HomeOutdoorWork Sharp Folding Subject Sharpener Evaluation: Pocket-Prepared

Work Sharp Folding Subject Sharpener Evaluation: Pocket-Prepared


There are 1,000,000 strategies that you need to use to sharpen your knife, all of which will be efficient if you recognize what you’re doing. When you don’t, any of these strategies can smash your blade edge, inflicting you to place in much more work. Making issues worse, a whole lot of sharpeners on the market aren’t up for the duty of sharpening a number of the newer, high-end knife steels.

To assist clear up this, Work Sharp constructed its model to assist make knife sharpening simpler for everybody. Whereas I’ve examined and reviewed a number of the model’s merchandise, I used and relied on its merchandise each within the subject and in my store going again almost a decade. Its newest contribution to the world of knife sharpeners wins the “Why didn’t I consider that?” product of the 12 months.

The Folding Subject Sharpener is a compact, light-weight knife sharpener that tucks right into a pocket and stays in place with a pocket clip. Constructed off of a sturdy nylon plastic body, the sharpener has two sides that pivot on a hinge with a stainless-steel bolt. This makes for straightforward sharpening at a wide range of angles, and even in hard-to-access locations.

Briefly: I took the Folding Subject Sharpener for a spin on a number of outside escapades and was blown away by its efficiency. Whereas it’s designed primarily for sharpening knives, I can attest that it will probably repair a chipped bit on a hatchet as nicely. I encountered one minor challenge that I used to be in a position to restore, however general the Work Sharp Folding Subject Sharpener allowed for spontaneous, spectacular honing and sharpening anyplace.

  • Carry measurement
    4.79” x 0.81” x 0.45”
  • Open measurement
    9.25” x 0.81” x 0.45”
  • Weight
    2 oz.
  • Floor 1
    400-grit diamond plate with 20-degree guides
  • Floor 2
    Advantageous grit ceramic plate with 25-degree guides
  • Value
    $30

  • The pocket clip!!!

  • Compact measurement

  • Diamond and ceramic plates

Work Sharp Folding Subject Sharpener Evaluation

Design & Options

work sharp folding field sharpener in the middle of 4 different kniveswork sharp folding field sharpener in the middle of 4 different knives
We examined this sharpener throughout a sequence of outside journeys and located it to carry out reliably, even dealing with duties like fixing a chipped hatchet bit; (photograph/Nick LeFort)

One aspect of the Folding Subject Sharpener has a 400-grit diamond plate with 20-degree angle guides. The opposite aspect has a fine-grit ceramic plate with 25-degree guides. The angle guides assist keep the method between strokes and attracts so you may get clear, uniform outcomes. Each plates ought to final a lifetime for those who deal with them proper.

Neither diamond nor ceramic wants lubrication to realize the specified outcomes. Nonetheless, slightly spritzing of water right here and there can preserve them each efficient and clear. A clear sharpening floor is what you need if you wish to hone an edge correctly.

Each arms of the Folding Subject Sharpener have contact factors that present elevated grip. The ceramic plate aspect has full-length knurling with a rubberized border. The diamond plate aspect has the Work Sharp emblem that will increase grip and has the identical rubberized border. These options improve stability on completely different surfaces in addition to preserve the sharpener regular in your hand.

Who’s It For?

work sharp folding field sharpener showing both plateswork sharp folding field sharpener showing both plates
This sharpener is ideal for anybody with a knife, but in addition works for sharpening hooks, arrow ideas, and even hatchets; (photograph/Nick LeFort)

Realistically, anybody who owns a knife might respect this sharpener. However after I think about how efficient, easy, and adaptable this folding subject sharpener is, it’s simple to assume exterior the field relating to the place you need to use it.

A fisherman might use it to sharpen up hooks. A hunter might use it to hone arrow ideas. Or, a man like me might use it to revive the sting on his hatchet after he hit a nail in a tree one night time randomly earlier than dinner (extra on that not-so-hypothetical under).

Heck, I haven’t performed it, however I guess you would sharpen a lawnmower blade with it.

