Do Manual Knife Sharpeners Wear Out? – All You Need to Know

If you happen to be a busy bee in the kitchen, there will be several occasions when your knife sharpener has saved the day by restoring your blunt knife’s edge. Of course, you hold your sharpener in high esteem. Therefore it’s only logical to wonder, “do knife sharpeners go bad?”

Well, as they say, nothing lasts forever! This article has been put together keeping in mind your fondness for your favourite kitchen tool. Keep reading to get educated about your knife sharpener’s lifespan and much more.

Do Manual Knife Sharpeners Wear Out?

Yes, manual sharpeners do wear out over time. The abrasive portion will be the first component to give way. However, it is a slow process and it can take several years till your sharpener becomes unusable.

How Do Knife Sharpeners Wear out?

Knife sharpening involves removing metal from the edge of the knife blade to give it a new sharp edge. You achieve this result by running your knife over an abrasive material. Anyone who is familiar with the process knows that a lot of waste material is generated in the process. This is particularly visible if you are working on a light-coloured countertop. 

The waste produced is not just metal coming off the knife blade but also particles of the abrasive material from the knife sharpener. Therefore, every time you use your knife sharpener, you are inadvertently removing material from it, causing it to wear out. 

That being said, there are several factors which determine how long your knife sharpener will last. Keep these factors in mind if you don’t want to part ways with your faithful kitchen companion, too soon. 

Related: Do Knife Sharpening Rods Wear Out? – Find Out Here

How Long Does a Pull-through Knife Sharpener Last?

Pull-through knife sharpeners can last many years, maybe even a decade! The abrasive material is mostly made of carbide or ceramic. These materials are harder than the knife blade itself, therefore a pull through sharpener will probably last longer than your knives. Certain factors directly affect the longevity of these instruments.

• Sharpener quality: manual or pull-through knife sharpeners are composed of different materials. The abrasive material is usually made of carbide or tungsten. This is covered with plastic. Remember that the best pull through sharpener is the one made of the best materials. 

• Usage frequency: habitual knife sharpeners are too familiar with this bitter truth. The more you sharpen your knives, the quicker your sharpener will wear out.

• Knife types: if you own a heavy-duty set of knives which you sharpen quite often, your knife sharpener will wear down quicker. In contrast, it will last longer if you only use it to sharpen lightweight knives. 

Do Manual Knife Sharpeners Work?

They most definitely do. Manual knife sharpeners provide a quick and easy way of sharpening your knives. In fact, if they seem incapable of providing the razor-sharp edge that you are looking for, they might be breathing their last!

How to Care for Your Manual Knife Sharpener

A little bit of care goes a long way. You can practice the following easy steps if you want to reap the benefits of your sharpener for many years to come.

Clean Your Knife Sharpener Regularly

Every time you use your knife sharpener, steel and abrasive material are released. This can cause a build-up on your sharpener and interfere with the sharpening process. In order, to optimize sharpening, I recommend cleaning your manual knife sharpener regularly. Here’s how you can go about it.

Loosening debris: Pour honing oil onto the sharpening slots of the sharpener and rub it in. Allow it to settle in the crevices. After a while, all the accumulated debris will loosen up and float to the surface. 

Alternatively, if you are out of honing oil, you can use dishwashing soap instead. Pour it onto the sharpening slots and rub it in with the help of warm water and a soft cloth. Just like with honing oil, metal shavings will float to the surface.

I’d like to add a word of caution here. If you reside along the Australian coastline or in areas of high humidity your metallic tools are already at a high risk of corrosion. When using the soap method, you eventually have to add water which increases the risk of corrosion.

Removing debris: Once the debris has loosened up, scrub it away. For this purpose, you can either use a brush, a non-metallic scouring pad, or even a magic eraser would do. 

If you opt for a brush, choose one with soft bristles so that it’s gentle on the surface. Furthermore, never opt for a metallic scouring bad. You might end up doing more harm than good to your sharpener. 

Scrub each side of the sharpener gently, for a couple of minutes. Wipe off filings every now and then with the help of a cloth or soft sponge. 

Drying up: After scrubbing and removing all debris, dry the sharpener completely with a paper towel. I recommend leaving it out to air-dry overnight. In any case, only use your sharpener once it is completely dry.

Use Your Knife Sharpener Correctly

You might end up damaging your tool if you do not know how to use a knife sharpener in the right manner. Always read the instruction manual that comes with your tools and use it accordingly. Read on for some general rules of the game.

• Run your knife through the coarse sharpening slot 5-6 times. Start from the base till you reach the tip. Upon reaching the tip, lift the knife in the air and proceed to the next stroke starting from the base again. Do not attempt to run the knife forwards and backwards while it is still in the slot.
• Maintain consistent pressure while sharpening. Furthermore, do not try to sharpen your knife too forcefully.
• Move over to the fine sharpening slot and repeat the process. One or two pulls at this slot should suffice.

Do Not Overuse Your Sharpener

There’s no hard and fast rule for knife sharpening. It all depends on how much work your knives are doing for you. The bottom line is, only sharpen your knives when the need arises. You can use the paper test to check whether sharpening is due.

Here’s how to do it. Hold a paper in the air. Place your knife blade at the top of the sheet and take it down all the way to the bottom. A sharp knife should be able to cut through easily. 

When Should I Replace my Manual Knife Sharpener?

All good things come to an end. Even if you have been extra vigilant in caring for your knife sharpener, there comes a time when it’s not good for the job anymore. You can consider replacing your sharpener if you notice any of the following:

• There are obvious signs of wear and tear on the body. You might notice cracks or chipping on the handles. Just let go of it already!
• The sharpener isn’t giving you the kind of results that it used to. Your knife might come out bumpy and unevenly sharpened after using the sharpener.
• It is taking longer than usual to get the same results.
• You don’t feel any resistance when passing your knife through the sharpening slots.

Whatever the scenario, don’t hesitate to replace your sharpener when the need arises. Trust me, you’ll end up saving time and energy, as well as a good mood!