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Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition Review

This belt-sander can (and will) sharpen anything and everything once you learn how to use it effectively
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Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition Review (The direction of pull of the abrasive sheets on the Ken Onion sharpener have a great deal to do with the quality of...)
The direction of pull of the abrasive sheets on the Ken Onion sharpener have a great deal to do with the quality of the resharpened edge on our test knives.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Price:  $160 List
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Manufacturer:   Work Sharp
By Graham Faulknor and Aaron Rice  ⋅  Aug 5, 2024
78
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 17
  • Sharpening Ability - 40% 9.0
  • Ease of Use - 30% 6.5
  • Versatility - 20% 9.0
  • Storage - 10% 4.5

Our Verdict

If you hold your knives to a high standard, and your sharpening needs don't stop at kitchen knives, the Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition is a tool worth your consideration. It is a highly versatile appliance that can handle anything from a paring knife to an axe with the right attachments. It is one of the most versatile models in the review, and we were highly impressed with its sharpening performance, which was able to bring our pre-dulled knife back to factory sharpness. It takes some practice to get the hang of the technique, but once you do, you're golden.
REASONS TO BUY
Incredibly versatile
Can set bevel angle
Can restore knives to factory sharpness
REASONS TO AVOID
A bit messy
Belts need to be replaced periodically
Needs practice to master

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Top Pick Award
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Editors' Choice Award
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Best Buy Award
Best Budget Electric Sharpener
Price $160 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line Highly versatile belt-style sander that will sharpen any blade you put to it, but requires some practiceA simple yet highly effective knife sharpener that has great versatility for home kitchensThe best option for professional quality knife sharpness if you are willing to master the proper techniqueA great little knife sharpener that makes up for inconsistencies with exceptional affordability and user-friendlinessSimple, affordable, and intuitive to use, but may require some effort to achieve the best results
Rating Categories Work Sharp Ken Onio... Work Sharp E2 Kerye Professional... Longzon 4-in-1 Presto EverSharp
Sharpening Ability (40%)
9.0
7.0
8.7
6.4
6.3
Ease of Use (30%)
6.5
8.5
6.0
8.3
7.5
Versatility (20%)
9.0
8.6
8.2
6.8
6.8
Storage (10%)
4.5
7.5
4.9
8.1
5.8
Specs Work Sharp Ken Onio... Work Sharp E2 Kerye Professional... Longzon 4-in-1 Presto EverSharp
Type of Sharpener Electric - Pull Electric - Pull Manual - Whetstone Manual - Pull Electric - Pull
Sharpening Tiers Available 5 2 4 3 2
Adjustable Sharpening Angle Yes: 2.5° increments from 15°-30° No Yes No No
Sharpens Serrated Blade Yes Yes No No Yes
Sharpens Scissors Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Sharpens Single-Bevel Blades Yes Yes Yes No No
Measured Dimensions 10" L x 5.5" W x 5.2" H 5.7" L x 4" W x 3.5" H 8.3" L x 3.6" W x 4" H 9.3" L x 1.8" W x 3" H 5.7" L x 8.2" W x 3.7" H
Measured Weight 2.7 lb 1.2 lb 3.9 lb 0.5 lb 2.6 lb
Measured Sharpness 257 g 321 g 264 g 372 g 394 g
Space Used 286 cu in 80 cu in 120 cu in 50 cu in 173 cu in

Our Analysis and Test Results

This unconventional sharpening appliance has the capability to handle the widest range of blades we've seen so far. The Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition is a tool we'd recommend to those who have a growing list of blades in their kitchen, tool shed, and hunting/fishing kit that need to be sharpened. It can return your knives to factory-level sharpness if you are willing to put in the time it takes to get there.

Performance Comparison


With the ability to return knives to factory sharpness and the versatility to handle blades of almost any shape and size, the Ken Onion is a mighty tool to have in your arsenal.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Sharpening Ability


With a design akin to a belt sander, the Work Sharp Ken Onion comes with 5 interchangeable bands that each have varying levels of grit. The sharpening process involves working your way through from the extra-coarse 120-grit belt all the way to a fine abrasive belt with a 3000-grit. For serrated blades, bread knives, and gut hooks, there is a 6000-grit extra-fine belt that helps preserve the serration by not removing too much material.


We found the overall process to be a bit more time-consuming but extremely effective. The Ken Onion is one of the highest-scoring knife sharpeners we tested and one of the few that was able to restore factory-level sharpness after using it according to manufacturer recommendations. At the end of our test, we measured a sharpness level of 257 g, down from the 1042 g of cutting force that was required from our pre-dulled blade.


The use of flexible sanding belts creates a convex edge that leaves more steel behind the point of the blade for support and helps the edge stay sharper for longer. so hopefully, you won't have to break out the sharpener as often. The multi-stage grinding process produced a beautiful, mirrorlike finish on the edge of the blade, and when examined under the microscope, we could see the convex edge produced by the flexible sanding belt. All of this was backed up by excellent performance in our paper-cutting test. The knife sliced right through the sheet of paper and felt as sharp as it did straight out of the box.

