The Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener features a magnetic angle block with four settings and an ergonomic handle that keeps hands safe from the blade edge. Outdoor Life found it produced the sharpest edges in its group test, while GearJunkie noted the variable angles offer significant versatility over fixed-setting competitors. However, the included abrasive discs are single-sided only, meaning they cannot be flipped to extend their usable life once worn. This unit is best for users seeking smooth maintenance of standard kitchen knives but should look elsewhere if they need to repair severely damaged blades or sharpen very small pocket knives without elevation adjustments.
Full review
Smooth rolling mechanics and ergonomic design
The Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener distinguishes itself through a unique two-wheeled base that keeps the unit upright, paired with an integrated handle for the abrasive disc. Ukulele Jay BBQ found this configuration to be exceptionally smooth, describing it as rolling like butter across the blade edge without any significant resistance or noise. This tactile quality is not merely aesthetic; the low friction allows users to maintain consistent contact between the diamond abrasives and the steel during back-and-forth passes, which is critical for even material removal.
The handle design keeps the user's hand safely away from the cutting edge while providing a comfortable grip that does not require wrapping fingers around the abrasive housing. GearJunkie noted that this ergonomic approach makes the sharpener safe and intuitive to operate, reducing the learning curve for those unfamiliar with traditional sharpening methods. The magnetic attachment system secures the abrasive discs firmly in place yet allows for easy swapping through three small cutouts designed for fingernail access.
The smooth rolling action is facilitated by two bottom rollers that prevent the unit from tipping or wobbling during use, a common issue with single-wheel designs on uneven surfaces. This stability ensures that the angle of attack remains consistent throughout every pass. The design effectively translates user effort into sharpening rather than fighting against friction or instability, making it accessible for users who lack advanced knife maintenance skills.
Magnetic angle block versatility and blade security
The magnetic angle block serves as the foundation for precision, offering four distinct sharpening angles: 15 degrees, 17 degrees, 20 degrees, and 25 degrees. This range accommodates everything from delicate Japanese kitchen knives to robust outdoor blades. GearJunkie highlighted that having variable angles in a rolling sharpener is a significant advantage over competitors that often limit users to fixed settings like 15 or 20 degrees.
The block features rubber-covered magnets to prevent chipping or scratching the blade finish while holding it securely in place. For smaller blades such as pocket knives, the 20 and 25-degree sides include a raised blade holder that elevates the cutting edge above the base, ensuring proper alignment with the abrasive disc. This thoughtful inclusion addresses a common pain point for multi-tool owners who need to sharpen short fixed blades or folders.
The construction of the angle block avoids the pitfalls of wooden blocks that can swell from moisture or develop loose feet. Instead, it utilizes a metal plate inset over rubberized feet that are designed not to pop off during use. The weight of the unit provides stability on flat surfaces, though users may need to elevate the sharpener on a cutting board for extra-tall kitchen knives to ensure the entire edge clears the base.
Abrasive progression and sharpening performance
The system includes three magnetic abrasive discs: a coarse 320-grit diamond, a medium 600-grit diamond, and a fine ceramic hone. Outdoor Life tested the Work Sharp base kit against seven other rolling knife sharpeners and found it produced the sharpest edges in the group. The 320-grit disc is capable of re-profiling damaged edges on super steels like Cru-Wear and S35VN, while the 600-grit diamond refines the edge quickly to remove the burr created by the coarse stone.
ChefPanko noted that the transition from the 600-grit diamond to the fine ceramic hone can feel steep due to the smoothness of the ceramic disc. To mitigate this, they recommend gradually reducing the number of passes on the 600-grit stage until the burr is completely removed before moving to the honing step. This approach ensures a consistent scratch pattern and prevents skipping necessary refinement stages that lead to a polished edge.
The sharpening process involves rolling from heel to tip with light pressure, counting passes to ensure symmetry on both sides of the blade. Once a burr forms along the entire edge, users flip the knife and repeat the same number of passes before switching grits. The final ceramic hone step smooths the edge without forming a new burr, typically requiring ten light passes per side for optimal results.
Single-sided disc limitations and wear
A notable design constraint is that all abrasive discs are single-sided only. Ukulele Jay BBQ pointed out that once the diamond coating wears down on one side, the disc cannot be flipped over for additional use, requiring a complete replacement. This contrasts with some competitors that offer dual-sided discs to extend their lifespan.
The coarse 320-grit diamond disc tends to wear faster than expected during heavy use or when re-profiling severely dull blades.
The fine ceramic hone is particularly thin and requires careful handling to avoid premature breakage or rapid wear. Users who skip intermediate grit stages or apply excessive pressure may find themselves replacing the honing disc sooner than anticipated. This limitation does not affect performance but adds an ongoing cost consideration for heavy users.
Limitations with small blades and severe damage
While versatile, the sharpener struggles with very small blades that do not engage properly with the magnetic angle block. Outdoor Life found that small pocket knives or paring knives may not work effectively with the standard setup unless users carefully utilize the raised blade holder on the 20 and 25-degree sides to elevate the cutting edge.
The system is designed for regular maintenance rather than major repairs. ChefPanko emphasized that it is unsuitable for fixing severely dull or damaged knives, such as those with large chips or blades that have become too thick from improper sharpening. Attempting to remove significant material requires other methods like whetstones or professional services.
Users must ensure the cutting edge remains fully exposed above the base height throughout all passes to avoid uneven sharpening. This limitation makes it less ideal for large chef's knives or cleavers without additional setup adjustments.
Strengths
- +Includes a magnetic angle block with four distinct sharpening angles (15, 17, 20, and 25 degrees) to accommodate various blade styles.
- +Outdoor Life found it produced the sharpest edges in its group test compared to other rolling knife sharpeners.
- +Features a comfortable ergonomic handle design that keeps hands away from the blade edge during use.
- +Rolls very smoothly with minimal resistance, making maintenance easy for users with limited sharpening experience.
Watch-outs
- −The included abrasive discs are single-sided only, meaning they cannot be flipped over to extend their usable life once worn.
- −Not suitable for repairing severely damaged knives or removing large chips from the blade edge.
- −Small blades like pocket knives may not fit properly on the magnetic angle block without specific elevation adjustments.
How it compares
The Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener produces smooth, sharp edges with a magnetic angle block offering four distinct settings, providing more versatility than the fixed-angle KitchenIQ Edge Grip. Unlike the electric Chef's Choice Model XV which automates the process in minutes, this rolling tool requires manual effort but offers ergonomic safety and ease of use for standard maintenance.
Rating sources
“The winner of the test was the Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener , which continues Work Sharps domination in the world of knife sharpening.”
“I think this is a great sharpener it actually has some real nice weight to it”
Our 4.3 score is the average of the 3 scored reviews above; 1 more reviewed it without printing a score and is not in the average. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
