Warthog Sharpeners V-Sharp knife sharpener
The basic principle of our V-Sharps is very similar to that of conventional pull-through sharpeners. Here too, the sharpening units are arranged in a V-shape. However, our V-Sharps offer some decisive advantages.
They are ready to use straight out of the box without any further adjustments and are easy to operate. They are also versatile and variably adjustable (more on this under Warthog concept). In addition, all possible knife types and therefore also (unusual) blade shapes can be sharpened with amazing results. Even serrated knives, scissors and axes can be brought back to their former sharpness. And all without damaging the blades.
We have the right knife sharpener for every application. Here you can find the most important information on all models.
Advantages
- Handling is particularly easy.
- Grinding is quick and simple.
- Despite the simple handling, there are numerous adjustment options.
- Four grinding angles are available for a wide variety of blades.
- Serrated knives can be sharpened with the ceramic grinding units.
- The V-Sharp knife sharpeners are suitable for almost all blade shapes.
- The bolster and handle cannot be damaged.
- The entire blade can be sharpened.
- Thanks to the guide rail, the sharpening angle is maintained.
- The material removal is very low thanks to three grits, which enables very good sharpening results.
- This ensures a particularly long service life for the knife blades.
- Also ideal for sharpening scissors and axes.
- There is no risk of injury as the blade always points downwards.
- Ceramic knives can be sharpened without any problems thanks to the diamond grinding units.
- The grinding units are suitable for hard knife blades with a high HRC.
Disadvantages
- Slightly less sharp than whetstones.
- Depending on the knife, may not be able to grind all the way to the bolster.
Whetstones
... are hand-sized stones for sharpening knives and other cutting tools. The most well-known are the Belgian chunks, Arkansas stones and Japanese water stones, named after the respective mining area. However, there are also artificial or synthetic stones made of various abrasive materials, including diamond, aluminium oxide and ceramic.
There are also differences in application. Diamond sharpeners are used dry, while ceramic sharpening stones are usually used with water.
Whetstones sharpen knives manually, remove relatively little material and ensure exceptionally smooth, sharp blades for experienced users. Japanese water stones are considered to be particularly gentle and effective, but require regular, time-consuming care and practice. Combination stones have two sides and therefore two grits. Honing stones are used for additional fine sharpening. However, they do not necessarily have to be used.
Advantages
- Also very suitable for particularly blunt knives
- Very precise, thanks to very high grit sizes (for polishing up to over 10,000 in some cases).
- They deliver the best possible grinding results for experienced users.
- The comparatively low abrasion ensures a particularly long service life of the knife blades.
- Various materials are available for purchase.
- The entire knife blade can be sharpened - from tip to bolster.
- Excellent for scissors and axes.
- Any sharpening angle is possible.
Disadvantages
- It takes a lot of practice and effort to achieve good results.
- Depending on the material, the whetstone must be soaked before use.
- They are fragile and should not be dropped.
- Cannot sharpen a serrated edge. Only burrs on the flat side of the blade can be removed.
- The sharpening angle cannot be maintained 100% reliably as knives are only held in the hand.
- Not suitable for all blade shapes or only very awkward or difficult to use.
- Ceramic knives can only be sharpened with a diamond whetstone. Other materials are rather unsuitable.
Roller grinders
... are a relatively new method for sharpening knives.
The knives are fixed at a fixed grinding angle on a mostly magnetic grinding jig. The knife is then ground on both sides of the cutting edge with two grinding discs with different coarse or fine grits along a freely mounted handle roller.
Good roller grinders have diamond-coated grinding discs. However, other materials are also not uncommon.
They are known for being very easy to learn and delivering good results. But this system also quickly reaches its limits.
Advantages
- Very precise sharpening can be achieved.
- Very easy to learn and use.
- Depending on the model, many accessories can be purchased.
- The sharpening angles are preset, which means they can be maintained exactly.
Disadvantages
- They are not suitable for all blade shapes, especially concave ones.
- Short, narrow blades are also a challenge.
- High blades, such as cleavers, can only be sharpened if a board is placed under the jig.
