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Chef'sChoice 4643 Manual vs Wamery 4-Stage Manual Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Chef's Choice 4643

$55.49 from Amazon

Wamery 4-Stage

$19.99 from Amazon
Chef'sChoice 4643 Manual vs Wamery 4-Stage Manual

Overall Verdict

As much as we prefer the design of the Chef’sChoice 4643, its performance was not on par with the Wamery.

The Chef’sChoice has one of the best designs among all sharpener models we’ve tested. It sports an ergonomic grip and a hollow but even and frictious base, which offers great stability and security during sharpening. The Wamery isn’t particularly bad in design, but its tall body and shoddy build aren’t exactly among its strengths. 

Unfortunately, the Chef’sChoice fancy diamond-coated sharpening wheels didn’t fare very well in our tests. It took a whopping 240 seconds to sharpen a knife when the Wamery needed only 70 seconds, and the maximum sharpness it could bring the edge to was one level below that of the Wamery’s capability. 

Obviously, the Wamery gets the edge over the Chef’sChoice, at least in our multiple tests.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Works with 20° and 15° edges
  • Compatible with serrated blades
  • Grippy handle
  • Neat, ergonomic overall design
  • Extra sharpening slot for scissors
  • Intuitive slot order
  • Wide base
  • Expensive price
  • Awkward slot layout
  • Shabby build
  • Excessive height, high center of gravity

Key Specs

Stages
2
3
Scissor sharpener
No
Yes
Abrasives
Diamond discs
Diamond, tungsten carbide, ceramic
Grit size
Coarse, Fine
Coarse, Medium, Fine
Dimensions
L9.3 x W2.0 x H2.8 inches
L9.1 x W2.3 x H3.3 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$51.51
$17.50
$55.49 at Amazon
$19.99 at Amazon

*You help support Shouldit's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
4.3
8.1

Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon

1.0
9.2
Sharpening Time
4 minutes
1 minute 10 seconds
Cutting Feel
Slightly heavy
Light and smooth

Material Retention

7.0
9.0
A bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the base of the Chef's Choice AngleSelect sharpener
Metal residue on the abrasive slots on the Wamery knife sharpener
Tiny bits of metal got captured by the sharpening slot.
Metal residue on the abrasive slots on the Wamery knife sharpener
A bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the base of the Wamery sharpener
Sharpening Time
1 minute
1 minute
Target Sharpness

Maximum Sharpness Achieved

6.0
6.0
Sharpening Time
6 minutes
6 minutes
Sharpness Level
7 (Ripe tomatoes, 1 swipe)
7 (ripe tomatoes, 1 swipe)

Edge Smoothness

5.2
7.3
Close up view of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Chef's Choice AngleSelect
Close up view of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Wamery
There were few to no burrs on the edge.

Design

Overall Design Scoring
9.3
6.8

In the Box

The Chef’s Choice manual knife sharpener next to its plastic case
The Wamery knife and scissor sharpener lying on its side next to its package box

Dimensions

The Chef's Choice 4643 handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions
The Wamery handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions
Length
9.3" (23.6 cm)
9.1" (23.1 cm)
Width
2.0" (5.1 cm)
2.3" (5.8 cm)
Height
2.8" (7.1 cm)
3.3" (8.4 cm)
Weight
6.6 oz (187 g)
8.9 oz (252 g)

Build Quality

9.0
6.6
The Chef’s Choice 4643 sharpener disassembled on a cutting board, with a lemon slice
The Chef’s Choice 4643 sharpener disassembled on a cutting board, with a lemon slice
The Chef’s Choice 4643 sharpener disassembled on a cutting board
The main working part of the Wamery manual sharpener
Frontal overview of the sharpener.

Working Section

The working section of the Chef's Choice with 3 abrasive slots on a frame and part of its handle and base
Up-close shot of the Wamery’s working section with 4 abrasive slots
Up-close shot of the working section.
Levels of Sharpening
Coarse, Fine
Coarse, medium, fine
Abrasive
Diamond-coated disks
Tungsten carbide blades, diamond rods, ceramic rods
Mechanism
Pull through
Pull-through
Sharpening Angle
15° & 20°
Not mentioned

Base

The underneath of the Chef's Choice sharpener
The underneath of the Chef's Choice sharpener
One of the feet underneath the Chef's Choice sharpener
The Wamery knife and scissor sharpener lying on its side, its base and base pads in full view
Material
Synthetic rubber
Synthetic silicone
Feet Type
Slip-proof sole (x 4)
Slip-proof padding x 2

Grip

10
7.5
A hand holding the Chef’s Choice manual knife sharpener
A hand holding the Wamery 4-stage manual knife sharpener
Material
Rubber
Rubber

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
8.4
7.7

Slot Arrangement

7.0
9.0
The Chef’s Choice 4643 manual knife sharpener viewed from the side
The working section on the Wamery, with slot 1 for sharpening scissors and slots 2, 3, 4 for kitchen knives.
Frontal view of the sharpener with its slots.

Insertion

8.5
8.0
Close up view of the Chef’s Choice sharpener’s sharpening slots 1, 2, and 3
Close up view of the Chef’s Choice sharpener’s sharpening slots 1, 2, and 3
The working section on the Chef's Choice, with 3 slots featuring diamond-coated abrasive discs

Pulling Through

8.5
6.0
One of the abrasive slots on the Chef’s Choice 4643 with cutting marks on it
The working section of the Wamery with 3 slots for knives and 1 for sharpening kitchen shears

Stability on a Clean Surface

9.5
7.5
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Chef's Choice sharpener
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Wamery sharpener on a countertop

Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface

7.0
7.0
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Chef's Choice on a salt-sprinkled countertop
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Wamery on a salt-sprinkled countertop
Testing the sharpener on a messy kitchen surface.