See the Chef’s Choice 120 Diamond Hone 3-Stage Professional Knife Sharpener at Amazon.
I consider the Model 120 as the flagship model in the entire line. It is premium quality at a price point that is just above average.
The result is a high value compared to the cost.
Chef’s Choice knife sharpeners are made by the EdgeCraft Corporation out of Avondale, Pennsylvania.
They make a variety of equipment for home and commercial kitchens aside from their line of knife sharpeners, including cutlery, food slicers, waffle makers, and hot beverage appliances.
They were founded in 1984 and right out of the gates, EdgeCraft released the Chef’s Choice line of electric sharpeners and have remained a powerhouse in the electric knife sharpening arena.
Chef’s Choice Edge Select Pro Electric Sharpener M120
This is a professional grade knife sharpener and boasts three sharpening stages
This review will focus on one of the premier electric knife sharpeners on the market, the Chef’s Choice 120 Diamond Hone 3-Stage Professional Knife Sharpener.
This is a professional grade knife sharpener and boasts three sharpening stages, included 100% coated discs in the first two stages (Stage 1 and Stage 2).
This sharpener has the capability to sharpen standard, straight-edged knives as well as serrated knives, like bread knives or some steak knives.
The final and finest stage, Stage 3, can be considered a stropping or polishing stage which is patented by EdgeCraft.
This final stage guarantees a finely honed sharpness for your knives.
Chef’s Choice 120 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener – Brushed Metal
The Stages – When to use each stage…
It will be important to use the right stage for your knife sharpening tasks.
Learn about how to test whether your knives are sharp.
Stage 1 is used for excessively worn, dull, or damaged knives.
Stage 3 is also the one to use for your serrated knife sharpening needs
Stage 1 has the coarsest 100% diamond coated discs and will remove the most metal so you should only use this stage when it is truly needed. Stage 2 can be used for your routine sharpening tasks and is less coarse than Stage 1.
Stage 2 also uses diamond coated discs and at a slightly different angle which creates another bevel for added durability.
Learn all about knife sharpening angles.
Stage 3 is made of a flexible abrasive and only removes a fraction of the metal that Stages 1 and 2 remove. Stage 3 provides the stropping and honing that your knife needs as the final stage of sharpening. Stage 3 is also the one to use for your serrated knife sharpening needs.
See the Chef’s Choice 120 Diamond Hone 3-Stage Professional Knife Sharpener at Amazon
What kind of knives…
The M120 is a highly versatile sharpener and can handle any sharpening task for high-quality gourmet knives, butcher knives, sporting knives, pocket knives, survival knives, and serrated knives.
For butcher knives, pocket knives, sporting knives, and, survival knives, I would recommend using Stage 1 and 2 in many cases.
The slightly coarser grit and grind that is provided by Stage 1 and 2 can make the blades have a better “bite” which can be helpful depending on the task.
Pros and Cons
The overall consensus from customers is that this sharpener works like a charm if it’s used properly.
In my opinion complaints about poor sharpening is because the user did not follow the instructions for optimum use.
I mean knife sharpening isn’t rocket science but it’s essential to use the sharpener properly.
It’s worth noting here that if you have knives that have an edge with an angle less than 20° (like a Japanese Style Santuko at 17°) that this sharpener may not be the best choice.
