Knives are pretty affordable items, and you can always opt to buy another one every time you need a sharp one. However, this can be an inconvenience, and it is much better just to sharpen the one you have. Besides, there are lots of knife sharpeners out there that make sharpening as easy as ABC. More specifically, you have the option of going with a manual or an electric knife sharpener. Below is a comparison of the two to help you choose the best knife sharpener for your needs.
Manual knife sharpeners
The manual knife sharpener has many advantages that you might find interesting for your home use needs.
One of its key strong points is control of the angle you want to achieve. The sharpening angle depends on how one holds the knife, and this varies from person to person. Therefore, such control means you can expect consistency in the outcome every time you sharpen the blade.
You will also love the fact that manual knife sharpers are very affordable. While there are some costly ones in the market, most of them are within the average person’s reach. Comparatively, they are a whole lot cheaper than electric ones.
Most importantly, manual knife sharpeners are safe to use. The safety aspect to them is related to control. Since you are the one in control of how fast the sharpener moves and the angle that you handle the knife, the likelihood of an accident is significantly reduced. Besides, the more regularly you sharpen, the better you will perfect your technique and lower the risk of accidents.
However, like everything else, there are a few drawbacks to using a manual sharpener. The more pronounced one is that you need a lot more effort. As such, you will spend more time sharpening your knife. The manual sharpener is also not very practical for sharpening certain types of knives, such as wavy-edged and serrated blade knives.
Pros
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You have full control over the angle it sharpens
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It’s very affordable
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It is safe to use.
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They are easier to use
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Learning how to use a manual sharpener is easy
Cons
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You need to invest some time learning
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It takes longer to sharpen than an electric one.
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Can be challenging to use on serrated blade knives.
Electric Knife sharpeners
If you are the type that just wants the sharpening process over and done fast, then the electric sharpener is an excellent option.
One thing you will love about it is that it does the job automatically, without much effort on your part. All you have to do is switch on the machine, and you are good to go. Naturally, this makes the electric knife sharpener very convenient.
Learning how to use this machine is quite easy too. All you have to do is to switch the device on and insert the knife at the pre-marked slot. Next, pull out the blade slowly.
The main drawback to this sharpener is that it eats a lot of metal from your knives and the other one is cost. You will have to fork out a little more money for the ease of use and convenience that comes with an electric knife sharpener.
Pros
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It sharpens fast
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It doesn’t need any special skills, and anyone can sharpen with it perfectly, unlike with a manual sharpener.
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Doesn’t take effort to get the job done.
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An electric sharpener can work with all types of knives.
Cons
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Eats a lot of metal from the knives.
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You have very little control over the sharpening process.
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They are quite pricey compared to manual, ones.
