Chef's Choice 120 Knife Sharpener Frequently Asked Questions 1. The price of Chef's Choice seems high, why should I buy this sharpener? The Chef's Choice EdgeSelect Model 120 is a precision machine designed to deliver unsurpassed sharpening satisfaction and last for a long, long time. It will do a much better job of sharpening than a steel (cost $30-$40), stones (cost $30-$70) or professional sharpening services. (The average home has about 10 knives and professional sharpening services can charge up to $10.00 per knife).

The Chef's Choice 120 is the only electric knife sharpener recommended by cutlery experts, leading professional chefs and the leading consumer report magazine for sharpening quality cutlery. It is the best 3 stage electric sharpener on the market.

Less expensive sharpeners do not work, can harm knives or leave them dull. The Model 120 incorporates 100% diamond coated disks in the first 2 sharpening stages and a patented stropping/polishing stage 3 that guarantee an astonishingly sharp edge. There is no other sharpener that will do as fine a job on straight edge and serrated knives as a Chef's Choice Model 120.

2. Is the Chef's Choice 120 knife sharpener designed for use in commercial kitchens?
While the Chef's Choice 120 sharpener will sharpen commercial cutlery effectively, it is designed and warranted for household use only. Because usage in commercial kitchens is normally much higher than at home, we recommend two knife sharpeners designed specifically to meet the needs of commercial kitchens - the Model 2000. Several of our manual sharpeners are also excellent for "touch-ups" in the commercial kitchen environment.

3. Is it safe to sharpen expensive cutlery with the Chef's Choice Model 120?
Yes. The Chef's Choice Model 120 will safely sharpen expensive or inexpensive cutlery. It will sharpen knives manufactured from the hardest alloys, such as Chef's Choice Trizor® Professional Cutlery.

4. Will the Chef'sChoice® Model 120 cause excessive wear to my knives?
No. Ninety-eight percent of your re-sharpening takes place in Stage 3. The ultra-fine, flexible abrasive in this stage removes only microscopic amounts of metal. In fact, when compared to other sharpening methods, the Chef's Choice 120 removes much less metal. There is no other way to sharpen and remove less metal.

5. Do I need to use a steel or professional sharpening service to help keep my knives sharp?
No. In fact, a steel, which has no angular control, will deteriorate the super fine edge obtained by the Chef's Choice 120, and the use of a professional sharpening service is unnecessary once you own a Chef's Choice sharpener.

6. Do the diamond abrasives and stropping/polishing stage wear out, and how would I replace them?
The abrasives will last for many, many years without need for repair or replacement. If the abrasives need replacement, you may send the sharpener back to EdgeCraft and, for a nominal fee, EdgeCraft will replace the abrasives, clean and lubricate the sharpener and ship it back. The abrasives, however, should last a very long time with normal household use.

7. Can the abrasives be cleaned?
The Stage 3 stropping/polishing disks can be restored to "as-new condition" if they become dirty and/or glazed. A unique cleaning/dressing tool can be actuated using the lever in the back of the sharpener.

8. Will the Chef'sChoice® Model 120 sharpen serrated knives?
Yes. The Chef's Choice 120 is designed to sharpen both straight edge and serrated knives. It straightens, re-aligns and sharpens the serrated tips in stage 3. TIP: A straight edged knife sharpened on the Chef's Choice 120 will do a much cleaner job of cutting a tomato or a loaf of bread than a serrated knife.

9. Does the Chef's Choice 120 sharpen scissors?
The Chef's Choice 120 will not sharpen scissors, however, EdgeCraft does manufacture a scissors sharpener, the ScissorPro Model 500, which incorporates 100% diamond abrasives and similar technology to produce an incredibly sharp edge.

10. Does the Model sharpen pocketknives or hunting knives?
Yes. The Chef'sChoice® Model 120 will sharpen pocketknives and hunting knives that can comfortably fit in the sharpening slots.

11. How often should I use the Chef's Choice Model 120?
If your knives are dull, resharpen them according to the instructions given in your manual. You may use Stage 3 for resharpening whenever your knives lose that razor-sharp, ultra-fine cutting edge. It takes approximately 15-30 seconds to resharpen a knife. You do not have to worry about excessive wear because the amount of metal removal during resharpening is negligible.

12. Is the Chef's Choice Electric Knife Sharpener easy to use?
Yes, the built-in elastomeric springs precisely hold the knife blade securely against the angle guides, eliminating all guesswork.

13. Who manufactures the Chef's Choice Model 120?
EdgeCraft Corporation, located in Avondale, Pennsylvania manufactures the Chef's Choice Electric Knife Sharpeners in the U.S.A. The company was founded in 1984 and manufactures many fine small kitchen appliances under the Chef's Choice brand.

View our Chef's Choice 120 Knife Sharpener Selection