Buy the Work Sharp MK2 if you want a powered belt sharpener for kitchen knives plus the garden shed at the lowest price. Buy the Ken Onion Mk2 if you want to set the angle precisely (its listing says 15 to 30 degrees) and vary the belt speed. Buy the Ken Onion Elite Mk2 only if you need angles below 15 for thin Japanese knives: its listing gives 10 to 35. All three use the same idea, a narrow flexible abrasive belt that sharpens quickly with an angle guide. For a general look at the brand, see is Work Sharp a good knife sharpener.
Quick picks
| Best value belt sharpener | Work Sharp MK2 | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Best for precise angles | Work Sharp Ken Onion Mk2 | Amazon |
| Widest angle range | Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Mk2 | Amazon |
How we compared them
We read each sharpener's Amazon listing on October 3, 2026, along with Work Sharp's own product descriptions, and compared only what those sources state. Sales and rating counts come from Amazon search the same day: the MK2 showed about 700 bought in the past month with more than 8,000 ratings, the Ken Onion Mk2 about 600 with roughly 600 ratings, and the Elite about 500. Where a listing leaves out a spec, like the MK2's angle range or any model's belt grits, we say "check listing" rather than fill it in.
This is a spec review, not a hands-on test. How we research.
Side-by-side comparison
| Work Sharp MK2 | Ken Onion Mk2 | Ken Onion Elite Mk2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angle range (listing) | Check listing (not stated in bullets) | 15–30°, adjustable | 10–35°, adjustable |
| Motor | Two-speed | Variable speed | Variable speed |
| What the listing says it sharpens | Kitchen and pocket knives, serrated knives, scissors, axes, lawnmower blades, garden tools | Pocket and chef knives, serrated blades, shears, garden tools | Kitchen cutlery, pocket and hunting blades; scissors; serrated edges; garden tools |
| Edge support | Edge guide supports the knife to the tip | Check listing | Check listing |
| Belt sizes and grits | Check listing | Check listing; quick-change belts | Check listing; see Work Sharp's Elite system below |
| Warranty | 3 years (listing) | Work Sharp says 3 years on its Ken Onion Edition page | Check listing |
| Amazon ratings | 8,000+ | 600+ | about 500 |
The three sharpeners
Work Sharp MK2
The MK2 is the one most people buy, with more than 8,000 Amazon ratings. Work Sharp's listing describes flexible belts that conform to any blade and can work as a grinder on outdoor tools, and a two-speed motor with the extra power for "lawnmower blades, axes and garden tools". An edge guide supports the knife all the way to the tip. It's the generalist: kitchen knives on Sunday, the mower blade in spring.
What the listing doesn't state in its bullets is the angle range, so check the listing photos or Work Sharp's manual before you count on a specific number for a thin kitchen knife.
- Motortwo-speed
- Beltsflexible
- Edge guidesupports knife to the tip
- Angle rangecheck listing
- Warranty3 years
- ModelWSKTS2
Why it stands out
- Largest owner base of the three
- Listed for axes and mower blades too
- 3-year warranty
Think twice if
- You need to set exact angles like 16° for Shun
Work Sharp Ken Onion Mk2
The Ken Onion Mk2 earns its higher price with control. Its listing says you can dial the angle from 15 to 30 degrees and vary the belt speed, slower for finishing and faster for reprofiling a damaged edge. That range covers German kitchen knives, Shun at 16, Victorinox at 15 to 20, hunting knives at 20 to 25, and cleavers at 30. The quick-change belts let you move from coarse repair to a finer finish without fuss.
- Angle15–30°, adjustable
- Motorvariable speed
- Beltsquick-change
- Usesknives, scissors, serrated, garden tools
Why it stands out
- Stated 15–30° adjustable range
- Variable speed for delicate finishing
Think twice if
- You own Miyabi or other knives below 15°
- You mostly sharpen garden tools: the MK2 is cheaper
Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Mk2
The Elite is the only one of the three whose listing goes below 15: 10 to 35 degrees. That reaches Wüsthof's 10° santokus and the 9.5 to 12° Miyabi range on our Miyabi sharpening angle page, which no other powered sharpener in this guide can. The listing also describes a keen, convex finish, and says it can grind a fresh bevel on chipped or rolled steel. Work Sharp's own page for its Elite sharpening system, built on the Ken Onion Edition, adds a blade grinding attachment with 1 x 18 inch belts in five grits, a four-pulley setup adjustable in 1° steps, and belt speeds from 1,200 to 2,800 surface feet per minute.
- Angle10–35°, adjustable
- Motorvariable speed
- Finishconvex (listing)
- Useskitchen, pocket and hunting knives, scissors, serrated, garden tools
Why it stands out
- 10–35° covers thin Japanese edges
- Grinding attachment for reshaping blades (per Work Sharp)
Think twice if
- Your knives all sit between 15 and 30°: the Ken Onion Mk2 does the same job for less
Which buyer each one suits
| If you | Buy |
|---|---|
| Want sharp kitchen knives and also sharpen mower blades or axes | MK2 |
| Own knives from several makers and want each at its own angle | Ken Onion Mk2 |
| Sharpen Japanese knives at 10–12° | Ken Onion Elite Mk2, or a whetstone |
| Reshape or repair blades, not just sharpen them | Ken Onion Elite Mk2 with the grinding attachment |
| Want precision without a motor | Work Sharp Precision Adjust |
If you were planning to use the bench grinder in the garage instead, read why a bench grinder is hard on knives first.
Angles for the brands mentioned come from the makers' own pages; the angle calculator lists them all.
Belt sharpeners: what to know before you buy
They remove steel fast
That's the point, and the risk. A powered belt reprofiles a bevel in a minute that would take a whetstone half an hour. Use the slow speed and a light, steady pull on good knives, and save the fast speed for tools and repairs. Already own a 1x30 shop sander? Read knife sharpening on a belt sander before buying a dedicated machine.
The edge comes out convex
A flexible belt bends a little around the edge, so you get a slightly rounded, convex bevel rather than a flat one. The Elite's listing calls it a "keen, convex finish". It's a strong edge, but if you later switch to a stone or clamp system, the first session will flatten the bevel.
Heat is the enemy on tools
On axes and mower blades, use light passes with pauses so the edge doesn't overheat. The US Forest Service's axe manual warns that heat near the edge can ruin the temper; blue or purple discoloration means stop. Our axe sharpening angle guide covers the axe side, including the angle Council Tool recommends.
As a gift
All three are popular gifts for people who own a lot of knives and tools, and the MK2 is the safe choice if you don't know how particular the recipient is about angles. More ideas by budget are in our knife sharpening gift guide, and the best electric knife sharpener guide compares belt machines with fixed-slot electrics.
The call
For most households, the Work Sharp MK2 is the better buy: it sharpens everything in the kitchen and the garage and has by far the most owners. Spend more on the Ken Onion Mk2 when angle control matters to you, and on the Ken Onion Elite Mk2 only if your knives go below 15 degrees or you want to reshape blades.
Specs from each sharpener's Amazon listing, checked October 3, 2026; sales counts from Amazon search the same day. Elite system details and warranty notes from worksharptools.com. Heat guidance from the USDA Forest Service's "An Ax to Grind". Brand angles from each knife maker's site. Prices change, so the buttons show the current price on Amazon. How we research · Affiliate disclosure