Smith's Ten Second Knife and Scissors Sharpener - Review

When I first saw this small 10 Second Sharpener for under five dollars in Lowes, I didn't think it would amount to much. (The retail price has increased a few dollars since then.) At the time, I was a little short on cash but needed something to put a quick edge back on the majority of our kitchen knife supply. (The belt sander edging was no longer keeping my family happy.)

When I got the sharpener home I quickly removed the bubble pack and stood at the countertop, busily sharpening one dull knife after another for the next thirty minutes. True to the package labeling claim, I would have to agree that you can put a fine edge on a medium grade steel knife in about ten seconds. It may take a little longer if the knife is in extremely bad shape.

Sharpening instructions are included in the package. I would advise anyone purchasing this item to read them before attempting to use this small 3" by 5" tool. Most home sharpeners require the user to draw the knife across the tool with the sharp edge of the knife blade facing down. This one has you hold the knife on a flat surface with the spine of the knife down. The tool is then drawn over the sharp edge of the blade through the "V" notch, which contains the carbide cutting heads.

Sharpening scissors is just as easy as working on knives. The blades protrude through a couple of angled openings in the plastic housing, allowing the carbide cutters to address the metal at a precise angle. As an added bonus, you can rotate the tool 180 degrees to work on left-handed scissors.

The over all design of this sharpener is very good with much thought given to the ergonomics of the human hand. The finger grips are inlayed with a soft, easily cleaned rubber for maximum comfort when sharpening multiple knives. There is an access cover to the carbide cutters in the knife sharpening notch. Opening this allows you to flip the cutters over when they become dull. They are also replaceable when they are worn out.

The small size of this sharpener allows it to be stored easily in the drawer with your kitchen knives. It is always in within reach to put a quick, new edge on any of my knives without creating a major interruption in the food preparation process. After using this sharpener for nearly two years, I would highly recommend it to anyone. The company website makes it easy to find a retailer handling their sharpening products. www.smithabrasives.com