Fillet Knife Sharpener Comparison Table

How Does a Fillet Knife Sharpener Work?

Knife sharpeners work by using abrasive materials to restore a blade's edge. It rubs off the old metal to expose the new sharper metal. There are a few different reasons why your fillet knife might not be cutting like it used to. You can feel the difference when you try to slice through your catch of the day, but it’s hard to tell the exact problem.

If you zoom into the knife’s edge, you will sometimes find that the blade will have small dents or rubbed off metal. These issues can be remedied by sharpening, so grab your sharpener and start pulling through.

On the other hand, honing should be used when a knife blade is simply dull. There aren’t any visible chips, but the metal has become worn down. To hone your knife, simply use your sharpening rod and place the blade at the same angle and slide down.

Choosing a Quality Fillet Knife Sharpener

Manual vs. Electric

Whether you’re old or new school, you will need to decide on a manual or electric fillet knife sharpener. Electric knife sharpeners are generally more expensive. They require less effort on the user’s part since the electric models help with pull through. They often have more features and functions to get a perfect edge.

Manual fillet knife sharpeners are generally much cheaper. They are much easier to carry out on the boat with you. They do require more precision on the user’s part. Many anglers believe that a manual fillet knife sharpener gives them more angle options.

Number of Stages

Abrasiveness

There are different levels of coarseness to the knife sharpeners that I will review below. Depending on how dull your blade is, you may need a very abrasive sharpener. Tungsten carbide is one of the most abrasive materials used in knife sharpeners. It is used to sharpen very rough edge blades. Natural stones are not nearly as abrasive. They are used to sharpen already somewhat sharp blades. Diamond-coated sharpeners will put a clean, sharp edge on most blades.

Build Quality and Ease of Use

When it comes to your new fillet knife sharpener, you want it to be simple, safe, and durable. You want your fillet knife to be razor-sharp within minutes to carve up your fish fillets. Most of the knife sharpeners that I have reviewed below are made of high-quality materials such as stainless steel and polyethylene plastic.

Ease of Cleaning and Storage

You should always clean your fillet knife sharpener after each use. Most of the models that I have suggested below are simple to clean. You can do so by using a mild scrub brush or a damp cloth. Electric sharpeners are harder to clean since they have electrical components. Don't use water to clean electrical sharpeners. You should always check the instruction manual before cleaning. Store your knife sharpener in a cool, dry place when not in use.

Price and Warranty

In the buyer’s guide below, I have included a knife sharpener to fit every angler’s budget. If you are searching for a budget model, then I recommend sticking to a manual sharpener. The products below all include a warranty, so ensure that you register your product with the manufacturer to activate it.

1. Presto 08800 EverSharp

If you are looking for the best option to sharpen your fillet knife quickly, then this model will give you everything that you need. I named the Presto EverSharp device as our top pick for keeping your fishing knives razor-sharp.

The Presto EverSharp is an electrical model, so it is not as portable as manual sharpeners. Keep this in mind if you are planning to take your sharpener out on the water with you. It features an impressive 2-stage sharpening system. In the first stage, the machine guided sharpening blades allow you to grind your fillet knife to the perfect angled edge. In the second stage, this Presto model will finely hone and polish the knife’s edge. It includes suction cups to hold the sharpener in place.

This model was extremely easy to use. I just had to plug it in, and the machine took care of the rest. I don't recommend taking it out on the boat with you, so sharpen your knives before you leave the house. The Sapphirite coated blades worked amazingly well.

2. Chef’s Choice 320 Diamond Hone FlexHone

If you’ve decided on an electric unit to give your knives their cutting edge, then this model is worth checking out. I named the Chef’s Choice 320 as the best electric fillet knife sharpener on the market. It features a durable diamond coating that will sharpen up even the dullest knife in your tackle box.

The Chef’s Choice electric sharpener features a 2-stage system that allows you to sharpen at the first stage and hone at the second stage. This model is capable of sharpening almost any knife you have. You can sharpen our fillet knife, fish boning knife, and even your serrated blades. This unit includes elastomeric feet that keep it securely in place.

The precise diamond coated disks apply optimal pressure for tempering the edge of your knife into the perfect V-shape. Since it is an electric model, I wouldn’t recommend taking it out on the water during a fishing trip.  One thing that I found particularly great about this model was the fact that I could also sharpen my serrated blades. There are not many models that can sharpen both smooth and serrated edges. Since most electric fillet knives have serrated blades, this was a nice bonus.

