Work Sharp Benchtop Whetstone vs SHARPAL 191H Knife & Scissors Sharpener

Buy the Work Sharp if you want a genuinely sharp, refined edge and are willing to spend a few minutes learning to hold an angle. Buy the SHARPAL 191H if you want a fast, safe touch-up on a crowded counter and don't care about a polished edge. The Work Sharp is a real water stone with 15° and 17° guides and a 1000/6000 grit progression; the SHARPAL is a pull-through with carbide and ceramic stages at about 20° per side. Owners of the Work Sharp rate it very highly and call it the most efficient way to sharpen kitchen knives, though some say holding the angle is still iffy. SHARPAL owners like the suction base and one-handed use, but pull-through carbide removes a lot of steel and leaves a coarser edge.

• Choose the Work Sharp Whetstone Knife Sharpener if you want a keen, polished edge on kitchen and pocket knives and will learn to use a water stone.
• Choose the SHARPAL 191H Knife Scissors Sharpener if you want a compact, one-handed sharpener that also handles scissors and serrated blades with no setup.