Product Description

Professional EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener works great on kitchen knives, hunting knives and fillet knives.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1798 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Size: 12" L x 5" W x 4" H
• Brand: Presto
• Model: 8810.00
• Released on: 2007-08-01
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 4.00" h x 5.00" w x 12.00" l, 4.15 pounds

Features

• Three Stage Sharpening system for professional results at home.
• Sharpens Kitchen and sport knives quickly and easily.
• Interchangeable blade guides provide optimum sharpening angles.
• No guess sharpening. Blade guides automatically hold knife at the perfect sharpening angel.

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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

163 of 166 people found the following review helpful.
Presto, a sharp knife
By M. Simerson
I found the Presto 08800 after searching for "knife sharpener" on Amazon. The positive reviews encouraged me, so I researched the sharpener on Presto's web site, where I learned how coarse the two stages are. I've been sharpening my knives with a couple whetstones for 20 years, so I guessed that I'd never need stage 1 on the 8800. Further, I guessed that after setting the edge with the 8800, I'd still be spending more time than I wanted with my stones. On Presto's site, I learned of this 8810 with the third stage and adjustable blade angle. I ordered it straight away and I'm glad I did.

After reading the instructions and the reviews of the 8800, I started with a disposable knife on stage 1. Yowsa! Unless you've used an electric sharpener before, start with a knife you don't care about. Stage 1 is "metal munching" mode, used to set an edge on VERY dull knives. The manual does point out that stage one may not be necessary. Allow me to clarify: unless your knife b lade has nicks, or is spoon sharp, skip stage 1. Always. If in doubt, start with stage 2. If a few passes at stage 2 doesn't do it, then revert to stage 1.

After grinding away half of the cheap paring knife edge on stage one, I moved on to stages 2 and 3. By the time I was done, I had a remarkably sharp paring knife. Better still, the edge was uniform the full length, something I rarely achieve with my stones. Inspired and over-confident, I grabbed my 15 year old Henckel chef's knife. In a few minutes, I had an edge almost as pretty and sharp as factory. Except for that little gouge near the handle, where I let the knife rest a half-second too long before I started drawing it. Lesson learned.

This was my first time using an electric sharpener and my skill level improved significantly after the first couple knifes. From now on, I will start with my least favorite knife and end each session with my favorite.

The third stage is actually quite go od. It's not as good as if I had laboriously honed the blade with my japanese waterstone. But that waterstone costs more than this sharpener! And it takes at least 10 times longer. The edge this sharpener puts on my blades is quite sufficient. And it takes so little time that I'll be using it far more often. Thank you Presto!

Update: When I wrote, "skip stage 1. Always," I hadn't considered yard maintenance tools. Last week I started pruning some hedges. I quickly realized my machete was quite dull. Presto! Several minutes and 5 passes through stage one had restored a glorious edge to my machete. Look out shrubs, Sir Whacks-A-Lot is coming for you!

85 of 86 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent Sharpener for the Money
By Mike E.
I've been sharpening knives for over 40 years using good stones and honing steel rods. But I hate doing it. It's laborious, and there are other things I'd rather do. But I can always get a very sharp knife.

Unfortunately, my wife does not know how to sharpen or hone a knife, nor does she care to learn. She dulls them and expects that I will sharpen them.

I wanted something both of us could use, that would make life easier when it comes to knife sharpening. My knives range in quality from very high quality to low quality, but regardless I want them sharp!

So I started buying a lot of different hand-held knife sharpening gadgets. They all suck. Don't bother.

Next I spent hours reviewing electric knife sharpeners - narrowing my choices down to two; (1) Chef's Choice 120 Diamond Hone 3-Stage Professional Knife Sharpener for $120.00, or (2) the Presto 08810 Professional 3-Stage Electric Knife Sharpener for $43.00 (that's what I paid).

I watched a lot of videos and actually saw the Chef's choice demonstrated live at a show; even had the guy try it on my own pocket knife. For $120, I was unimpressed with the Chef's Choice. Don't bother.

So instead, I bought the Presto 08810 Professional 3-Stage Electric Knife Sharpener for $43.00.