3. Messermeister

If you are looking for a classic rod style sharpener to add to your collection, then check out this fantastic product from Messermeister. I chose this model as the best ceramic fish fillet knife sharpener available. It comes in a classic design that you operate manually, so taking it out on the boat is no problem.

This Messermeister model features 1200 grit ceramic abrasive, which is perfect for maintaining the edge on your knives. This knife sharpener is less abrasive than the previous two models I reviewed. It is more suited to simply maintaining a fillet knife rather than reshaping it. It features a comfortable handle and a hanging hook for storage.

It is durable and straightforward to clean with a damp cloth. I can be quite old fashioned when it comes to maintaining my knives, so I loved using this ceramic rod as my go-to when on the water. I liked that I could take it out on the boat with me for a quick tune-up before slicing. I enjoyed the easy to use design.

4. Work Sharp Culinary E5

Some customers may be looking for the best available product on the market. The Work Sharp E5 is the top of the range knife sharpener for all of your knives. It is an electric belt style sharpener just like that pros use. It is ideal for anglers who use their fillet knives often to slice up their daily hauls.

The Work Sharp E5 comes with three pieces of 120 grit ceramic sharpening belts. It includes a separate ceramic sharpening rod that is perfect for keeping your knife in shape to carve up your fish fillets. This model does all of the work for you with pre-programmed settings. You simply pick your cycle, and the machine will cycle through sharpening, honing, and polishing in minutes.

This Work Sharp model is a dream to use. I enjoyed using pre-programmed settings for different knives. I liked that I could also sharpen my serrated blades with this machine. The included ceramic rod is a fantastic addition. I keep the ceramic rod on my boat and the electric sharpener at home. 

While it may be more expensive than other models, I think it is worth the money as well.

5. PriorityChef

Everyone loves a bargain. As an angler, sometimes we can be quite tough on our tools, which means we need to replace them frequently. This model from Priority Chef is the most popular cheap model on the market, and I can see why. It is simple and easy to use for anyone. It is a manual tabletop model that is perfect for sharpening your favorite fillet knife.

The Priority Chef model comes with diamond-coated sharpening wheels that sharpen any dull blade. It is quite abrasive, so I recommend using this on knives that are damaged or very dull. It comes with a non-slip bottom so that it will stay in place when you are pulling your knives through. This model can be taken with you on the go, as long as you have a surface to set it on when sharpening.

One thing I liked about this model was the simplicity and design. I thought the 2-stage system worked incredibly well for a manual machine. I was able to bring it out in the field with me, but I had to find a very stable surface to use it at the cleaning stations.

6. Wusthof (2922)

If you’re searching for a budget friendly option that you can travel around with, then this product is perfect for you. The Wusthof model is the best inexpensive knife sharpener available. It is a manual and portable 2-stage system that will keep your knives sharp even while out on the water.

The Wusthof model features a 2-stage system consisting of ceramic and carbide sharpening abrasives. The first step is coarse and will give your blade a brand new edge by removing the old and dull metal. The second step is fine ceramic, which will hone and polish the new edge. The sharpener is preset to a 14-degree angle to ensure that it will work well with your fillet knife before use.

One feature that I liked about this model was how inexpensive it was for such high-quality. I also enjoyed the portability. I kept it on my boat for a while so that I could quickly grab it from storage when I made a new catch that needed cleaning.

The convenience factor for this model is unmatched.

7. LINKYO Electric

The most important thing to remember when shopping is that value is different than cost. The best value item may cost slightly more, but the performance is worth every penny. I chose the LINKYO Electric as the best value for money knife sharpener on the market. It performs amazingly well for the price.

The LINKYO Electric model comes with a 2-stage sharpening system similar to the models a have reviewed above. The first stage has a coarse diamond-coated sharpening blade for reshaping the angle of your fish fillet knife. The second stage will polish the edge so that it will remain sharp for longer. This device comes with suction cups to keep it grounded, just like product number one that I reviewed. It features waste receptacles that catch all of the metal shavings. 

