Being in the lucrative knife and scissor sharpening business for almost 125 years, Smith's Consumer Products is one of the leaders of innovation in their niche. Ranging from the traditional Arkansas stone sharpener to the latest electric sharpeners, they are putting the interest of the general consumer on its top priority to be able to create the best and the most reliable line of Smith's knife sharpener. They understand the needs of various group of people whose hobby or occupation depends on cutting tools and they work to provide excellent results to the demands of these industries.Among its latest line of products is the introduction of the brand KitchenIQ that also has established a name among the excellent knife sharpener products. Kitchen IQ has their set of manual and electric sharpeners and sharpening rods that serves diverse users with varying purpose but for the same superior quality. These product names are guarantee that the knives and cutleries are touched only by the carefully crafted and state-of-the-art Smith's Consumer Products equipment.
The adjustable knob of this hybrid knife sharpener, one that is both electrical and manually operated, can be adjusted to fit various edges of knives. Knives' blades has its defining angle that determines the sharpness and durability of the structure. Most of the kitchen knives are set at 20° and Asian knives has a more thinner 15° while some thicker blades are ranging from 22° to 30°. Sharpening these various edges requires a pre-set angle on the sharpener for precise and effective sharpening. And if one a combination of these knives, it is quite a cost to spend on several sharpeners to fully accommodate these features. Smith's 50281 Sharpener's newest feature is an easy to turn angle adjust knob to set the angle at the knives' factory angle for accuracy making this the most versatile knife sharpener. Its electrical slot has interlocking sharpening wheels with medium grit diamond and extra fine ceramic abrasives that works effectively and relatively faster. The pull-through manual sharpener on the side of the machine has crossed ceramic stones that is used for sharpening serrated knives.
When using the sharpener for the first time, or when changing the degree into another, always turn the dial to 10° first before tuning to the desired angle to allow the machine to adjust its mechanism. If the angle for the knife is unknown, use the common sharpening angles marked on the adjustable knob. To use the unit, set the angle first then turn the power knob on. Insert the blade into the coarse diamond sharpener making sure that it comes in contact with the wheel and the knife will mechanically align itself. Applying minimum downward force, pull the blade from the heel to the tip using a consistent stroke. Repeat 10 to 12 pulls, but damaged knives and hard steels may require more. Repeat the process in the ceramic slot on the right with about the same pulls as the first to hone and polish the edges. The ceramic slot is also used for re-sharpening.
Following the same breakthrough adjustable angle technology, this Smith's knife sharpener employs the feature but without the hassle of a power cord. This renders the sharpener not only versatile but also portable as well and is likened by people who are always on the run and needs the service of an efficient sharpener. Its easy adjust knob is set for angles varying from 14° to 24°. The two stage sharpening has coarse slots with carbide abrasives and fine ceramic abrasive slots that can be replaced if their functions become diminished.
Set the sharpening angle by pushing down and turning the adjustment knife to the desired angle. Place the knife sharpener in a flat and sturdy surface and insert knife in the appropriate slot. The coarse slot works well with very dull and damaged blades and the fine slot is used only for honing already sharp knife or for polishing the pre-sharpened ones. Pull the blade through the slot using medium downward pressure and consistent, for like 8 to 10 strokes, until thoroughly sharpened. For blades that has a curved tip, slightly tip down the knife to sharpen all throughout. If the coarse slot is used, repeat the process on the fine slot making 3 to 4 measured pulls. The middle slot marked serrated is used for sharpening serrated knives. Use light downward force and make 8 to 10 pulls on the slot, but never in a back and forth strokes which goes the same for coarse and fine slots.
Stones are the oldest and perhaps the most versatile sharpeners; because they can accommodate most tools from the thinnest knives to the thickest woodworking axe and tools regardless of the type of materials. For people who still won't forgo the benefits and subtle sharpening power of sharpening stones, Smith's also has a selection of traditional sharpening stones made with different abrasives. This 8" Diamond hone has two adjacent diamond stones and Medium Arkansas stone that can be rotated from its triangular bench platform for convenience each of which is color coded and properly identified. The diamond hone has an overlapping design to catch metal filings to hasten the work by keeping the surface clean while sharpening. The micro-tool sharpening pad on the side of the stones is used for sharpening the tip and narrow blades of chisels.
The proper use of sharpening stone is subjective to the condition of the blade to be sharpened. The coarse diamond stone has aggressive sharpening ability and is used to bring back the bite on very dull and damaged knives by resetting the blades. The fine diamond is for general purpose and used for knives that are still a bit sharp. Arkansas stone is used for honing and polishing. To begin sharpening, rotate the lever so that the desired stone is on top and spread with honing solution. Place the sharpening angle guide on the end of the stone and align the back of the knife on it to give the precise angle of holding the knife. Push the blade away in scraping motion letting its edge swipe across the stone, applying necessary pressure. Repeat pushing 8 to 10 times, but still maintaining the angle from the guide. Transfer the angle guide to the other end of the stone to start sharpening the other side of the blade. And this time scraping towards you with the same number of strokes as the other side. Repeat the process on the fine stone if started with the coarse. Continue to hone in the Arkansas stone.
