Cubikook Manual vs Smith's 50264 Manual Sharpener Side-by-Side Comparison
The Cubikook Chef’ Sharpener and the Smith's 50264 both feature three sharpening slots, but they have more differences than you might think.
Specifications
Design
The Cubikook is heavily function-oriented — it skips the bells and whistles and focuses on keeping the device sturdy, stable, and effective to use.
The Smith’s Pull Thru sharpener is made with decent materials and enjoys a nice fit and finish. Unfortunately, it suffers from poor design, in particular an elevated working section and a long and narrow base.
Usability
The Cubikook has a straightforward design with a flat base, a sturdy working section, and an intuitive slot arrangement. Everything supports a safe and easy sharpening experience. It’s the best handheld sharpener for those with weak or shaky hands.
On the whole, the Smith’s Pull-Thru was one of the most versatile and convenient handheld sharpeners we’d experimented with so far. However, it was due to two major flaws that some points were docked away: the odd sharpening order and the feeling of unsteadiness.
Performance
The Cubikook performed consistently well in all four categories: speed, sharpness, material retention, and edge smoothness. As pull-through sharpeners go, this one is one of the most well-rounded options.
The Smith’s Pull-Thru pulled off good grades when it came to sharpening time and maximal keenness. However, it failed to replicate the same success for other aspects.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Excellent stability
- Affordable price
- Consistent sharpness
- Solid and sturdy construction
- Angle-adjustable sharpening
- Sharpening slot for serrated blades included
- Wide slot inserts
- Replaceable abrasives (sold separately)
- Small ceramic rods
- Flaky brand label
- Shears off a considerable amount of metal
- Awkward slot structure
- Long, narrow base
Conclusion
The Cubikook Chef’ Sharpener and the Smith's 50264 are built with different philosophies: The former is all about well-roundedness, while the latter sticks to the job of making the knife as sharp as possible.
The Smith’s is tuned for achieving great sharpness. It boasts thick carbide blades that get the job done more quickly and effectively than most others, the Cubikook included. The blades are adjustable to accommodate different grind angles. Unfortunately, they also peel off a great deal of metal from your knife and leave a wavy edge behind.
The Cubikook, meanwhile, strikes a much better balance between sharpness and usability. It features a more solid build, a large, flat base, and low working section, which makes it much safer and more effortless to use. It doesn’t sharpen as quickly as the Smith’s, but it does create a much finer edge and doesn’t remove so much material.
Behind the Comparison
Anh Ngo is a writer with 9 years experience at different media outlets, covering from public news and events to product testing and analysis. At HealthyKitchen101, she works across different departments, communicating closely with its network of writers, editors, and health, tech, and search engine experts to provide a meaningful and pleasant reading experience for visitors.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
