Regular Work Sharp vs Ken Onion

[amerra]

Hey guys, I just had a quick question. I'm looking to get a belt fed knife sharpener and have heard wonders about the Work Sharp, what are the advantages to getting the Ken Onion over the regular. If it is even worth the extra. But your replies would be greatly appreciated

 

[jpm2]

I don't have either one, but if I did get one, it would be the KO for the variable speed alone.

 

[cbwx34]

Hey guys, I just had a quick question. I'm looking to get a belt fed knife sharpener and have heard wonders about the Work Sharp, what are the advantages to getting the Ken Onion over the regular. If it is even worth the extra. But your replies would be greatly appreciated

Ken Onion version: variable speed, wider / better belts, variable speed, better angle guide, variable speed, add-on blade grinding attachment capability, better motor.

Oh yeah, and variable speed.

 

[wvdavidr]

I'd say Ken Onion Edition by an order of magnitude.

 

[amerra]

Ken Onion version: variable speed, wider / better belts, variable speed, better angle guide, variable speed, add-on blade grinding attachment capability, better motor.

Oh yeah, and variable speed.

How exactly does the variable speed work? Is it all in the trigger and the farther you pull the faster it gets?

Also if I order the KO should I also get the extra belt kit?

 

[Cyrano]

@amerra:

The variable speed is controlled by a dial, independent of the trigger.

I believe the most compelling reason by far to get the Ken Onion edition is the use of the Blade Grinding Attachment. With the BGA, you can see what you are doing, and thus have complete control. It's night-and-day different from "blind" sharpening using guides.

 

[IUKE12]

You can also tripod mount the sharpener and set it at your preferred angle. No guide needed.

 

[Ironbut]

I got a KO Work Sharp & later added the blade grinder attachment. That setup makes short work of just about any sharpening job, from fine blade edges, to blades from the lawn tractor. I'd been using Japanese water stones for over 40 years, with excellent results, but the KO is just soooo much faster.

Keep in mind that you still need good basic blade sharpening skills to begin with. Otherwise, the only thing a powered sharpener will do for you is ruin a blade much faster than you can do it by hand.

 

[Bobby3326]

The only way i recommend the work sharp is the Ken onion with blade grinding attachment. It's the easiest one to use imo, you have more control over steel removal, the amount of convex created, and is less likely to create a recurve or round the top.

That being said if your going for one version or the other only id go Ken onion...variable speed, adjustable angles, wider belts, and better grit progression.. .then you can always add the blade grinding attachment later.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[DeadboxHero]

I'd save up and get the KO

 

[Rey HRH]

@amerra:

The variable speed is controlled by a dial, independent of the trigger.

I believe the most compelling reason by far to get the Ken Onion edition is the use of the Blade Grinding Attachment. With the BGA, you can see what you are doing, and thus have complete control. It's night-and-day different from "blind" sharpening using guides.

This right here is the answer.

 

[banksy]

+1 for the BGA

You can also tripod mount the sharpener and set it at your preferred angle. No guide needed.

That's a good idea :thumbup:

 

[Ernie1980]

I think the option is clear from the reasons listed above, so I will just add a quick +1 for the KO version of my favorite sharpening toy.

 

[toker]

Ken Onion version: variable speed, wider / better belts, variable speed, better angle guide, variable speed, add-on blade grinding attachment capability, better motor.

Oh yeah, and variable speed.

Agreed, 100%. The better angle guide is worth the price upgrade.

I'm a huge fan of the KO version of this sharpener. As others have mentioned, it's very easy to put a razor sharp edge on a knife. It will probably take a practice knife or two to get used to it. I think the best use of this sharpener is for kitchen knives and knives you use very frequently. The only negatives I can think of are that it's very easy to round the tip of a knife if you are not careful and it's also not ideal for chisel grind/edge knives.

As much as I like the convenience of the Work Sharp, I think the Wicked Edge is a much better sharpener and more accurate. But it's also multiple times the cost.

 

[45Shooter]

One thing about the KO and the variable speed - if you run it too slow for too long, you will burn out the motor. I know because I did. Luckily, worksharp replaced it but the person I talked to explicitly told me that was why it gave up the ghost. Too slow and the motor doesn't draw in enough air to cool itself and goes kaput.