Two sets of ceramic wheels in the sharpener offer two stages of grit -- coarse for the four-wheel tan set and fine for the two-wheel white set. Start off with the tan stones to reset the knife's 25 degree bevel and finish up with a few careful passes through the white stones to polish and hone the edge.

Be careful to hold the sharpener steady while in use. You'll need firm pressure to prevent the sharpener from skating on a smooth countertop. Drawing the blade through the sharpener at anything but 90 degrees to the stones reduces efficiency and increases wear on the wheels. Keeping the edge in contact with all the stones in the sharpening sets can be tricky. The small ceramic abrasive wheels do a lot of grinding for their size, so use a light touch and keep the stones clean. Rinse off steel particles with clean running water after use to prevent clogging the pores of the stones with metal.

Harder steel and thinner blades require something more advanced than the Firestorm, but this compact sharpener could still do a good job on utility knives, paring knives, and even larger blades built for tough chopping jobs. Once the Firestorm reshapes the bevel, using a honing steel improves the quality of the cutting edge.

Also consider longer-lasting diamond grit sharpening systems like the Chef's Choice 450.

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Victorinox Swiss Army Knife TINKER Carbide Sharpener New 59112 US $24.00   Auction Ends: 6d 16h 1m

Victorinox 49002 Handheld Knife Sharpener Carbide US $26.00   Auction Ends: 26d 22h 14m

The Edge Pro mounts to any perfectly flat, non-porous and damp surface with strong suction cup feet. If you don't own that sort of counter-top, Edge Pro recommends you set the sharpening system in a damp glass baking dish and put a damp towel between the dish and the counter. Follow assembly instructions precisely or you may put the device together incorrectly, and watch the DVD the company supplies or you might not instinctively pick up the way the Edge Pro works. The Edge Pro sharpens any plain-edged knife under 3 1/2 inches in width, but doesn't clamp the knife blade in position -- operators hold the knife blade flat against the sharpening table and run a series of guided sharpening stones over the edge. Coarse stones reshape blade edges, and successively finer stones create a sharper and more highly polished edge.

The final results really are very good, and the Edge Pro does precisely restore knives to 10 , 15, 18, 21, and 24 degree bevel angles. Because the Edge Pro depends on synthetic waterstones 8 inches long but only 1/2 an inch wide, you can expect the stones to wear quickly in comparison to wider benchstones. As the stones wear, the accuracy of the bevel the stones grind drops. Replacement stones are available.

One genuine advantage of the Edge Pro system is that it works with virtually any bevel and any hardness of steel, making it usable on high end Japanese knives as well as European cutlery. Once set up and mastered the system takes much less time to restore a knife to best condition, but Edge Pro suggests practicing on 10 to 15 knives before considering yourself expert.

For another fascinating and functional knife sharpening jig, see the Lansky Sharpening System, based on long-lasting diamond hones.

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JA Henckels Fine Edge Pro 2 Piece Hollow Edge Santoku knife Set Brand New US $19.99   Auction Ends: 17d 2h 11m

TWO JA HENCKELS INTERNATION FINE EDGE PRO SANTOKU KNIVES 7 5 1 2 US $31.00   15 Bids Auction Ends: 8h 34m

Unfold the AccuSharp and the blue band becomes a protective barrier between you and the knife you're sharpening. Most sharpening systems require you to hold the knife and run the blade through the device, but the AccuSharp simplifies that by letting you set the knife on the countertop and run the sharpener along the blade. Only slight pressure is needed as the tungsten carbide blades in the AccuSharp shave away the sides of the knife's beveled edge and restore a factory angle of about 25 degrees. Restoring badly abused knives could take many passes, but once the blade matches the AccuSharp, you'll only need a few strokes to keep the blade at that level of sharpness.

Realistically, you'll never get the quality of edge that's possible with honing stones if you depend solely on the AccuSharp. That may be all the edge you require, but if you're one of "Those People" who know immediately if a knife has lost its razor edge and don't feel right without it, the AccuSharp won't meet those higher standards.

The AccuSharp does require some skill if you expect the tool's best results. Canting the knife or the sharpener out of vertical will skew the bevel towards one side. Extended use wears the crossover point in the tool's sharpening blades and results in a gradually less sharp edge on the knife. Although the tool will resharpen badly blunted serrated blades, for a perfect restoration you'll still need a professional sharpening service. If it's a cheap serrated blade, the inexpensive AccuSharp definitely gives the knife a new lease on life, but just for a while.

The Messermeister Chantry Knife Sharpener uses steel honing rods instead of carbide scrapers with a design that earned it a place in the New York Museum of Modern Art.