We tested the Work Sharp Ken Onion (and all the other sharpeners in...
We tested the Work Sharp Ken Onion (and all the other sharpeners in this review) with standard chef knives that we predulled and attempted to return to factory sharpness. The Ken Onion is one of the few machines that succeeded at this task.
The convex edge and mirror-like finish created by the Work Sharp Ken...
The convex edge and mirror-like finish created by the Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition are clearly visible when examined under a microscope.

Ease of Use


The Work Sharp Ken Onion scored just below average for ease of use. There is a bit of a learning curve to use this machine, and, as mentioned above, the entire sharpening process takes longer than other electric sharpeners. After setting the grind angle, running the knife through an adequate number of passes, and swapping out bands, when all is said and done, the whole process takes about 10 minutes for a single blade. If you just need to sharpen one knife, this isn't so bad, but if you have more than a handful, you better settle in for an afternoon of grinding.


The angle guide on the Ken Onion is spring-loaded, so if you put too much pressure on it, you may unintentionally change the degree of your bevel angle. Relative to an electric pull-through model, we found that it took a few extra practice rounds before we found our swing with this sharpener, and we appreciate the clear guidance in the manual for best practices. It still does not take as much skill as using a whetstone, and it has the potential to achieve the same degree of sharpness. Lastly, if you decide to use this Work Sharp model, be prepared for some cleanup afterward. In our testing, we found that the belt sander shed a lot of material and preferred to run the machine outside or in the garage, where cleanup would be a bit easier.

work sharp ken onion edition - the angle guide on the ken onion is adjustable from 15° to 30°...
The angle guide on the Ken Onion is adjustable from 15° to 30° in 1° increments.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Versatility


If you need to sharpen more than just your kitchen knives, that is what this machine is built for. It can handle scissors, hunting knives, pocket knives, kitchen knives, and serrated blades. We even used it on a set of hedge shears. An additional attachment can be purchased for larger blades, like axes. We were hard-pressed to find something that the Ken Onion couldn't sharpen, and it earned one of the highest scores in this metric.


It has left and right-edge options for grinding and honing double and single-sided blades, and the angle guide is adjustable from 15° to 30° with 1° increments, giving you ultimate precision in your bevel angle. Worksharp has a handy sharpening reference chart that tells you how many passes you need on each belt depending on the type of blade you are working with, so there is little room for confusion.

We pushed the limits of the Ken Onion's versatility by sharpening a pair of garden shears.
Credit: Chris McNamara

Storage


Storage is the single downfall of the Work Sharp Ken Onion; it is one of the highest-volume sharpeners we tested. We think it would almost be a better option to store in the garage rather than in the kitchen. It definitely won't fit in the drawer, and with the amount of dust/debris it tends to shed, you probably won't want to keep it with your other kitchen appliances anyway.


It has a few extra belts to keep track of but comes with a storage bag to keep everything together. That said, if you are looking at a machine with the level of capability and versatility of the Ken Onion, we're guessing that if you have enough room to store a whole slew of kitchen, yard, hunting, or fishing blades, you're likely not super worried about storage space.

work sharp ken onion edition - the work sharp ken onion edition is one of the largest sharpeners we...
The Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition is one of the largest sharpeners we tested, and the unusual shape may make it a bit more difficult to store.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should You Buy the Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition?


If you take pride in keeping your kitchen knives at elite-level sharpness, and have a tool shed full of work blades that could also benefit from a good sharpening, then we can't recommend the Ken Onion enough. Many will appreciate that the design gives you ultimate flexibility in bevel angle, grinding grit, and knife style. Although, for some users, all of this flexibility may be overkill. It all comes down to personal preference. If you only have a few kitchen knives that you take to a professional sharpener once a year and just want something to keep them fresh in between, then you might want to look at a simpler, more affordable model.

work sharp ken onion edition - while it may seem a bit awkward at first, we actually found the work...
While it may seem a bit awkward at first, we actually found the Work Sharp Ken Onion quite comfortable to use once we got the hang of it.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

What Other Knife Sharpeners Should You Consider?


If you want top-notch results from your sharpener but don't love the idea of trying to master the sharpening technique, then the Work Sharp Precision Adjust might be a good option. This manual swing arm sharpener produces above-average sharpness with very little effort and is decently versatile as well. Our top choice for a compact, easy-to-use model is the Work Sharp E2, which is an electric pull-through model that we think will work well for most people.

work sharp ken onion edition - you will be hard-pressed to find a more effective sharpener as long...
You will be hard-pressed to find a more effective sharpener as long as you're willing to put in the time to learn the machine.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Graham Faulknor and Aaron Rice
 

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