp struggles to keep the blade from slipping out of the gripper. Also, the little grommets holding the stone fall off and get lost, so the stone slips off the metal rod. I still use it for critical use smaller knives like wood carving blades, but mostly just use my 1 x 42 with up to a 1000 grit belt for anything larger or quick sharpening.
This is such a good system. Thanks for the great honest review!
If you move the rubber o-rings on the slide bar you can get a longer stroke.
As I watch this video, I have the same sharpener rolling around in the floor of my truck. I ordered mine a few years ago and went to order more and they were no longer available. I see they are now available again. I Guess some people will be getting some of these for Christmas this year.
Bro I'm so happy to see you doing videos like this! Don't know the full story about you guys leaving BHQ but BRO has the quality went down over there since you guys left! I remember I couldn't wait for week 1 Wednesdays they were so awesome!
You can adjust those rubber stops to use more of the stone and save a ton of strokes. Also, Sharpies are your friend.
This system is very similar to the Lansky system that I have. Give it a look. The up and down vs the sliding along the blade is different. Looks cool
I guess you can say any clamp system can trace lineage to the lansky but that is where the similarities end. This system is far more precise and there are some aftermarket stone carriers that greatly enhance this system.
This system is more in line with how the kme system is set up but far easier to use and at fraction of cost.