About 100 sharpenings per disc side. That is the figure Work Sharp lists for the P120 ceramic disc inside the Work Sharp E2 electric kitchen knife sharpener, and it frames everything else about this unit. Roughly 200 sharpenings per disc, and a replacement disc costs about $13, so the running cost is close to nothing.
The E2 is a small, cheap, fixed angle electric that sharpens at 20 degrees per side, then hones on a ceramic wheel. A built in timer shuts the motor off so you cannot grind a blade away. It also handles serrated knives and scissors, which most electrics under $90 do not.
It suits a block of ordinary Western kitchen knives and an owner who wants zero decisions. It does not suit 15 degree Japanese knives, badly damaged edges, or anyone who wants a polished finish straight off the machine.
What the E2 is called now, and what it actually is
Amazon listings and older boxes call this the Work Sharp Culinary E2. The maker’s own site now lists it as the Kitchen Electric Knife Sharpener, SKU CPE2. It is the same unit, so do not read the rename as a new model.
You may also see an E2 Plus mentioned in retail listings. The Plus added the scissor guide, and the current box includes that guide as standard. So the Plus distinction appears to have been folded into the base product, though we could not confirm whether a separate Plus SKU is still sold.
The maker’s page lists the price just under $90, a 3 year warranty, and assembly in Ashland, Oregon. Weight is around 1.2 pounds, which is light enough to live in a drawer. For where it sits in the wider range, see our guide to the belt and disc models Work Sharp makes.
The two stages: P120 ceramic disc, then a honing wheel
Stage one is a spinning ceramic abrasive disc rated at P120 grit. Angle guides hold the blade at 20 degrees per side while you draw it through. The disc is double sided, and the maker rates each side at roughly 100 sharpenings.
Stage two is a separate fine ceramic honing wheel. It cleans up the coarse edge the disc leaves and realigns it. The same wheel hones serrations, which is how the E2 handles bread knives.
The motor is a low speed, cool running type, and a built in timer stops it automatically. One dealer listing puts the cycle at about 90 seconds. The maker’s page only says automatic timer, so treat the 90 second figure as a dealer number rather than a spec.
P120 is coarse. On soft supermarket stainless it removes metal quickly and gets a dull knife cutting again in a couple of passes. Enthusiasts would call the result toothy rather than refined, and that is a tradeoff to accept, not a defect.
There is no grit selection on the E2. The Presto EverSharp and the Chef’sChoice Trizor XV both give you a coarse and a fine abrasive stage, while the E2 gives you one coarse disc plus honing. For pass counts and pressure, read the right way to feed a knife through an electric slot.
Why the fixed 20 degree angle decides who should buy it
The E2 has one angle, 20 degrees per side, and you cannot change it. That matches most German and American kitchen knives, and it matches the cheap block sets sold in every big box store. For those knives the E2 is a match.
Japanese style knives are usually ground closer to 15 degrees per side. Run one through the E2 and it will regrind the bevel to 20 degrees, so the edge gets thicker and loses some of the slicing feel you paid for. The maker does not say this plainly, so we will.
If your drawer mixes both styles, an adjustable machine or a stone routine serves you better. The manual angle basics for a mixed knife drawer explain how to hold either bevel by hand.
Serrated knives and scissors
This is the feature that separates the E2 from other budget electrics. The fine ceramic honing wheel hones the scalloped edge of a serrated knife without flattening the teeth. It will not restore a badly chipped bread knife, but it brings a tired one back.
The included scissor guide holds shears at the correct angle against the disc. Owner reviews call this a genuine bonus, since a separate scissor sharpener is one more gadget most kitchens never buy.
Disc life and running cost
The maker rates each disc side at about 100 sharpenings, so roughly 200 per disc. A replacement disc costs about $13 on the maker’s site. For a home cook sharpening six knives once a month, one disc lasts close to three years.
The honing wheel is a separate part, and we could not confirm whether it is sold as a replacement on its own. Budget for the disc and treat the wheel as a lifetime part until proven otherwise.
What owners praise and what they complain about
The praise is consistent. Owners call it cheap, tiny, and quick, and the phrase set it and forget it comes up over and over because of the timer. They like that it sharpens serrations and scissors, and several mention the Oregon assembly.
The complaints are just as consistent. The plastic body feels cheap, and one review on the maker’s own page notes the casing scratches and chips easily. The single fixed angle and the single coarse grit are the two recurring functional gripes, summed up as 20 degree only.
Owners also say the E2 is not the tool for a very dull or damaged blade, since the small disc and timer limit each cycle. The recurring line in cross shopping threads is that the E5 is the real one.