Smith's commitment to convenience and versatility is evidenced in this compact sharpener that comes with other appendages of tools that are essential for outdoor enthusiasts. Aside from its pull-through sharpening slots for standard knives, it is also equipped with tapered rods to sharpen serrated and single-beveled cutleries and fish hooks. And packaged inside the casing are LED light, survival whistle, fire lighter, and a compass. Its knife sharpener has a two-stage system; the coarse slot has carbide abrasives that are heavy duty in setting edges for very dull knives and bring back its sharpness. The ceramic abrasive is used for polishing the edges for durability of the razor-sharp blades. These abrasives are replaceable.
Sharpening standard knives just require about 4 to 6 pulls on the appropriate slots, adding more pulls for extremely dull knives and those made of hard steel. To sharpen a serrated knife and gut hook, use the tapered rod. Extend the rod and match the grind angle to the serrations. Push the rod into the serration or hook with light downward pressure, gently rolling it as you do. Repeat on the entire serrations. For better result, a serrated knife can be pulled through the ceramic slot to polish the edge and remove the burr. This multipurpose and functional sharpener is the best tool to have for any outdoor activity. It is also cost effective hence it collates all the essentials of an adventurous backpacker in one easy case without the hassle of losing one.
Conservative users often doubt the reliability and effectiveness of electric sharpener because of the notion that these type of equipment removes a lot of metal from the knife when filing that could eventually deform and damage the knife. The cutting edge industries have finally developed the technology to prove this belief wrong by equipment that gently but precisely perform the task. Smith's Ceramic Edge Pro is designed with overlapping ceramic wheels to fine tune the knife's edges. Ceramics are hard metal almost leveling up to diamonds that cuts-off faster into the edges but removing only a negligible amount of metal in its coarse and fine slots. These ensures speedy and precise result. Its overlapping wheels sharpens both edges at the same time to reduce the time spent in pulling through several slots give an equal treatment to both sides of the blade. This sharpener also provides the Precision Machine Edge Configuration with its 40° angles (20° for each side) that lets the knife retain its sharpness for up to a period of time without re-sharpening.
Smith's 50650 is designed with two slots for manual sharpening aside from the electric slot. The carbide slot is used for resetting the edge of a severely damaged knife while the other slot is used for serrated knife sharpening. To sharpen severely damaged edges, first, make 10 pulls in the carbide slot until the knife is even and smooth. Turn the power on and insert on the electric sharpener using moderate downward force and consistent pulling motion approximately allowing 1 second for every 2 inches of the knife.
Using the Smith's patented angle knob adjustment of Smith's knife sharpener, KitchenIQ 50354 has also allowed an option to adjust and accommodate ceramic knives. Usually, ceramic knives require a different sharpener than the steel ones because it is brittle and easily chips off when used with just any other type of metals. The ultra-fine diamond abrasives ensure steady sharpening of ceramic knives with its interlocking wheels. Apart from this, slots for standard knives are also available. The angle adjust knob allows the user to choose the original factory angle of the knife to ensure that less metal is removed to prolong the useful life of the cutleries. The coarse slot is used for repairing edges of knives that are very blunt, also using the same interlocking diamond wheels. This is by far the most advanced and perfect model of the electric sharpener that can sharpen virtually any knife regardless of the angle, type of material and overall thickness of the blade. Its precision and speediness are a great addition to this feature.
To use, first, determine the condition of the blades. Severely dull and damaged knives are pulled through the coarse slot while slightly fine ones can be re-sharpened at the fine slot. Adjust the angle to match the factory angle of the knife. Pull the knife into the appropriate slot with about 8 to 10 pulls until the desired sharpness is achieved. If sharpening in the coarse slot, pull it on the fine slot again to hone or align and polish the edges.
Bearing the 2013 seal for Houseware Design Award, Smith's breakthrough in electric sharpener, this model was the first to feature the easy-to-turn knob for setting the sharpeners' interlocking wheels to match the factory edge of the knife. The angle selection has a range level of 10° to 30° that can accommodate even the thinner or thicker angled edges. This has two sharpening slots, with interlocking diamond wheels in coarse, and ceramic wheels on the fine. For added functionality, a manual slot is added to sharpen serrated knives, although this is not intended to be used for ceramic and single beveled knives. The interlocking wheels allow the blade to be sharpened at the same time to minimize the damages caused by having to swipe on different slots. And by this, the amount of time spent in sharpening is reduced. It also had a rubber hand grip and no-slip rubber feet to avoid accidents of slipping grasps. Overall, this model is flexible, durable, easy to use and efficient in its performance, and is convenient for home use.