As with all knife sharpening systems, technique is needed, so read the instructions. Done right, you can get an amazing edge with very few passes; very sharp. I try not to over-sharpen. When it's sharp, I stop - mission accomplished. Continuing to make more passes after the knife has reached sharpness can possibly dull the blade. I only repeat if sharpness was not achieved after proceeding through the stages the first time.

For my first try with the Presto 08810, I used a very crappy, very dull kitchen knife. It was so dull, I knew I needed to start with the coarse Stage 1. The directions said to make "three" alternatin g passes each side. I stopped after only "one." I already had a nice edge after just one pass each side. Don't over do it if you don't need to. Once you have a good edge, stop and move on.

I test my knives by cutting into the edge of a piece of paper. The instructions say to test on vegetables. Paper is cheaper, especially when sharpening many knives in a session.

If you do test sharpness on vegetables, you must clean the knife before putting back into the sharpener or you will ruin the sharpening wheels.

I proceeded to Stage 2, making only about two passes, and also two on Stage 3. After only a couple of swipes, the knife was already super sharp. It sliced clean through a full sheet of paper like it was nothing. It was razor sharp. Wow!

All this time I've been sharpening by hand (the hard way). I felt like a dope. The Presto 08810 is my new quick and easy sharpening tool.

Granted, very expensive professional belt drive sharpening systems with leather stropping can probably achieve surgical scalpel sharpness, but who cares? Or who wants the cost and complexity of such machines for their average daily use? I'm not "shaving" with my knives, nor performing surgery.

The Presto 08810 made my knives super sharp (VERY sharp). More than enough for the kitchen.

[My Recommendations]
Wipe your knife blade clean of any metal tiny filings after a couple of passes, and absolutely before proceeding to the next sharpening stage. This will keep the blade guides clean and free of any particles that could scratch your blade.

That being said, I sharpened a bunch of knifes, and not one knife was ever scratched or marred (like the Chef's Choice is known to do).

For most knives, I even recommending skipping "coarse" Stage 1. You can re-sharpen, or touch-up knives using only the "fine" Stage 3, or by sharpening in Stage 2 and finishing in Stage 3. I only used all three stages, starting in "coarse" Stage 1, for knives that had completely lost their edge.

For those with small pocket knives and sport knives... yes, it sharpened mine. The smallest knife I sharpened so far was a 2.5" (9 cm) blade on a pocket knife. Because of the thickness of the handle, the Presto 08810 could not reach the final quarter inch (0.25" or 0.5 cm) of the blade, near the hilt/handle. But I was Ok with that. It was better than I expected.

This was my exact same pocket knife used by the guy in the demonstration on the Chef's Choice. I can tell you for a fact, the Presto 08810 sharpened my knife better.

I also sharpened my USMC KA-Bar knife with a black painted blade (gutsy, I know). Not a scratch in the paint. But remember I tend to wipe off the metal filings with each pass, just to be careful. I don't plan to do that again, as I suspect the blade guides will ultimately wear or scratch the paint if subject ed to frequent passes. I just wanted to give it a try at least once.

As for my stainless kitchen cutlery, no worries, all my knives were just fine. No marks, no scratches. Just sharp!

Although it didn't happen to me yet, I do see the potential that possible scratching or marring of the blades could occur, depending on the knife, not resting the blade against the blade guides, or simply a build-up of filings on the blade guides.

If it does happen to my kitchen knives, I'm not that overly concerned. They're just tools to me, not decorations. As long as they're usable and sharp, I'm Ok. So far, after sharpening many knives, it hasn't been a problem.

[Summary]
I'm so glad I didn't spend $120 on a Chef's Choice 3-Stage. What a waste that would have been. Save your money. I paid $43 (on sale) on Amazon for the Presto 08810 (3-Stage) knife sharpener, and it works just as good, if not better, as I discovered.

I've seen the Presto 08810 for as high as $48, and usually for $45. Check also on eBay if Amazon is too high. But either way, it's cheaper than the expensive Chef's Choice.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful.
Very nice!
By J. Ontiveros
I'm not an expert sharpener by any stretch of the imagination, but this machine does a great job. I especially like the third stage for finishing an edge. The blade guides make it virtually impossible to accidentally screw up your blade. The machine is quite sturdy and appears to be well made. Based on the amount of use I intend to give it, it should last for a good long time.

The price is right and I don't think you'll be disappointed in the quality or function.