Work Sharp E2 electric kitchen knife sharpener vs E5, Presto, and Trizor XV
The Work Sharp E2 electric kitchen knife sharpener competes with three machines in practice. The Presto EverSharp undercuts it on price and the Work Sharp E5 is the in family step up. The Chef’sChoice Trizor XV is the spend more and get a real 15 degree three stage system option.
| Model | Type | Best for | Price band | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Sharp E2 | Ceramic disc + honing wheel, 20 degrees | Cheap Western knives, serrations, scissors | $$ | |
| Work Sharp E5 | Belt, programs, more control | Mixed knives, more angles | $$$ | Price |
| Presto 08800 EverSharp | Two stage electric | Lowest cost, basic knives | $ | Price |
| Chef’sChoice Trizor XV | Three stage diamond, 15 degrees | Refined edges, Japanese and Western knives | $$$ | Price |
Work Sharp Culinary E5
Upgrade Pick
Belt abrasives | adjustable programs | more money than the E2
The E5 is what owners mean when they say the E5 is the real one. It swaps the single ceramic disc for belts and adds programs that give you more control over the edge. That control is the whole reason to pay more.
Buy it if your knives are worth more than the machine, or if you want more than one angle. Skip it if your block is cheap stainless and you would never touch a setting anyway. In that case the E2 does the same job for less.
Pros
- Belt system cuts faster than a small disc
- Programs give real control over the edge
- Same brand, same Oregon story
Cons
- Costs considerably more than the E2
- Belts are a pricier consumable than discs
Presto 08800 EverSharp
Cheapest Option
Two stage electric | coarse and fine | under the E2 on price
The Presto is the machine the E2 most often gets cross shopped against. It gives you a coarse stage and a fine stage, which the E2 does not, and it costs less. It does not hone serrations or sharpen scissors.
It is a fair pick for a drawer of cheap knives where the budget stops at the lowest number. The recurring complaint is a rougher, less consistent edge than pricier units. We cover it fully in our Presto EverSharp verdict and owner report roundup.
Pros
- Lowest price of the four
- Two abrasive stages instead of one
- Simple to use
Cons
- No serrated or scissor capability
- Owner reports mention inconsistent edges
Chef’sChoice Trizor XV EdgeSelect 15
Best Premium
Three stage diamond | 15 degree conversion | well above the E2 on price
The Trizor XV is the answer when the E2’s fixed 20 degrees and single coarse grit are the problem. It takes knives down to 15 degrees through three stages and finishes far cleaner than a P120 disc. It handles both Japanese and Western knives.
Buy it if you own knives you care about and want a polished edge without stones. Skip it if you only own a cheap block set, because you would be paying for refinement those knives cannot hold.
Pros
- 15 degree three stage system
- Diamond abrasives and a cleaner finish
- Suits a mixed knife drawer
Cons
- Costs several times what the E2 does
- Converts every knife to 15 degrees whether you want that or not
Who should buy the E2, and who should skip it
Buy the Work Sharp E2 electric kitchen knife sharpener if you own a block of German, American, or house brand knives ground at 20 degrees. Buy it if you want a timer to do the thinking, and if serrated knives and scissors are on your list. Buy it if a rough but sharp edge is fine because you cook, not collect.
Skip it if you own 15 degree Japanese knives, because it will regrind them. Skip it if your knives are badly chipped or truly dull, since the small disc and timer limit each cycle. Skip it if plastic construction bothers you, because the body is the most common complaint.
Not sure which side you fall on? Our selector that asks about your knives, not your budget settles it quickly. For the wider field of disc, belt, and diamond machines, see our ranking of electric units by knife type and finish.
The bottom line: The Work Sharp E2 electric kitchen knife sharpener is a cheap, tiny, timer controlled machine that does one angle, one grit, and honing, plus serrations and scissors. For a block of ordinary Western knives it is the least fussy electric under $90. For Japanese knives or a refined edge, spend more on the Trizor XV or step up to the E5.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Work Sharp E2 discontinued?
No. The maker’s site still sells it in stock, though it is now listed as the Kitchen Electric Knife Sharpener with SKU CPE2 rather than as the E2. Amazon and older packaging still use the E2 name.
What is the difference between the E2 and the E2 Plus?
The Plus added a scissor sharpening guide. The current maker box includes that guide as standard, so the distinction appears to have been absorbed into the base unit. We could not confirm whether a separate Plus SKU is still sold.
Does the E2 hone as well as sharpen?
Yes. Stage one grinds on the P120 ceramic disc and stage two hones on a fine ceramic wheel. The honing wheel also hones serrated edges.
Can I use the E2 on Japanese knives?
You can, but it will regrind a 15 degree bevel to 20 degrees per side. The knife gets a thicker, more durable edge and loses some slicing feel. The Trizor XV or a stone routine suits those knives better.
How many knives can one disc sharpen?
The maker lists about 100 sharpenings per side, so roughly 200 per double sided disc. Replacement discs cost about $13 on the maker’s site. Hard steels wear the disc faster according to owner reports.
How long is the warranty?
The maker lists a 3 year warranty. The unit is designed and assembled in Ashland, Oregon.
Sources
- Work Sharp: Kitchen Electric Knife Sharpener (E2), product page with specifications and warranty. https://worksharptools.com/products/electric-kitchen-knife-sharpener