Presto 08800 Eversharp Electric Knife Sharpener: An Honest Review
The Presto 08800 Eversharp is one of the most recognizable electric knife sharpeners on the market, partly because it's been around for years and partly because its $30 price point makes it accessible to anyone who wants electric sharpening convenience without a major investment. If you're considering it, here's what it actually does and where it falls short.
What the Presto 08800 Is
The Presto 08800 Eversharp is a two-stage electric knife sharpener with a sapphirite sharpening wheel. The two slots correspond to:
- Coarse stage: Sharpens dull or damaged blades, removing steel to establish a new edge
- Fine stage: Hones and refines the edge after the coarse work
The device is compact, plugs into a standard outlet, and uses a rotating wheel that the knife presses against as you pull it through the slot. The grinding angle is preset at approximately 20 degrees per side, which suits most Western-style kitchen knives.
Performance: What It Does Well
For its price category, the Presto 08800 delivers reliable results for knives that match its design assumptions:
Dull Western-style knives: A kitchen knife that's been neglected for months, that struggles with tomatoes or can't push-cut through an onion cleanly, responds well to the Presto's coarse stage followed by the fine stage. You'll get a noticeably sharper knife in 2-3 minutes.
Low maintenance: No setup, no learning curve. You pull the knife through, the wheel does the work. This is genuinely valuable for people who will never use a whetstone.
Consistent results: The preset angle means every knife comes out at the same edge geometry. You're not going to accidentally ruin the angle, which is a real concern for whetstone beginners.
Where It Falls Short
Material removal: Electric sharpeners remove more steel than whetstones, shortening blade life over time. This is a trade-off inherent to the category, not a specific Presto flaw, but it's worth knowing.
No Japanese knife compatibility: Japanese knives are typically sharpened at 12-15 degrees per side. The Presto's 20-degree preset doesn't match this geometry. Running a Japanese knife through the Presto will blunt the original edge angle and potentially damage a thin blade. Don't use this on any Japanese knife you care about.
No serrated knife support: Serrated knives can't be sharpened in a standard electric sharpener. The serrations need individual attention that a rotating wheel can't provide.
Limited polish: The "fine" stage produces a functional edge but not a polished one. If you want a mirror-finished edge, a whetstone finishing stage or leather strop gives better results.
Long-term blade wear: With regular use, the Presto removes enough steel to eventually shorten the blade noticeably. Professional sharpeners (whetstone or belt) remove less material per sharpening session.
The Presto 08800 in Context
At $30, the Presto competes with:
Basic manual pull-through sharpeners ($10-20): These also work and are even cheaper. The Presto's advantage is the motorized wheel provides more consistent pressure and slightly better results. For $10-20 more, the upgrade is reasonable.
Mid-range electric sharpeners ($50-100): The Chef'sChoice 4643, for example, has three stages (including a fine diamond stage) and handles a wider range of edge angles. Better results, more money.
Professional sharpening services ($5-15 per knife): For knives you care about, sending them to a professional sharpener 1-2 times per year produces better results than any home electric device. The Presto is for maintenance between professional sharpenings, or for knives that don't warrant professional attention.
For context on what sharpening approach pairs with different knife types, see our best kitchen knives guide, which includes notes on maintenance for different blade categories.
Who Should Buy It
The Presto 08800 is the right tool for: - Home cooks with a set of Western-style knives that never get sharpened - People who want one device that handles the job without a learning curve - Anyone who won't commit to learning whetstone sharpening - Households where the knives are a mix of everyday kitchen tools (not premium Japanese blades)
It's not the right tool for: - Anyone with Japanese knives (wrong angle) - Serious cooks who want the best possible edge - People willing to learn whetstone technique (better results, costs less long-term)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Presto 08800 on my Shun or Miyabi knives? No. Japanese knives at 12-15 degrees per side should not go through a preset 20-degree electric sharpener. You'll damage the edge geometry that makes those knives special. Use a whetstone or a Japanese-specific sharpening service.
How often should I use the Presto? Use the fine stage frequently (monthly with regular cooking) for maintenance. Use the coarse stage only when the fine stage no longer restores the edge, maybe 2-4 times per year. Overusing the coarse stage unnecessarily wears the blade.
Does the Presto sharpen serrated knives? No. Serrated knives require tapered sharpening rods that can access each scallop individually. Electric wheel sharpeners can't do this.
Is the Presto 08800 still available? The 08800 has been available for many years. Check current availability on Amazon or at retailers like Walmart and Target. Presto periodically updates the model; the 08810 is a three-stage version with an additional fine honing slot.
The Bottom Line
The Presto 08800 Eversharp is a reliable, accessible electric knife sharpener for Western-style knives. At $30, it delivers consistent sharpening results without a learning curve, which makes it genuinely useful for the large majority of home cooks who won't use a whetstone. The limitations (preset angle, material removal, no Japanese or serrated knife support) are real but acceptable for the target use case. If you have a drawer of neglected kitchen knives and want them sharp again with minimal effort, the Presto delivers. If you have Japanese knives or want the best possible edge, look elsewhere.