Push vs. Pull! Best way to sharpen??? Work Sharp Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener 

Here are the sharpness numbers from the end of this video as well as the follow-up where they used a strop. Lower is better. #1 (Push): 176 after stones, 104 after strop #2 (Pull): 374 after stones, 181 after strop #3 (Sawing): 242 after stones, 191 after strop #4 (Sweep): 298 after stones, 159 after strop

Old School Wisdom Strikes Again! My grandpa taught me to sharpen a knife when I was very young. He said, you always sharpen like the knife cuts. He showed me the technique yall are calling a Push when I was a kid. For the last 40 years, I've sharpened my knives that way and have always been happy with the edge I got. Thank you young men. It was fun to watch modern science prove him right, some 100+ years after he sharpened his first knife. He was a WWII vet, and the most intelligent man I've ever known.

YES! Looking at edges under a MICROSCOPE and using the sharpness tester is the way to demonstrate differences in sharpening technique. Thank you.

My grandfather taught me to sharpen the ax, hand saws, knives and chisels with a push strokes into the blades. I’ve always wondered about other motions and if one was better or worse. Thank you for the video and the up-close looks at these.

Love this deeper dive into the topic. Never heard anyone cover this, great video!

Excellent! Thank you. Love that you added the strop measurements, too.

You guys just sold me on a Knife sharpener, I was looking at different ones and this video solidly sold me on this product.

as a guy who loved to watch my grandpa sharpening knives to nowadays sharpening my own knives, I've been dying to know these answers, I love you guys

Enjoy these videos and being able to learn/geek out on sharpening! Thanks!

Thanks for this video very instructive. This is changing my mind on the way to sharpen with the Precision. Big Up Guys from France !

Got this kit a month ago. Did kitchen knives including paring knives. Love it. Wife happy. Thanks to the person who provided the summary of sharpness results. You need to to learn from him. Really pay attention. I’ll try push next time.

Good comparison, best sharpening video I've seen. Thanks...

WOW guys!!! Amazing, well done, this is easily one of the most complete and objective, no BS, and scientific knife sharpening videos I’ve seen. Even though I no longer use sharpening systems but prefer free hand whetstones, this has confirmed some things I’ve suspected for some time. In knifemaking, when hand sanding a blade, we always say one must never move to the next highest grit until all the previous grit size scratches have been removed. In the microscope view you can clearly still see some of the previous grits scratches between the higher grit finish on each step and even some scratches 2 step back. This would take longer to achieve “perfection” with no scratches of the previous grit sizes, but virtually impossible without a microscopic camera and constant monitoring, one wouldn’t be able to see it with the naked eye and probably won’t see a massive improvement in performance. Thanks, great video!

Great and Informative show...Thank you.

I thank you for this test it answered a lot of questions. I honestly believe that tyhe sweep method will deliver the "SHARPEST" edge, which is what we want. Thanks again.

Thank you so much for all this work ! I think the spoiler in this is the re clamping. So easy to be off 1-2 degrees. Yes clearly ending with stroping will help greatly to insure no wire edge left on the blades.

I've been doing the sweep method. Definitely going to switch to the push! Great video and testing process. This system is great!

Much needed review, thanks.

Thanks for the video, truly helped me to decide to go ahead and purchase the system. Really informative!

I just received my Precision Elite with upgrade kit yesterday. I started with the 220 and went through all the grits up to the strop. I must say I am highly impressed. Firstly this is an awesome device. My first two knives, a CamillusTitanium 440 and a Boker Magnum 420, I can now shave my hair off. I was as giddy as a school boy. I used the sawing method for each knife. I am extremely please with the Precision Elite and the results. I have never been able to get such a sharp edge on any knife I have owned. So the sawing method worked for me in the jig better than the downward stroke with any of the stones I have. Thanks for a great product.

I just bought that system with the help of watching your videos. I was able to get a knife extremely sharp the first day. I’m a total beginner, and it was super easy to use.

