which_chick | (Reply)

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The non-electric kinds (like the static, pull-through ones with ceramic rods or whatever) are way cheaper but I've had one of those for a number of years and it hasn't put the kind of edge on my knives that I want. It's better than nothing, but not... great. Low end electric sharpeners run about $30 but don't have good reviews. I have never used one of them, so can't speak as to their effectiveness. Also, I have whetstones and while I can do a decent job with them, it takes me a while and is fiddly. I do not enjoy hand-sharpening with whetstones, though they are an affordable option for folks who enjoy that sort of tedium.

I have a set of very-good-quality knives (a graduation present from college, lo these many years ago) plus a few more of like quality I've added (the santoku is wonderful and I love it) to my collection that will hold as good of an edge as I can put on and sharp knives *matter* to me. So, yeah, merry xmas to me, but I also can't say everybody needs this item.