Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener: What It Does Well

The Presto 08800 EverSharp is a 2-stage electric knife sharpener designed to handle both initial sharpening and final honing in a single pass. It's one of the most accessible electric sharpeners on the market, consistently priced under $30, and represents the entry point for electric sharpening. Here's what it actually does and whether it's the right tool for your knives.

What the Presto 08800 Is

The EverSharp is a 2-stage sharpener:

Stage 1 (Sharpening): A corundum stone grinding wheel that removes metal to establish a new edge. This stage handles genuinely dull knives and restores blades that have lost their bevel.

Stage 2 (Honing): A carbide honing element that refines the edge produced in Stage 1. This stage polishes the edge and removes the wire burr left by the grinding stage.

The process is straightforward: pull the knife through Stage 1, then Stage 2, then use normally. The entire operation takes 30-60 seconds per knife.

What It Handles Well

Regular maintenance sharpening: For knives that are dull from use but not damaged, the Presto EverSharp restores a working edge quickly. Running a chef's knife through both stages takes under a minute and produces a sharper edge than hand honing maintains.

Serrated knives: One of the Presto EverSharp's useful features is serrated knife compatibility. Many pull-through sharpeners can't sharpen serrated edges; the 08800's design accommodates serrated blades through Stage 2.

Budget to mid-range knives: For knives at HRC 54-58 (budget through Henckels International tier), the EverSharp works effectively. The corundum stone removes material efficiently on softer stainless.

Accessible price: Under $30 puts this sharpener in reach for buyers who want electric sharpening convenience without significant investment.

What It Doesn't Handle Well

Premium Japanese knives: Hard Japanese steel (HRC 60+) requires more aggressive abrasives than corundum to sharpen efficiently. The EverSharp works on these knives but removes more material for equivalent sharpness, which shortens knife life. Premium Japanese knives deserve better sharpening tools.

Very precise angle control: The 08800 sharpens at a fixed angle (approximately 20° per side). This is appropriate for most Western kitchen knives, but doesn't accommodate the 15° angles of Japanese knives or varying angle preferences.

Edge restoration from damage: For chipped or severely damaged edges, the Stage 1 corundum stone can handle minor chips but may require many passes for significant damage. A bench grinder or professional sharpener handles severe damage better.

Convex grinds: Knives with convex (hamaguri) grinds don't match the flat grinding geometry of the EverSharp. Standard flat-grind knives work fine.

The Corundum vs. Diamond Distinction

The Presto 08800 uses corundum (aluminum oxide) abrasive in Stage 1. More expensive sharpeners use diamond abrasive, which is harder and cuts more efficiently.

The practical difference: - Corundum removes material more slowly, requiring more passes for very dull knives - Diamond is more aggressive and faster, particularly on harder steel - For HRC 54-58 steel (the 08800's target market), corundum is adequate - For HRC 60+ steel, diamond performs significantly better

If your knives are budget to mid-range, the corundum EverSharp is appropriate. If you own premium German or Japanese knives, consider upgrading to a diamond sharpener.

Comparing to Other Electric Sharpeners

Presto 08800 vs. Presto 08810 Professional: The 08810 adds a third honing stage for better edge refinement. For buyers who want slightly better results and can spend $40-50, the 08810 is a meaningful upgrade from the 08800.

Presto 08800 vs. Chef'sChoice 4643: Chef'sChoice uses diamond abrasives and produces higher-quality edges. The price difference is significant ($100+). For serious home cooks with quality knives, Chef'sChoice justifies the premium.

Presto 08800 vs. Work Sharp: Work Sharp produces excellent edges using belt grinding. More expensive than the EverSharp. Better for premium knives.

Presto 08800 vs. Pull-through sharpeners: Pull-through sharpeners (Chef'sChoice EdgeKeeper, AccuSharp) are less aggressive and good for maintenance. The EverSharp provides more effective restoration of genuinely dull knives.

The Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener is available on Amazon at consistent pricing in the under-$30 range.

The Sharpening Process

Using the EverSharp effectively:

Stage 1 (for dull knives): 3-5 passes per side for a knife that's lost its edge. The guide slots position the blade at the correct angle automatically.

Stage 2 (for maintenance or after Stage 1): 3-5 passes to refine and hone.

Stage 2 only (for regular maintenance): For knives that just need a touch-up, Stage 2 alone can be sufficient between full sharpenings.

Pressure: Light, consistent pressure with the blade guided by the slot. Avoid pressing hard, the sharpener does the work.

How Often to Sharpen

For knives at the budget-to-mid-range tier: - Stage 2 maintenance: every 2-4 weeks with daily cooking - Stage 1 full sharpening: every 2-3 months

For mid-range knives with regular honing: - Stage 2: every 4-6 weeks - Stage 1: every 4-6 months

The EverSharp removes metal with each use. Over years of sharpening, the blade narrows. This is unavoidable with any sharpening; the corundum stage removes enough material per session to affect blade width over a 10-year period of regular use on budget knives. For mid-range knives, the impact is slower.

Maintenance for the EverSharp

Clean the grinding slot: Metal filings accumulate in the grinding slot over time. A toothpick or soft brush clears them. Accumulated filings can reduce grinding effectiveness.

Protect from moisture: Electric motors and abrasive elements don't benefit from moisture exposure. Store dry and covered.

FAQ

Can the Presto EverSharp sharpen all kitchen knives? Most standard kitchen knives: yes. Serrated knives: yes (Stage 2 only). Single-bevel Japanese knives: not designed for this. Ceramic knives: not compatible.

How sharp does the EverSharp get knives? Sharp enough for comfortable home cooking. Not as refined as a high-end whetstone progression or premium electric sharpener. The improvement from a dull knife is substantial; the edge quality is working-sharp rather than razor-sharp.

Is the EverSharp worth $25? For budget and mid-range kitchen knives, yes. It produces meaningfully better edge restoration than pull-through sharpeners and requires no skill to use. The price is hard to beat for what it delivers.

Will it work on Wusthof or Henckels knives? Yes. These brands' mid-range lines (Wusthof Gourmet, Henckels International) use HRC 56-58 steel that the EverSharp handles well. For Wusthof Classic (HRC 58) and premium lines, the difference in results between EverSharp and a premium diamond sharpener becomes more noticeable.

How long does the EverSharp last? Several years with regular home use. The corundum stone wears gradually; replacement units are not typically available, so when the abrasive is worn, the unit is replaced.

Conclusion

The Presto 08800 EverSharp is a practical, accessible electric knife sharpener for home cooks with budget to mid-range kitchen knives. At under $30, it provides electric sharpening convenience and better edge restoration than manual pull-through alternatives for this steel tier. Its limitations, fixed angle, corundum abrasive, no adjustment for premium hard steel, make it less suitable for serious knife enthusiasts with expensive knives, but for the mass market of home cooks with standard stainless knife sets, it handles the job competently.