Best Choice for Many People
Pros: Easy to Learn, Efficient, Convenient
Cons: Doesn't Last Forever, Must be Sent to Factory for Maintenance
I've owned a couple of Chef's Choice Sharpeners over the years. I used to schlepp them with me when I taught cooking and knife skills classes (for charity). And even though I learned to sharpen my knives on bench stones more than forty years ago, and still use them as my primary sharpening system, for more than a year -- when between bench stone kits -- I used a model 110 as my primary sharpener.
Among many self-proclaimed "knife experts," electric knife sharpeners have a very bad reputation. Many years ago the reputation was deserved. However, the Chef's Choice was the machine that changed that. Used properly -- something very eas to learn -- a Chef's Choice will not harm your knives.
This particular class of Chef's Choice creates something the company (Edgecraft) calls a "trizor" edge. That means a multi-bevel shape which is stays sharp a long time and is very resistant to deformation.
On the other hand, there are two ways to get a knife sharper -- even much sharper. But bench stones require surmounting a steep learning curve (bench stones), and is inconvenient; and tool and jigs like an Edge Pro are easier to learn than stones but still more convenient.
Considering the ease of use and convenience, a Chef's Choice has no competition when it comes to sharpness. And, even the most expensive Chef's Choice machine is less expensive than a good set of stones or an Edge Pro.
Bottom Line: The least good of the three good ways. If you can't use stones, and don't want to put up with setting up and taking down an Edge Pro, not to mention the price; if you want something convenient enough to use whenever you need to use it, something which is absolutely procrastination proof -- this is it.
BDL
