Electric Sharpener vs Whetstone: Which One is the Best for You?

When it comes to sharpening your blades, there are a few different tools that you can use. Probably every household has some kind of manual sharpener already lying in a drawer. Unfortunately, these are rather simple tools good for reviving a very dull blade but not much else. If you want to get a razor-sharp edge on your blades, then you really have only two options: an electric sharpener or a whetstone. But which one should you choose? Since both of these tools have advantages and disadvantages, we will compare them from different aspects to help you decide which one is the better choice for you. We will also include a price comparison to show how much each option costs. So, let’s get started!

Electric Sharpener vs. Whetstone: Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons of Electric Sharpeners

PROS

• Easy to use
• Convenient
• Time-efficient
• Get you a very sharp edge without any skills
• Require almost no maintenance

CONS

• Won’t get you as sharp of an edge as a whetstone
• Can scratch your blades
• Not suitable for restoring chips in blades
• Not a great option for knives with a hardness of 60+ HRC
• More expensive (compared to a single stone option)

Pros and Cons of Whetstones

PROS

• Deliver a significantly sharper and cleaner edge (with proper training)
• Can be used to restore chips and dents in blades
• Better option for expensive knives
• Better option for knives with a hardness of 60+ HRC
• More control over the sharpening process
• Cheaper option for those who can get by with one stone
• Better value for money

CONS

Inexperienced person can easily cause sharpening scratches to the blade

Requires prior training to avoid damaging your knives (rather steep learning curve)

Takes time and effort to get good results

Not as convenient as electric sharpeners

More time-demanding (preparation, sharpening, cleaning, flattening)

Require maintenance (cleaning, flattening)

More expensive than electric sharpeners (if you buy a set of stones + accessories)