To start sharpening, set the sharpening angle by turning the adjustment knife to the desired angle. If the knife's factory angle is unknown, printed suggestion is written on the knob for users to choose the default. Place the knife sharpener on a flat and sturdy surface and insert the knife into the slot. The coarse slot is where severely damaged knives or incredibly dull ones are sharpened. Pull the blade through the slot using medium downward pressure and consistent strokes 8 to 10 times until thoroughly sharpened. For blades that have a curved tip, slightly tip down the knife to sharpen all throughout. Repeat the process on the fine slot making 3 to 4 pulls using light downward pulls. KitchenIQ's advanced technology on sharpening allows only a minimal amount of metals loss in the course of sharpening. However, when just honing, the metal loss is negligible, that is why it is advised to make regular honing, especially after extensive work that may wear out the blades.
8. KitchenIQ 50141 Ceramic Edge Electric Knife Sharpener ($99.95).
This unit, designed for standard maintenance, provides subtle care for the blades by removing only but a minimal amount of metal filings to avoid defacing the edges and renders the knife out of service. It is built to work with contemporary American and European's double beveled 20° angle blades, and the Asian's 15° angle. Because it affects both sides of the blade at the same time, this unit is not to be used for single beveled knives. The unit had a member tested and approved seal and is one of Smith's knife sharpener's finest brands that are very suitable for home use. It also has the patented interlocking ceramic wheels sharpener that sets the knives into a Precision Machine Edge. These ceramic abrasives are gentle and more subtle in their work without compromising the quality of sharpness that is required for various cutleries. Aside from the electric slot, it also has two manual slots, one is used for serrated knives, and one for pre-sharpening.
When sharpening damaged edges, first use the manual carbide slot. This is used to set the edges of the knife for perfection. Insert the knife into the sharpening slot using minimal force and make several pulls until the sharpness is achieved. Then pull the knife through the triangular shaped ceramic stones for honing and final polishing.
KitchenIQ sharpeners don't just end in sharpening cutleries, as there are also pieces that are designed for portability. This compact and mini sharpener resembling a keyboard mouse should never be underestimated. The product's dimension is only 4.3 x 2.1 x 5.9 inches and weighs only 0.6 ounces. It might just fit in your palm but it is versatile and functional. This two stage sharpener also has coarse carbide and fine ceramic blades that offer the same powerful result as bulky sharpeners. It can be used for American/European angle specific blades and can sharpen both straight edge and serrated knives. KitchenIQ sharpeners has a Deluxe Edge Grip that features a V-Grip bottom that can be used on the edge of the countertop to prevent larger blades from touching the surface of the counter when sharpening. It firmly latches into the surface that even large butcher knife can drag it away. This new design is best for a small kitchen as it does not take up much space and is very easy to store. It is also very user-friendly without all the buttons and dials, power supply, and wheezing noise that conservative and anxious people would not want to use. This sharpener can be used even by the most inexperienced user. It is a great value for money as far as product cost is concerned but is not inferior in its quality and efficiency.
Use the coarse slot for setting edges of very dull and damaged knives then used the fine for honing of for quick fix and for sharpening serrated knives. Regular sharpening before using a knife, or after an excessive job, pulling the knife into the narrow slot can maintain the edges and prolong the sharpness and make it always job ready.
Smith's JIFF-Fish knife sharpener is a professional sharpener that is simple and easy to use. It has a V-shaped slot with coarse and medium crossed carbide tungsten blade that is pre-set at a correct sharpening angle to enable precise sharpening.Smith's JIFF-Fish knife sharpener can be used on a variety of gaming knives like pocket and fillet knife and has a multiple hook sharpening grooves for sharpening gut hooks. It also comes with a built-in tape measure, weighing scale and a writing pen. This compact and multifunctional tool is an ideal tool for fishing. To use, place the knife on a flat and stable surface with the cutting edge up. Starting from the heel, place the V in the head of the sharpener over the blade such that the sharpener is at a 90° angle with it. Using a slight downward force, draw the sharpener across the blade 3 to 4 times drawing all the way past the end to prevent the knife from nicking the fingers.
Smith's Consumer Product's commitment to the knife sharpening industry does not end in just the kitchen counter table alone. Recognizing the need of some hobbyist that makes their knives a part of their life, this business has a lot to offer to keep the blades in its utmost shape for better performance. Carefully crafted and thoroughly engineered, Smith's products keep the competition in the industry by a continued effort to introduce devices that make people's life easier and more convenient.