Super concise comparrisons. I'm new to this "skill" and that being said, I was guessing the "sweep" would be the motion I'd prefer. Your pics made that clear.

Thank you for making [IMHO] the definitive sharpening system "Technique" video.

I use a combination of techniques here, push and sweep to the tip then pull and sweep away from the tip thru all grits and it really seems to give a nice polished edge even before I strop.

Great video, I personally have always used the push method because that's how I learned especially when using a file but never put the different methods to the test,, thanks again ........

23 mins of knife sharpening with equipment I already own...how lucky did I get in the you tube algorithm lottery lol. Great vids guys you taught me a lot. Ps I have always been the saw or sweep guy. Saw to take off metal quick and sweep to finish it😎

For the final cutting test, I'd do it 5 times on each knife at different points on the blades then average the results.

Great video! I use saw to profile get rolls and chips. I push is a sweeping motion after the bevel is established. Last two stones are ceramic and I straight push. Then strop on white paste then straight leather. I learned some interesting things watching your video. I use a very similar guided system on my premium steel knives. Free hand my bigger fixed blades. Thanks for the interesting content.

On my fixed angle I do a push toward blade and sweep from heel to tip. Never tested the sharpness like you guys did, I do not have the equipment to test. My edges are extremely consistent, and because of consistency easy to duplicate results. Process is longer like you mentioned. I go from diamond plates, to natural stone to stropping. But to try I will try the sawing on an inexpensive blade to see how the toothier edge cuts. I mainly sharpen mid to high end pocket knives. Great video guys, thanks!

I was taught decades ago to sharpen a knife with the push method. It always made me wonder how good sawing is since that’s pretty much how every RU-vidr I’ve watched does it, but old dog new tricks kept me from learning a whole new method. I guess it’s for the best I didn’t pick up new habits lol.

Excellent! I'm 77 y o and a long time sharpener. I learned several things viewing your approach in this video. Much obliged! I would really like to see some results following stropping when you get to that stage.

Just used the Precision elite and it is really extraordinary. I am not a great stone user, or other sharpening methods that are out there. But your system is made for me. Real results right out of the box with some instruction. I found the back/forth method is best for me - it gets the job done fast and with no deficit. Do you make or plan to make parts or another version for larger - especially thicker knifes? Outstanding, really. Gregory

This video is SO helpful!!

I found that using my WS PA gives a much more regular edge that lasts longer. Sharpening by hand gave me would give a razor sharp knife, but the bevel would be rounded and go dull quicker. Love the system. Thanks guys for the video. In the end everyone will take what they want, adapt it and use it according to their. needs!

I've found for me, doing the sweep hilt to tip gives me the best results. Nice smooth and polished edge.

Thanks for this video. Interesting info and results. I will use this as I sharpen on my KME.

a mix. A push pull on the abrasive then on the fine and polish push only ,then strop with compound and leather. I have a ceramic stick and normally only use it for my larger knifes. GREAT vid thanks!

I’m a sawing guy and I am absolutely more than happy with the results I get in such a short amount of time. I will be a die hard worksharp fan for life. The highest quality and most available to anyone products on the market. Keep up the amazing work worksharp.

I will now used the sawing technique on the profiling stage, the pulling technique on the sharpening stage, and pushing technique on the final stages. Ty

Great video! Thank you

I'd like to see what they look like after they have been stroped with the green compound. That would seem to give the edge the best result for removing the burrs.

Now THIS is a good vid. Thank you

I use the sawing method and I love this sharpener

Thanks for the hard work in making this video! I wish you would have stropped them and sharp tested again.

Enjoyed this. Very informative. Three generations of pushing, to sharpen. I bought this sharpener 3 weeks ago and like it a lot. Very stable. I use the sweeping method to keep from eating too much material and to keep the edge centered. For me it is a game changer from a stone. I have been told a burr has to be made to sharpen a blade. I am still foggy on what a burr looks like. I have sharpened, from pocket knives to camping knives, all have a great edge. I will use the push method next round of sharpening. Thanks for the video. Keep them coming.