One feature that I thought was really cool was the bins under the machine that catch the metal shavings. It's a unique feature that comes in handy. I wouldn't recommend taking this one out to sea with you, but it's great for home use.

8. Lanksy 4-Stone Deluxe Diamond System

9. Chef’s Choice 15 Trizor XV

Sometimes two stages of sharpening are just not enough. If you want to fine-tune your sharpening skills, then this model will be ideal for you. The Chef’s Choice 15 Trizor is the best 3 stage fillet knife sharpener available. It features two stages for sharpening and honing and one stage for advanced stropping and polishing.

This Chef’s Choice model, like other products in this buyer’s guide, is an electric model. I wouldn’t recommend carrying it with you while fishing, but sharpening your knives at home is a breeze. The sharpening edges are coated with diamond abrasives in different grits. The first stage is the most coarse and used for reshaping. The second stage is used to hone and fine-tune the blade. The last stage will polish the blade to maintain its edge. You can sharpen your fillet knife in under two minutes.

I liked that this sharpener was one of the only 3-stage models that I tried. I was impressed with the advanced stropping technology. When I removed my fillet knife from stage three, it looked almost brand new. I also liked that I could sharpen my serrated knives.

10. Work Sharp Guided Field

As avid anglers, we are often in the field. Sometimes we are offshore on a fishing excursion or out on our boats in the lake. We need a fillet knife sharpener that caters to field use. The Work Sharp Guided Field is the most easy to use non electric knife sharpener you can find. It is the complete compact sharpening tool for anglers.

This Work Sharp model is compact enough to fit into your fishing vest or tackle box. It comes with two different diamond-coated sharpening stones. One is for coarse sharpening, and the other is for fine. It comes with a ceramic rod for fine-tuning your fillet knife. For the last stage of sharpening, it features a leather strop to polish your knife edge. It comes with guided angle options of 20 and 25 degrees. The 20-degree option is ideal for fillet knives.

I thought that this model was perfect for fishing enthusiasts. I was able to drop it into my tackle box and use it on the boat. I liked the 5 stage system for sharpening my fillet knife. I thought it was straightforward to use and quite inexpensive. It is also made in the USA, so the quality is superb.

The 2 Types of Sharpeners

Care and Maintenance

Now that you’ve chosen the fillet knife sharpener that is best suited to your needs, you need to be able to maintain it over time. There are different methods for both electric and manual models. Follow the guidelines below to increase the life of your knife sharpener.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What is the best way to sharpen a fillet knife?

You should follow the instructions on your new fillet knife sharpener before use to determine the best way. If you are using a sharpening stone or rod, then hold the sharpener at the correct angle and swipe the knife along the edge away from your body.

What is the best angle to sharpen a fillet knife?

I recommend sharpening your fillet knife at about a 20-degree angle. This is the best angle for ensuring that your knife will maintain an edge. It is also a good middle ground so that your knife will be sharp, but not too thin.

Do you push or pull when sharpening a knife?

If using a manual sharpening stone or rod, then you will swipe the knife in a downward motion. If you are using a pull through manual sharpener, then you will always pull the knife gently.

How do you sharpen a serrated fillet knife?

I recommend using a small ceramic sharpening rod for sharpening each individual tooth of the serrated knife. Many of the electric models above will sharpen serrated blades with machine guided precision.

Can you sharpen fillet knives using a whetstone?

Yes. Sharpening with a whetstone is more time consuming and precise, but it is an excellent method for getting the perfect edge. If you are unfamiliar with sharpening, then I recommend using a guided device first. 

Can you sharpen a fillet knife well with the Lansky product on our list?

Yes. The Lanksy fillet knife sharpening kit is ideal for people who want a 5-stage system. It gives you the ultimate control over your blade’s edge. It also includes the 20-degree angle guide, which is ideal for fillet knives.

Can you sharpen a fillet knife with steel?

Yes. Most of the products on our list contain steel blades coated in a micro-abrasive material such as diamond or ceramic. Check the instructions that come with your fillet knife before sharpening with steel.

What is the best fillet knife sharpening tool for beginners?

Many of the electric knife sharpeners in the buyer’s guide above are great for beginners since they require minimal effort or knowledge of sharpening. The machine takes care of the work for you. I recommend the Presto model above for easy sharpening for beginners.

Are there any special fillet knife sharpening techniques that I should know about?

Conclusion