Plenty of pocket sharpeners can hone an edge, however that is the one one I’ve used that makes a clear edge on the spot in little to no time.

First Impressions

work sharp folding field sharpener secured into pocket with pocket clipwork sharp folding field sharpener secured into pocket with pocket clip
A pocket clip is a small characteristic that makes a giant distinction. It retains your sharpener safe and inside simple attain; (photograph/Nick LeFort)

I’m slightly biased; I like something with a pocket clip. They make issues simple to entry in your pocket, pouch, or pack. For a subject sharpener, one thing that would get misplaced in a pocket or left behind altogether, a pocket clip is a superb addition.

Image it: You’re strolling down the path, making your solution to tonight’s lean-to, and also you don’t know what to do together with your fingers. What higher time to verify your knife is completely honed for the meal prep forward?

It’s additionally constructed extremely nicely. For $30, you get an easy-to-access, easy-to-use sharpener with each ceramic and diamond sharpening plates. If correctly cared for, neither of those surfaces will put on down or change into ineffective (earlier than you do).

Within the Subject

hatchet and with work sharp folding field sharpener next to each otherhatchet and with work sharp folding field sharpener next to each other
The sharpener successfully restored a chipped hatchet bit; (photograph/Nick LeFort)

I needed to wait a number of weeks for the Folding Subject Sharpener to reach. Throughout that point, I pulled out knives from my assortment that I knew might use slightly TLC. I figured I’d make an entire manufacturing out of it and have myself slightly afternoon knife-sharpening celebration.

When the sharpener lastly landed, I had that little celebration… and it lasted about 20 minutes. Not a whole lot of considering wants to enter utilizing this sharpener, and it doesn’t take loads to get the outcomes you need.

The 400-grit diamond plate is implausible for bringing a boring edge again to life. The 20-degree information makes every thing very simple, protecting you the place you need to be to get a pointy, clear edge.

Nonetheless, many of the work I wanted to do required the ceramic plate. I preserve my knives well-maintained, so nothing is ever actually that boring in my world. It wasn’t till I hit a nail with my hatchet and needed to repair the bit that I discovered myself getting actually zen with that diamond plate.

I’ve a number of completely different bench sharpeners and a belt grinder in my workshop and will have simply restored that bit with slightly reprofiling, however I wished to see what the Folding Subject Sharpener might do. Inside quarter-hour, whereas watching the children choose the final of this 12 months’s tomatoes, I had the bit restored.

There was no setup time to verify I had the appropriate belt or guarantee issues have been set to the appropriate angle. I merely took the sharpener out of my pocket and received the job performed. If this had been out within the woods, this might have saved my journey.

Overflex

man hand in focus with sharpening plate detached from work sharp sharpenerman hand in focus with sharpening plate detached from work sharp sharpener
The Folding Subject Sharpener affords 400-grit diamond and tremendous ceramic plates with angle guides for constant, long-lasting sharpening; (photograph/Nick LeFort)

I did have one challenge a number of weeks into the honeymoon with the Folding Subject Sharpener. I had it absolutely opened and put slightly an excessive amount of strain on one of many arms. It induced the nylon plastic arm to flex and the plate got here partially unglued.

I’m not positive what sort of adhesive Work Sharp used to bond these plates to the arms, however I changed that with a line of Gorilla Glue and haven’t had a difficulty since.

Conclusion

As somebody who’s at all times on the go, I’d love to sit down down and randomly sharpen some knives as a method of quiet meditation. I don’t have that luxurious proper now, and I want to verify the knives and instruments I depend on can carry out as anticipated. The great thing about the Folding Subject Sharpener is that you just don’t want any downtime to make use of it.

Heck, you would be sitting in a canoe fishing with a pal and whip it out to hone a knife. I had no intention of buttoning up the sting of my hatchet, however whereas I used to be ready for dinner to cook dinner, I received the job performed.

This one will get my stamp of approval. Choose one up now and throw it in your pocket, or pack it for if you want it.