Although not to keen on the system itself , the test and diligent evaluation was well worth the watch …👍🏻

I really like the sawing motion for reprofiling/establishing an edge since it's a heck of a lot faster. I also use lapping films down to .5 micron though, and give 'em a few on a leather strop. My BESS tests usually come out to 110-150. Good to see that it puts a bit of tooth to the edge. It really helps when going through fibrous stuff like cardboard and rope.

I have been a Lansky user for many years, and I have just switched over to Work Sharp Tools. I was checking out a couple of your videos before I started to use your system. I have always used a push stroke with the Lansky and was glad that the saw method you originally showed was not the only option, and the push stroke seems to be the most effective.

Nice work guys! I tend to buy high end steels and find that dome have larger carbides than others. These carbides can be pulled out in a pull stroke leaving gaps in the edge. So I always push stroke with one exception… when reprofiling a hard blade I will saw stroke to save time when starting out with my coarsest stone. (I use diamond stones in the first three passes, then ceramic then sapphire) Once I’ve laid in the new profile with that coarse stone I push stroke the remainder. Been doing this with my original Lansky clamp for some 25 years. Love the “zip lock” effect a scalpel sharp knife offers!

I've been using the "saw" method but may start using the first one yall used next time I sharpen my knife

Awesome video!!

I believe different steels will respond with very different results in method. Especially true with High V steels such as S110V. I agree about stropping altering the outcome on the BESS Tester. I was just dieing to see you guys strop these knives and restesting. Well done.

Nicely done guys! I discussed this in my 2-year old, very amateur, RU-vid video, using several of my angle-controlled sharpening systems, including my PRECISION ADJUST KNIFE SHARPENER - ELITE™ SUBQUENTLY, life got really busy, and I didn't post my followup. I found was using the "sawing" motion was OK with profiling and repair, followed by using the push method, finishing with "Pull Motion" stropping, consistently produced the sharpest edges with some noticeable decrease in time required. Try it and see if it works for you. Lastly, I've experimented with the "Swirl Pattern" on my larger sharpening system, using 6" stones. Its results seem comparable with the push method be yields a mirror finish without the cutting streaks, pitting, etc. I demo the Swirl Mode on my video. Stay Sharp. BTW, these days I'm a Ken Onion System fan for profiling and repair, followed by the PROFESSIONAL PRECISION ADJUST™KNIFE SHARPENER for the final edge. Your milage is guaranteed to vary.

We need more grits. In between 320 and 600 and between 600 and ceramic. Blotchy edges

I think a combo of styles will serve one well. I was sharpening a broadhead while watching this. I had a ceramic hone on and I switched from "sawing" to"pushing" to "pulling with a sweep" and WOW!

I just bought one of these and was wondering what is the best technique. This is fabulous video thank you guys

Always finish by stroking into the blade will take most of the burr off, but pulling leaves more burr. Try it on a grinder, away leaves a huge burr, but into it hardly leaves a burr at all. I always finish with longer sweeping strokes into the edge. I've been doing this by hand for 50 years, I've got it perfected pretty well. Because I'm doing it by hand it leaves a slightly convex edge. Edit; btw scalpels are sharpened to 600-800 grit.

Great video! I would’ve liked to have seen you do the test more than once for each knife.

On my system, which I progress through at least 6 stones, I use the saw technique for profiling and the next lowest grit. I then use the sweeping technique for the rest all the way up to ceramics. I find you get a mirror edge far faster and nicer, with the sweep on your highest grits.

Your videos are very useful, but this series (Push vs Pull) is the has the greatest utility. By altering my approach to using saw method for reprofiling, then switching to push method for sharpening and finally stropping my sharpness increased substantially (hairs pop off my arm). Your approach using the microscope and BESS tester takes the guesswork out of “which is sharpest” and most importantly “Why”. Well done gentlemen!

I really like the sawing motion for reprofiling/establishing an edge since it's a heck of a lot faster.

OMG, that opening scene had me on the floor rolling.

Great vid. Im learning before I buy that sharpener. Thanks guys.