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NEW AccuSharp 001 Knife Sharpener US $4.74   Auction Ends: 11d 18h 52m

Accusharp Knife and Tool Sharpener 001 White with Full Length Finger Guard US $4.75   Auction Ends: 29d 22h 35m

Superficially, the Shapton GlassStones work in the same way as other waterstones. Using water as a lubricant, users take knives through a series of at least three different stones of succeedingly finer grit to reach the final mirror-bright and razor-sharp cutting edge. Although waterstones cut quickly, even synthetic ceramic waterstones wear away faster than the American alternatives like carborundum or novaculite. Shapton GlassStones uses an entirely different abrasive matrix and offer longer lasting surfaces.

Precisely graded powders of diamond grit bond to glass substrates to create these unusual sharpening stones. Keeping the surface wet with water prevents metal shavings from clogging the stone. Because the diamond surface doesn't abrade as quickly as a ceramic waterstone, the Shapton stones cut longer and with more precision. Shapton believes in precision, and even though the wear might not be noticeable to many users, the company suggests lapping the stones on diamond grit lapping plates before each use. That keeps the abrasive surface perfectly flat.

Shapton also offers sharpening stone holders and a sharpening stone "pond" as accessories to the basic stones. Place the GlassStone in its holder, inside the sharpening pond, to prevent lubricating water from carrying grit onto a countertop surface. Rubbing the countertop clean of diamond grit might leave permanent scars.

See the KAI Combination Whetstone for an alternative system in ceramic grit.

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In design, the honing steel is an excellent match built with the same solid steel end cap and resin-injected black walnut Pakkawood grip. A thick stainless steel guard keeps distance between the hand and the blade of the knife you hone. The steel will maintain knives with ordinary temper as well as the harder blades of the Shun Premier product line, but using this steel on the Premier knives requires some careful adjustment in technique.

Shun Premier's Damask steel blades use many layers of tough high carbon stainless steel to support one hard layer of cutting edge. That edge is ground to a more acute angle than European knife edges, and the SG-10 is also tempered to a hard and long-lasting Rockwell 60 to 62. The efficient but thin edge won't hold up to as much side pressure as ordinary knife steel. Using too much pressure on the honing steel could chip the edge. Shun actually recommends waterstones for sharpening its plain-edged knives.

If you want a honing steel to match a collection of Premier blades, this is still an excellent sharpening steel for all the European-style blades in your kitchen. Just be cautious with the Premier's.

See the KAI Combination Whetstone Sharpener with Stand for a home sharpening system appropriate for the fine edges of the Premier knives.

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Shun Premier 9 inch Honing Steel NEW US $59.95   Auction Ends: 29d 20h 52m

SHUN 3 PIECE WHETSTONESHARPENINGSYSTEM WITH HONING STEEL US $89.00   Auction Ends: 20d 19h 29m

This is an "automatic" sharpener for people who want precision. If you just want something you can drag a blade through and toss in a drawer, get something else. You'll need to watch the company's video and follow the instructions carefully until you get the hang of it, but you'll like the results. Precise settings adjust the Warthog to guide any style of kitchen knife blade, including old-school forged knives with 25 degree edges, modern Japanese knives with thin blades and 16 degree bevels, and even that in-between 20-degree edge many of us gradually install on our own.

The Warthog sharpener eliminates many of the problems that severely limit most pull-through sharpeners. With this one, you won't immediately grind a notch in one of the sharpening rods, since the rods as well as the knife blade stay in constant movement within the spring-loaded frame. You'll also be able to accurately sharpen curved edges and points, a trick that usually fails with kitchen disc hones. Different types of rods are available and shift out fairly quickly. For a finishing touch other sharpeners don't provide, slip on the steel rod hones for the last few strokes and the best-cutting burnished edge.

If you like machines, the Warthog V Sharp could end up on display instead of in storage between uses. It's just the kind of thing that catches a visitor's eye, and you'll have fun explaining how it works.

For a more compact but very functional kitchen sharpening system, see the AnySharp Knife Sharpener.

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Airplane A10 Warthog Die Cast Metal Pencil Sharpener US $3.95   Auction Ends: 15d 23h 26m

Warthog V Sharp Knife Sharpener Fine 1000 grit Rods C US $126.66   Auction Ends: 5d 16h 31m

This small manual sharpener will substitute for a knife honing steel if only the finest sharpening stage is used, but severely dulled knives require all three stages. Use the coarse wheel to restore the bevel, follow up with the medium wheel to refine the edge, and give it a final razor finish with the fine wheel. For daily touch-ups, don't use the medium or coarse stones to avoid wasting good steel.

The hone is designed to hold a small amount of clean water during use -- just lift the clear plastic cover and add enough water to submerge the bottom half of the honing wheels. Pulling a blade through the hone causes the wheel to rotate through the water bath and continually washes the stone clear of steel particles and loose grit. The clean surface cuts quickly without glazing. Rinse the wheels and the built-in basin clean under running water immediately after use.

