The most convenient and high-quality sharpeners of various types — from stones to mechanical and electrical devices.

The best sharpeners

A selection of knife sharpeners based on the opinions of users. Also, when creating the rating, the ratio of price and quality, convenience and ease of use were taken into account.

Reasons to buy:

• High sharpening speed.
• stability during work.
• Virtually silent engine operation.
• Trays for collecting metal shavings.
• Suitable for ceramic knives.

The high level electric sharpener is designed for polishing and sharpening various knives. The model is equipped with a 60 W motor that does not cause overheating of the blades.

Grinding discs with diamond coating act as an abrasive. Sharpening takes place in two stages: primary and final — at an angle of 15 °, which is optimal for Japanese knives.

The sharpener is suitable not only for steel, but also for ceramic knives, allowing you to restore damaged blades. Some users note the roughness of sharpening, so sometimes fine-tuning is required on a stone or with a mechanical sharpener.

The sharpener weighs 1.5 kg — together with six rubber feet, this creates sufficient stability for work. There are also removable compartments for chips.

Pros:

• Good speed.
• Safety of use.
• Versatility — sharpens ceramic knives.
• There are compartments for collecting metal shavings.

Minuses:

• The sharpening angle cannot be tightly fixed.

Multifunctional electric sharpener is designed for sharpening, finishing and polishing. The model is equipped with self-sharpening discs with fine, medium and coarse grit, allowing blades to be processed at angles from 15° to 20°.

The abrasive material is corundum, the discs themselves are of high quality and can withstand long-term operation without replacement. Sharpening takes place in three stages, but the whole process usually takes no more than 2 minutes.

The sharpener is suitable for ceramic knives. The model is equipped with an anti-slip base, giving the necessary stability for quiet work. The power of the device is 60 watts. There is a built-in fan to prevent engine overheating. The body of the sharpener is made of durable plastic and is compact in size.

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent workmanship.
• Convenient size for work.
• Anti-slip stand.
• Two types of grit

A sharpening stone of optimal size with two types of grit: medium and fine — 1000 and 3000 grit, respectively. It is intended mainly for polishing and sharpening in one or two stages of knives that have slightly lost their sharpness. The abrasive material is Japanese water stone. Comes with a special anti-slip rubber stand for easy placement on the table.

To master fast and high-quality sharpening with a stone, you will need some experience. Before use, you need to put it in water for a few minutes. Abrasive dust, mixed with water, turns into a paste, necessary for the correct sharpening of hard metal knives.

Reasons to buy:

• Low price.
• Increased durability.
• Anti-slip base.
• Two sides with optimal grit types.

The grindstone has two types of coating. The white side of the stone has a 400 grit and is used not only for sharpening, but also for slowly straightening the blade. The other side of the 1000 grit is designed to create the sharpest possible blade.

The stone has optimal dimensions for ease of sharpening: its length is just over 18 cm, and its width is about 6 cm. The weight of the stone is approximately 0.7 kg. The model is equipped with a comfortable anti-slip base made of rubber.

The sharpener is durable and easily withstands long-term intensive use in the kitchen.

Pros:

• Convenience and ease of use.
• Fast blade sharpening.
• Multifunctionality.
• Anti-slip suction cup for fixing on the table.

Minuses:

• Constant sharpening weakens the cutting edge of knives.

A universal mechanical sharpener is suitable for working not only with ordinary knives, but also with scissors. The abrasive material is hardened steel. The model copes with blades made of any metal. The sharpening process is almost silent and is not accompanied by an unpleasant rattle, characteristic of some sharpeners.

The body of the device is equipped with an anti-slip suction cup, which is best attached to metal and plastic. For fixing on the table, the lever fixing the suction cup is lowered.

The sharpener is small in size, but the design is made in such a way that the hands do not end up near the knives during operation. The weight of the fixture is about 100 g.

Reasons to buy:

• Small sizes.
• Convenient plastic handle.
• Security and ease of use.

Musat is intended for editing, leveling the edge and giving the blades the proper sharpness. The length of the working part of the sharpener is 20 cm, and the round section has a diameter of 3 cm.

The abrasive material is stainless steel. The model is used only for processing ordinary knives and is not suitable for scissors or serrated blades. Musat is easy to use and does not damage the blades.

The sharpener fits well in the hands, without slipping during operation. Between the ruling part and the plastic handle there is a guard that protects the user from possible cuts during sharpening. The weight of the model does not exceed 150 g, so it is convenient to store the sharpener and you can always take it with you on a trip.

Pros:

• Fast sharpening.
• Ease of use.
• Compact and ergonomic design.
• Very low price.

Minuses:

• Removes a lot of metal in the process of sharpening.

A compact home-grade mechanical sharpener has two working areas: one is used for primary sharpening, the other for finishing the blade. The abrasive materials in the first zone are stainless steel, in the second — ceramic rods. The optimum sharpening angle of the knives avoids unnecessary damage and scratches on the blades.

The ergonomic body is made of durable plastic and fits comfortably in your hand. The rubberized base of the sharpener increases its stability on the table. The model is made in bright green color, so it will not be lost among other kitchen tools. The weight of the sharpener is about 300g.

Reasons to buy:

• Bilateral working part.
• Comfortable handle.
• High quality workmanship.
• Compact size and light weight.

Double-sided pocket mechanical sharpener looks like a fountain pen. The product is best suited for sharpening small knives, including models with serrated blades.

Two work surfaces are designed for different purposes. A medium grit ceramic core is used for sharpening, while the elements on the back are used to sharpen the cutting edge afterwards.

The working surfaces of the sharpener are hidden in a black plastic case that protects against falls and water. The length of the model is just over 14 cm, and the weight is 40 g. The sharpener easily fits in a pocket of a suitable size, and a special clip for clothes is provided for constant wear.

Proper sharpening of knives and tools

Sharpening tools can be tricky for beginners. The main difficulty is sharpening the blade so that it stays sharp for as long as possible without losing too much steel in the process of sharpening. You can do this in several ways:

Grindstone

On sale there are often models with a double-sided surface. One of the sides has the maximum abrasiveness for the primary processing of the blade, and the other is used for grinding and has a minimum abrasiveness.

Mechanical sharpener

A good and inexpensive option for daily use. Quickly sharpens the edge of kitchen knives, but not suitable for hunting or professional chef’s blades.

electric sharpener

Suitable for both home and catering. Electric models have different functionality depending on their cost, but, as a rule, give a good sharpening.

Musat

This tool, which looks like a file, is intended to maintain the sharpness of the blade and nothing more. If the knife is very dull, it is better to use other sharpeners.

Different types of knives are sharpened at certain angles. If the longest possible preservation of cutting ability is required, a large angle is selected. In the case when extreme sharpness is needed, the blade is sharpened at a small angle. During sharpening, smooth movements are performed, raising the handle while working with the bend of the blade.

• Japanese knives are usually sharpened to 15°.
• The optimal sharpening angle for simple household knives is from 20° to 25-30°.
• Professional kitchen blades for cutting thin fillets are sharpened at an angle of 25 °.
• The maximum sharpness of penknives or hunting knives is achieved by sharpening at an angle of 30-35°.

If a person has no experience, then it is best (especially in the case of whetstones) to first practice on cheap knives so as not to ruin an expensive tool.

Other tools, such as a clerical knife, do not require special tools for processing and are sharpened like ordinary blades. The same applies to home scissors: the disassembled halves of the tool are processed on a grindstone. In this case, you need to perform movements away from yourself. For the convenience of sharpening non-separable scissors, the stone is installed on the edge of the table.