- Long knives can only be sharpened with difficulty or piece by piece, as they are easily levered off the jig.
- If used carelessly, the bolster and handle can be damaged.
- Due to the design, it is problematic to sharpen knife tips and blade ends.
- The blade always points upwards on roller grinders, which means there is a high risk of injury.
- Depending on the model, only one or two sharpening angles are available.
- Roller grinders can be quite expensive - especially if accessories are purchased.
- Unfortunately, scissors cannot be sharpened.
Electric grinders
... generally have the same or higher performance than their hand-operated counterparts and are usually easier to use: The blade is simply inserted into the guide rail and the electrically powered machine does the rest. They usually have two or three guide rails (coarse and fine grinding, polishing). They are also often suitable for different types of knives and sometimes even for serrated knives.
For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that in addition to electric sharpening machines for domestic use, there are also belt grinders, which are clearly categorised as professional devices. They are mainly used by professional scissor grinders, sharpening services and knife makers and require a lot of practice.
Advantages
- They are extremely quick and efficient to use.
- Today's models are also very suitable for beginners as they are very easy to use.
- Depending on the model, good results can be achieved.
- There is no risk of injury.
Disadvantages
- The material removal is usually higher than with all other grinding methods.
- This significantly reduces the service life of the blades.
- Very frayed cutting edges can occur, making the blade less sharp.
- The sharpness is then often short-lived.
- Electric grinders can quickly become very expensive.
- Many models are very heavy.
- A power source is essential.
- Serrated knives often cannot be sharpened.
- Grinding scissors also does not work with many models.
- The grinding angles are often limited and, depending on the design, not exactly durable.
- Precise control of the result is difficult.
Grinding rods
Grinding rods are generally rod-shaped and made of hard steel with a round, oval, square or flat cross-section. They are usually equipped with a handle and an additional finger guard for safety reasons. These cutting steels cause very little material removal when sharpening knives and can be found in many households, as they are available everywhere and often very cheaply. Sharpening steels usually have longitudinal so-called grooves, which also make them suitable for serrated knives.
Ceramic sharpening rods are similar in design to conventional steel sharpening rods, but have a round or oval rod made of ceramic. They are also cutting sharpening rods and are much harder than steel rods, so that even hard knife blades can be sharpened. Ceramic sharpening rods are mainly used for dressing and sharpening as well as for quickly resharpening (kitchen) knives.
Advantages
- Quick and easy to use.
- Grinding rods are the most space-saving option.
- They are also usually quite inexpensive.
- All possible blade shapes can be sharpened.
- And the entire blade can be sharpened from the tip to the ricasso.
- Only a small amount of material is removed, which enables very good sharpening results.
- This ensures a very long service life for the knife blades.
- If used correctly, there is no risk of injury.
Disadvantages
- Incorrect operation is still possible due to incorrect positioning of the sharpening steel.
- It takes some practice to maintain the correct grinding angle.
- Can damage the burr of the knife if used incorrectly.
- Very blunt knives can only be sharpened with difficulty or not at all.
- There is usually only one grit size.
Normal pull-through sharpeners / Manual knife sharpeners
Manual sharpeners are characterised by relatively easy handling and require little practice. They are often suitable for different blades and at least partially also for scissors. Depending on the manufacturer, model and sharpening material used, they can be very inexpensive or quite expensive.
They have V-shaped interlocking grinding inserts or are designed with grinding rollers or grinding discs. They are often equipped with guide rails for better handling. High-quality devices have up to three guide rails so that coarse grinding, fine grinding and sometimes polishing is possible. Manual sharpeners not only straighten the burr, but also remove material, which can be recognised by the fine metal shavings that are left behind.
Advantages
- They are very quick and easy to use.
- Good results can be achieved.
- Most pull-through grinders are suitable for almost all blade shapes.
- There is no risk of injury.
Disadvantages
- Depending on the material of the grinding units, many models are often not suitable for knives with a hard blade.
- Depending on the model, the grinding angle cannot always be maintained exactly, which can lead to tilting and damage to the blade.
- This often results in frayed cutting edges. As a result, the sharpness is often short-lived.
- Serrated knives can very often not be sharpened.