The angled guides make this sharpener much easier to use if you're right-handed. The Anolon Bronze Universal Sharpener comes with a limited lifetime warranty,

See the Global Shinkansen Sharpener for a similar ceramic hone set at the proper bevel for fine Asian cutlery.

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Anolon Advanced Santoprene Cutlery 7 Inch Santoku Bronze Knife NEW US $27.99   Auction Ends: 28d 2h 22m

Anolon Advanced Bronze Collection Santoprene Cutlery 4 Piece Steak Set Bronze US $44.24   Auction Ends: 16d 17h 7m

With most pre-set honing machines -- either electric or manual -- the problems manifest when new owners try to restore badly dulled knives. Years of abuse deform bevels and cutting edges beyond the ability of light-duty hones to repair. A hone could keep a good edge in good shape, but a ruined edge might not improve much. Smith's Abrasive Edgeware Sharpener puts the powered half of their machine to work on that first critical problem.

Running the blade of the knife through the coarse-cutting diamond hone side of the sharpener quickly restores the bevel angle to the common European and American standard angle of about 25 degrees. The edge won't be polished, smooth, or razor sharp, but it will be set to the correct shape. With that accomplished, pulling the edge through the manual side's ceramic hones puts the final set and razor edge on the blade. Angles of the ceramic hones match perfectly to the angle already set by the diamond wheels, making that last polish an easy piece of work.

No matter how good the sharpening machine, the results depend on the skill of the operator. The tricks you learned on a whetstone will still come in handy with the Smith's Edgeware Sharpener. If you've acquired Japanese knives with more acute bevel angles, you'll need a different machine.

For a fully powered sharpening system, see the Chef's Choice Commercial Knife Sharpener.

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Smiths New Edge Pro Compact Electric Knife Sharpener 50005 US $24.89   Auction Ends: 28d 3h 21m

Smiths Edge Gourmet Compact Electric Knife Sharpener US $19.99   Auction Ends: 29d 18h 13m

Two rotating steel hones fixed in the cast iron housing provide the sharpening action. The angle of the honing rods is fixed at the standard European bevel of approximately 25 degrees. That's not as acute as the bevel of harder and narrower Asian cutlery, so don't use this sharpener on high-end Asian knives like Shun. Nearly any American or European knife will fit, but worn knives may take some work before the edge fits the sharpener and the device produces really good results.

If beginning with very dull and worn knives, you may need to restore the edge with whetstones or have the knives professionally refurbished. Knives in good condition usually only require resetting, since at a microscopic level the softer European style of steel folds over slightly during use instead of chipping or wearing away. Stroking the edge along a harder steel rod sets that invisible edge straight again.

Use enough downward pressure to rotate both honing steels as you pull the blade through the sharpener. Keep the blade vertical in the slot, and only a half dozen strokes should set the knife right again and restore razor-sharp cutting action. The Chantry manual sharpener from Messermeister is available in four colors including black, white, silver and red.

For a handy knife hone set at the correct bevel angle for Asian cutlery, see the Chef's Choice 463 Pronto.

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NEW Messermeister Chantry Mini Knife Sharpener Black US $37.75   Auction Ends: 24d 2h

Messermeister Chantry Mini Knife Sharpener Black US $41.72   Auction Ends: 18d 23h 28m

Honing steels were not intended to shape edges, only to reset an edge that turns out of line with the blade. Diamond grit sharpening steels actually cut steel from the blade on each pass -- using them too much can shorten the knife's lifetime and doesn't create the best cutting edge possible.

When knives do become worn beyond simple resetting, grinding on a flat stone is the usual remedy. The Diamond Hone postpones that day a little longer and can correct minor defects on its own. Many cooks will actually prefer this abrasive hone since results are a little easier to spot, but perfectionists may be happier with more traditional sharpening tools.

Diamond hones are not tricky to use but often create unreasonable expectations in new users. The cutting action is faster when the hone is new, since some diamond chips set higher than others and cut with a coarser effect until the hone is broken in. When the true honing surface is fully exposed, the action is smoother and the resulting edge is sharper -- but the cutting action of the hone isn't so dramatic. Rotate the hone in use to avoid wearing away only one facet of the rod, and rinse the hone after use to prevent clogging it with steel shavings. Unlike regular honing steels, diamond hones will affect even the hardest steel edges -- but follow the sharpening advice of the knife manufacturer or risk damaging your best blades.

For another economical diamond-coated honing steel, see the Chef's Choice Diamond Sharpening Steel.

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Mundial Sharpening Steel Diamond 12 NEW US $38.36   Auction Ends: 7d 19h 29m