Thank you for chapters

I use the same sharpener and I use the saw method when using the roughest stone. The finest grit stone that I end up with is done in a push method followed by the strop. Seems to work well.

The aftermarket vice support is the best thing for consistency because the vice block moves the harder you push.

My takeaway is that you should finish every grit each side without unclamping. You need to redo this with 4 sharpeners so you don't have to ever unclamp a knife before finishing the side. The course grit will remove enough material to have full contact with the sharpened surface then finer grits will clean up the edge but for best results you need to maintain very exact contact through every grit.

Angle dad always wants a chisel angle profile,me I like all kinds for different blade types,his chisel edge really seems to work for WORK

Push it is than. Thanks for the info, I had been using the saw method

After a burr has developed and you flip the knife, I think it is important to do an initial pull stroke before "sawing". In my experience this prevents the burr from folding over or breaking off prematurely.

I have been doing the sawing method to get the profile I want, and finishing each grit with the pushing method.

I love everything about this

I found for me I get a nicer edge ending each grit pushing into the blade. I use a kme but it's the same concept.

I have the worksharp field sharpener and I use the pull method because it’s easier to feel the burr and know which areas need attention. Gets me sharp enough to do what I need- I’m not a butcher or a surgeon so I’m good. Might still get the precision adjust to get a little more consistentt

Knife 2 got a wire burr from the pull method where the burr just goes back and forth. This happens when sharpening on sandpaper pulling the knife back so you don’t cut the paper. You have to lightly draw the blade across something to knock the burr off a few times then check you edge and go from there. Otherwise you’ll be chasing the burr back and forth.

Excellent video comparison here, you could measure the push pull + sweep forward and sweep back as thats how a chef would usually sharpen depending on whether they are pushing or pulling through food, But, it's still easy to see a pushing sweep is going to give the cleanest results as long as you have a good sweep angle consistency, elsewise, just push and you're golden mostly.

What make/model USB scope is used here ? In my experience, edge leading (with stones) will provide least amount of bur and best end result. With lower grits, plateau sharpening will reduce edge damage during sharpening.

I'm right-handed, and I find I push left and pull right. Every 180° flip is done the same way. Thanks, y'all, for the information on my new toy. The Work Sharp Elite is a sharp product. Bladie Mae is pleased, too.🎶🇨🇱

The BESS test measures sharpness for push cuts but which knife is the best slicer? I would think a toothy edge makes for good slicing and I've started putting that on all my working knives.

The results and video of the knife motion make me think the push works best with the clamp. The clamp is very stable but the saw action seems to move the blade the most. I will probably push to finish knives now. The saw action could still be used to reprofile before switching to push only. Love this sharpener and haven't had a bad result yet.

This has always been the $65,000 question since aided sharpening systems have evolved and I was glued to the video from start to finish. It certainly answered a few of the majors, but it also certainly raised a few more minors, most of which have been addressed in some of the comments here. It would’ve been very interesting to see if stropping would’ve made a big difference right at the end to satisfy most of the those outstanding questions, because even you guys wondered that! The fact that clamping stays firmly clamped from start to finish and on this system only rotates is a wonderful facet of this unique system but somehow don’t feel that carrying on grits without turning would make such a big a difference for me personally to note and I might get lost in the process, plus I like to personally progress both sides to the end. Very, very interesting indeed though and think that most folk gravitating to this particular video have asked the same question for years and will come out of this leaning one way or the other but wondering about a strop finish. However, I personally came out of this once again to my own mind, deciding I will continue the push and always strop at the end. I also now take photographs of the clamped blade so that I can replicate to the best of my ability the same exact clamping as the last time on a particular knife. I have so many knives, plus kitchen knives, that I have to do that because I don’t remember exactly where I clamped the blade on each. Thank you for this and now it’s back to what is the secret to the universe?

Thanks for making this video guys. I’m interested to see what the results are after stropping each one.

So, what was the device yall used to measure the sharpness? I am interested in that. Great video by the way !!

