OT - Ken Onion Knife and Tool Sharpener by Work Sharp - OT

logchief

Anyone have any experience with one of these?  I have a full set of Japanese water stones and gadgets to go with them, but I just can't seem to get what I want with them.  I know it takes a lot of patients to get the muscle memory down, guess I'm looking for instant gratification.  

Do they take off to much metal, I would imagine if you're not careful.  Here's a link:

https://www.worksharptools.com/ken-onion-edition-knife-tool-sharpener.html?p=6#customer-reviews

Well I decided to do a search first and just answered my question with a 5 year old post from @The Cen-Tex Smoker  and going to go waste some more money but curious from any recent users.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Had one for years. I did a review on here somewhere. Should be able to find it in Search. I personally love it  but there are a lot of hot opinions about knife sharpening on here. 

logchief

I'll bet, opinions are like a$$holes, everybody's got one.  Thanks @The Cen-Tex Smoker I saw all your stuff, I'll tell my bride it's your fault when I get it   
Though she already told me to get it anyway.

I still want to master the stones, but I want my Shun's back sharper now and don't want to send them in.  More instant gratification.

Chris8938

Not certain if @The Cen-Tex Smoker mentions using some painters tape on the upper portion of the blade or not, but I would add it.  I practiced on a really cheap cleaver I inherited when I married my wife and scratched the blade pretty good.  I would recommend working on cheap blades first before diving into your Shuns.  I also converted an old, cheap, serrated paring knife into a very sharp knife.  So you can definitely take off plenty of metal if you aren't careful. 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

logchief said:

I'll bet, opinions are like a$$holes, everybody's got one.  Thanks @The Cen-Tex Smoker I saw all your stuff, I'll tell my bride it's your fault when I get it   
Though she already told me to get it anyway.

I still want to master the stones, but I want my Shun's back sharper now and don't want to send them in.  More instant gratification.

Make sure to get the Ken Onion version. You can change the grind angle and it has variable
speed. I have Ken onion shun knives and they are scalpel sharp. This is the only thing I use on all my knives. 

The KO Shuns have a pitting issue. I have been able to mitigate that problem with the WSKO. We broke the tip of our 8” chef and I was able to repair it with the WSKO as well. 

We like it. 

danv23

This wasn't available when i bought my K.O., or i would have gone this route.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074JJ594L?aaxitk=qC2Uo4atGIr-ql.xMw8fYQ&pd_rd_i=B074JJ594L&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3ff6092e-8451-438b-8278-7e94064b4d42&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=worksharp+knife+sharpener&hsa_cr_id=7308887800201&sb-ci-n=productDescription&sb-ci-v=Work Sharp Culinary E5 Electric Kitchen Knife Sharpener, Gray&sb-ci-a=B074JJ594L


Or heck, this is very highly rated for 15 degree knives.  I scratched the hell out of one of my knives on the KO because I didn't tape it.  I really don't like having to waste money on tape, and it's kind of a pain when you just want to get the job done.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018RSEMU/ref=psdc_289867_t1_B074JJ594L

Hell, I'll sell you mine for $100

littlerascal56

Just build one of these and put a 2000 grit blue belt on it.....it will keep your Shuns factory sharp!

littlerascal56

The 2” x 72” knife maker belts cost about $2 each, and last a long time.  Not to mention your blade stays cooler with the long belts!

1911Man

littlerascal56 said:

Just build one of these and put a 2000 grit blue belt on it.....it will keep your Shuns factory sharp!

Where did you get the plans?? Any idea as to how much it cost to build? Did you have to make the wheels or were you able to buy them??

I have the Grizzly G1015 right now (also 2x72" belts, which I have a good supply of). But I'm looking to upgrade to something better. Better belt tracking and ease of use. I'd probably keep the G1015 for the buffing aspect if nothing else.

I've love to get a Wuertz grinder, but I don't have the $$ for that yet.

alaskanassasin

http://dcknives.blogspot.com/p/2-x-72-belt-grinder.html

This is the place to go for plans, @1911Man

If you get into it pm I will help you with question

alaskanassasin

littlerascal56

Oregon Blade Maker sells the parts on e-bay.  CNC quality parts, rollers, head units.  I have about $180 in my unit, as I used an old motor I had laying around. Belt tracking is flawless.  I sharpen my chisels and woodworking tools (planes) weekly with it, as well as mower blades in the summer.  Works great on hatchets and machetes too.

alaskanassasin

littlerascal56 said:

Oregon Blade Maker sells the parts on e-bay.  CNC quality parts, rollers, head units.  I have about $180 in my unit, as I used an old motor I had laying around. Belt tracking is flawless.  I sharpen my chisels and woodworking tools (planes) weekly with it, as well as mower blades in the summer.  Works great on hatchets and machetes too.

 I looked into that set up, they want $500 now no motor or shipping!

littlerascal56

My 4 machined aluminum roller (3 with ball bearings & 1 for motor) were $100.  The CNC head was $49.95.  The rest of mine was from scrap plate I had in my shop,  

i see see they list the “complete chassis” at $549 plus shipping, but you can buy a head and rollers for much less $$$$ if you build your own chassis like I did.

logchief

Just build one of these and put a 2000 grit blue belt on it.....it will keep your Shuns factory sharp!

That would go great in the kitchen for those touch ups while cooking, I'm sure the wife would love it.  But on another note, nice build, looks professional.

alaskanassasin

Sweet! I think I had around that in my pulleys, $60 in square tubing and the remainder was steel I had laying around. Except the motor I bought that from granger, the first one they sent me was dented so they mailed me another free of charge. 

littlerascal56

One of my Sub Techs has the Ken Onion model that he used for his hunting knives.  That gave me the idea for my build.  I use the cheap aluminum oxide belts on oak and walnut woodworking too.  And to round off edges on aluminum plate.  So knife sharpening is only 5% of what it actually gets used for!

logchief

Chris8938 said:

Not certain if @The Cen-Tex Smoker mentions using some painters tape on the upper portion of the blade or not, but I would add it.  I practiced on a really cheap cleaver I inherited when I married my wife and scratched the blade pretty good.  I would recommend working on cheap blades first before diving into your Shuns.  I also converted an old, cheap, serrated paring knife into a very sharp knife.  So you can definitely take off plenty of metal if you aren't careful. 

Well I'm sold, I practiced on several of my 40 yr. old Chicago knives and worked like a champ.  I've done 2 of my Shuns (nikiri and paring), just a couple of strokes on the medium and then to the fine for 4 or 5 alternating strokes and they really came out nice.  One thing on the thin knives you have to be careful at the tip, they'll round very easy and I see where the tape paid off.

Overall so far, I wish I had one of these long ago.

Killit_and_Grillit

@logchief glad you like it. I really enjoy mine. I’m a blade novice but it’s pretty dummy proof. 

logchief

Killit_and_Grillit said:

@logchief glad you like it. I really enjoy mine. I’m a blade novice but it’s pretty dummy proof. 

Yeah me too, I'm living proof it's sharpening for dummies with success.  Dull knives drive me nuts.

1voyager

This website is dangerous to one's wallet.

I've used a whetstone since I was a Boy Scout and my knives are as sharp they can get.

Now I find that I must be mistaken.