I called shenanigans on a $12 knife sharpener from a gas station in Amarillo, but now I owe it an apology

Mia Rodriguez · 2026-10-01T07:40:04.03456+00:00

So my brother picked up this tiny pocket sharpener at a Buc-ee's outside Amarillo for like $12, and I told him he wasted his cash on a gimmick. It's just two little carbide slots and a plastic handle, no way that fixes a dull blade, right? But my good chef's knife was tearing tomatoes instead of slicing them, so I gave it three pulls through the coarse side and five on the fine side, and the thing literally shaved arm hair. I was stunned. Now I'm seeing people online swear these carbide pull-through jobs ruin your edge over time because they scrape off too much steel, and others say who cares when a $12 fix gets you through another six months of cooking. I've done it twice now and my knife still cuts great, but I'm worried I'm slowly wrecking a $90 blade to save a trip to a pro. What's the crew here say, is a cheap pull-through sharpener a legit lifesaver or a slow death for your knives?

Vivisector

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I called shenanigans on a $12 knife sharpener from a gas station in Amarillo, but now I owe it an apology | Bought It, Broke It - Vivisector