Would like for you to try my Grandads old technique, which is in a circular motion. I use it and it sharpens on wet stones pretty well.

When using mine I use the sawing at lower grits on edges that need work or reprofiling and need to move metal quick. Once I get to my higher grit rod (the one that’s 600, 800 and ceramic) I switch over to the push only. Then I always finish on my strop.

Subscribed just after seeing the intro!

Jungs, das hat mir so gut gefallen. Das war so schön für mich.

I'm proud to say that I just sharpend my M390 steel blade from lionsteel TRE in the Green G-10 and I just put the best edge I've ever put on a knife I've owned. In my life.

The sharpening you get guys seems exotic to me ... No matter how i try never was able to correctly sharpen my tools knives scisels seasors - you name it ... Lately i got another issue with the Krks knife of Spyderco ... I don't even care to attempt and same stands for my first edition Lumm Tanto that love it's blade but never been close to sharpening tools ... For the Lumm tanto I plan a change of handle to some good material and correct proportions along with a sheath to match the Tanto design - I find the leather one definately not right for the knife... I got some ideas but a specialist would have to do the custom job .. But sharpening wise ... Could you suggest anything for the Kris ??? And about serrated bladds ???? What could one do tbere ???? Thanks for the workshops guys - a wealth of info there provided you got the stomach to try on a knife you love and might wreck...

Appreciate this video because I just bought this product and my edge wasn't looking too great using that sawing method.

Edge leading, spine to edge scratch pattern. Pull strokes can refine maxamet. X strokes regrind and reduce burr. If you’re not contacting the edge, the pattern doesn’t matter. Sweeping strokes maximize draw cutting, but make push cutting a nightmare. This is incredibly nuanced gentlemen. The best overall for me is perpendicular to the edge scratches. 12 degree back bevel, 17-20 degree microbevel.

The best intro ever.

This is just my kind of nerdery -- actual testing with measurements and photographic evidence... what a concept! (Opinions are for politicians.) Though I agree with the other comments that suggest keeping each knife in their own clamp for the duration of the testing for better consistency. Thanks for sharing this very enlightening information.

Just got this sharpener for Christmas from my son. He and I both use Emerson knives with a chisel grind vs a “V” grind. What’s the proper technique for sharpening a chisel grind edge with this sharpener?

This was really good

Not sure how easy it is to do on this sharpening system but on mine(Kazak UBR) every time I switch a stone I raise the angle 0.1 degree or so. That guarantees I hit the apex and get rid of the previous scratch pattern. I also use more grits of stones and better and more expensive(considering each stones costs as much if not more than your whole system) stones. Also I think reclamping played a big affect in the results. Next time I think you should just do all the finishes on the knife at the same time or put tape on the blade and draw an outline around the clamp so you know where to reclamp it. Great video, very insightful. Your system is a great value for its price and should help more people get into sharpening who can't afford multi hundred dollar systems.

Fantastic video. I learned a lot and love my Worksharp Precision Adjust!!!! My question is, which method wears down your stones quicker? I want sharp knives but not at the cost of burning through my stones.

Interesting results guys. I have a different perspective having honed straight razors for many years. They are far sharper than any knife and yet all strokes on the water stones after setting the bevel is a push motion all the way up to the Naniwa 12,000 super stone or the Shapton 30,000 glass on certain razors that actually benefit from it.

Really looks like the push is the best. It was quite a bit sharper than the others. Thanks this was helpful. After sharpening. I use 3M lapping films to produce mirror edges. 🔪🎸

Great Video. Interesting to see blade edges through a microscope. Been sharpening knives for over 65 years and have tried nearly every system out there except the real expensive ones. Lansky is my favorite economic sharpener but I prefer the freehand method. If I can get my knives sharp enough to shave and even sometimes to split a hair; well that’s sharp enough for me. Also sometimes I don’t want a paper thin edge as it dulls too quickly on some materials. Freehand is a skill that takes some practice but once you master it freehand is faster and takes less stones. I switched to diamond and ceramic, and leather strop and never looked back.