Work Sharp E2 Review

The Work Sharp E2 is a pull-through electric model that we appreciate for its ease of use and versatility. Its two-tiered sharpening process is well-equipped to handle a variety of knife styles, and if you take the cap off, you can even sharpen your kitchen shears.

Performance Comparison

Sharpening Ability

Sharpening ability is the most important factor in choosing the right knife sharpener. After all, if your machine doesn't return a sharp edge after use, when what's the point of having one? The Work Sharp E2 has a two-tiered sharpening process. The initial grinding process is broken down into two steps: one slot for the left side of the blade and one for the right side. The second tier is a third slot with a ceramic honing disc to finish the blade. This functional system performed above average in our tests for this metric. While it didn't achieve the highest scores in our tests, it brings a knife back to life to an extent that we think will keep most home cooks satisfied.

The most important measurement we take to inform this metric is the sharpness of a knife after running it through the machine. Sharpness is measured in grams of force needed to cut a standardized material, so in this case, a lower number means less force and a sharper blade. We first dulled our knife with a metal pipe until it had a sharpness level of 991g and then ran it through the E2 and remeasured the sharpness. The Work Sharp E2 was able to bring back the knife to near factory sharpness, and we measured a cutting force of 321g at the end of the process. In a separate test, the knife was able to slice through a sheet of paper with minimal tears, backing up our measurements.

Some of the sharpening features that we like in the E2 include the use of flexible sanding discs rather than stone disks that many other pull-through sharpeners have. These disks form a subtle wrap around the edge of the blade to gently resharpen and prevent you from overusing the machine and grinding away the blade. The honing step is unique in that it requires a back-and-forth motion rather than a single swiping motion, but when we examined the edge under a microscope, we were pleased with the clean edge.

Ease of Use

It is hard to go wrong with the Work Sharp E2, and we mean that literally. Lead tester Graham Faulknor says, “If I gave this sharpener to my grandmother, I would trust her to figure it out and come back with a sharp blade.” This sharpener is so easy to use that even though it doesn't return the absolute sharpest blade, we still think it is the best fit for most people, especially for those who don't want to invest a lot of time and energy into technique.

There are a few ease-of-use features that put the E2 above the other sharpeners in our testing. First, it is a plug-and-go situation; there is no need to assemble before use, no need to soak a whetstone, and no need to adjust bevel angles. Each step of the process is timed, so you don't have to keep track of the number of swipes before you move on to the next slot. The grinding angle for each side is set to a standard 20° according to Work Sharp, which is in line with what we found during our tests. The good news is that you don't have to fiddle with any adjustments or angle measurements before you get started, and it also makes it difficult to reprofile the edge or grind away a significant amount of the blade by accident. The bad news is that since it is not adjustable, you do not have as much control over the exact specs of your knife edge if you prefer a steeper or shallower angle. The final step is a quick run through a ceramic honing wheel and viola! You're ready to get chopping. Altogether, the process takes between 1-4 minutes, and maybe a quick read through the manual if this is your first time.

Versatility

The Work Sharp E2 was also one of the top scorers for versatility. It can handle a straight-edge chef knife as well as the serrated edges of a bread or steak knife. Thanks to the single-sided grinding disks, it can even handle single-sided blades, which are found on some Japanese-style knives. If you remove the rough grit cap, it can even sharpen scissors.

The ergonomics are good, and thanks to the angle guide, it is fairly comfortable to repeatedly pull a knife through the grinding slots. One of the few downsides is that you cannot adjust the bevel angle. While the sanding disks are flexible and, in theory, can accommodate different bevels, we find that in practice, it inevitably takes the knife edge back to a standard 20° angle.

Storage

The E2 is surprisingly compact, especially for how versatile it is. The measured volume is slightly below average for the group and on par with other pull-through styles. These were all beat out by the pocket sharpeners we tested, but unless you have pocket-sized cabinets, we think it will be easy to find a spot for this sharpener in your kitchen.

At 3.5" tall, it will fit in most sliding drawers and requires no disassembly to achieve this size. It has a cord and plug stash on the underside and no floating parts to lose in the farthest reaches of the drawer.

Should You Buy the Work Sharp E2?

If the time investment is what's holding you back from sharpening your kitchen knives, even though you know they are long past due for a run past the grinding stone, then the Work Sharp E2 is for you. It is one of our favorite sharpeners, and it stands out in particular for how easy it is to get great results out of this machine. While it may not be the top standard used by professional chefs, we think it is ideal for those who prioritize the satisfaction that comes from making a clean cut with a sharp knife but don't have the time or desire to learn to use a whetstone. The E2 will take a blade from noticeably dull to slicing tomatoes and dicing onions like nobody's business.

What Other Knife Sharpeners Should You Consider?