Half price until November 30 • Only 58 left at this price
Herc's Electric Knife Sharpener
Herc's Electric Knife Sharpener
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Herc's Electric Knife Sharpener
Maffei Sharpening & Repair · Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh · Since 1968
Herc’s Electric Knife Sharpener
Final run · Built and tested by hand
“It isn’t worn out. It’s dull.”
“My father had one rule: the angle does the work, not the arm. Most people can’t hold an angle by hand, so I built a sharpener that holds it for them.”
Herc Maffei, 73
Made by hand in Pittsburgh
Herc Maffei’s father came to Pittsburgh from northern Italy in 1949 and sharpened knives from the back of a truck with a brass bell on the mirror. In 1968 he opened Maffei Sharpening & Repair on Liberty Avenue, and in 1984 Herc took it over. For more than forty years he has sharpened kitchen knives and fixed small motors at the same bench.
What he saw on his counter every day were knives ruined at home: edges torn into saw teeth by pull-through gadgets, nicks from honing rods held at the wrong angle, tips rounded off. So he spent three winters at the back bench building a sharpener his customers could use themselves. Each one was assembled, set and tested by Herc personally. The arthritis in his hands means he can no longer do that fine work, so the shop closes on November 30, 2026. These are the last ones.
— Herc Maffei
What arrives at your door
- 1 × Herc’s Electric Knife Sharpener with fine ceramic wheel, two fixed slots, clear safety cover and finishing stone
- 1 × USB power cable
- Plug it into any wall phone charger rated 5V/2A (charger not included)
Why it’s different
Fine ceramic, not a coarse grinder
The ceramic wheel takes off only a whisper of steel per pass and leaves a clean, smooth edge. No saw teeth, no chewed tips.
The angle is built in
Two fixed slots, one for each side of the blade. You don’t hold the angle, you don’t guess it, you don’t need a steady hand.
Clear safety cover
The wheel sits under a clear cover. Fingers stay out, and the fine metal dust stays inside instead of landing on your counter.
Finishing stone on top
One or two light strokes after sharpening, or a quick touch-up between sharpenings.
Runs from a phone charger
USB-powered, so it works wherever there’s a phone charger: kitchen, cabin, RV. No extra outlet, no bulky machine on the counter.
Small enough for a drawer
Mains sharpeners are the size of a loaf pan. This one lives in the drawer and comes out when you need it.
How to use it
- Plug in and switch on. USB cable into a 5V/2A wall charger, then flip the switch on the side.
- Draw the knife through each slot. Left slot, then right slot, three to five slow pulls each, heel to tip. Don’t press down. The weight of the knife is enough.
- Finish and wipe. One or two light strokes on the finishing stone, then wipe the blade with a damp cloth.
Compared with what’s already in your drawer
| Skill | Risk to the blade | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honing rod | A lot | Straightens only, nicks at the wrong angle | Came with the block |
| Pull-through gadget | None | Tears and scratches the edge | $10–$25 |
| Whetstone | Years | High until learned | $50–$100 |
| Sharpening service | None | Low | $5–$7 per knife, every time |
| Herc’s sharpener | None | Low: fine ceramic, fixed angle | One price, for years |
From the sharpening trade
“I’ve spent my career telling people to keep electric sharpeners away from their knives. Herc handed me one of his and a box of my customers’ knives. The edges came out clean: no chips, no saw teeth, no rounded tips. For the everyday knives people actually own, it does the job I do.”
Dana Kowalczyk, farmers’ market knife sharpener, Pittsburgh, 19 years
Perfect for
Good to know before you order
- Straight-edged kitchen knives, cheap or expensive
- Old favorites that “don’t cut anymore”
- Double-sided Japanese-style knives like a santoku
- Not for serrated bread knives: no slot sharpener does those properly
- Not for single-bevel Japanese knives (yanagiba, deba): those belong on a stone
- Not for scissors
90-day money-back guarantee
Use it on every knife in the house. If you’re not happy within 90 days, send it back for a full refund. Every order ships within 24 hours.
Care
Tip the sharpener over the trash can now and then to empty the fine metal dust and wipe it with a dry cloth. Don’t rinse it under water. Wipe each knife with a damp cloth after sharpening. A few light pulls every couple of weeks keeps an edge going far longer than one hard sharpening a year.
Details
| Abrasive | Fine ceramic grinding wheel + flat finishing stone |
| Slots | 2 fixed-angle slots, one per side of the blade |
| Safety | Clear protective cover over the wheel |
| Power | USB, 5V/2A (wall phone charger recommended, not included) |
| Switch | On/off rocker switch on the side |
| Housing | Speckled white housing with non-slip feet |
| For | Straight-edged kitchen knives |
| Not for | Serrated knives, single-bevel knives, scissors |
| Made by | Herc Maffei, Maffei Sharpening & Repair, Pittsburgh, PA |
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The Last Batch
The Last Batch
A message from Herc:
After 58 years, Maffei Sharpening & Repair on Liberty Avenue closes on November 30. These are the last sharpeners I’ll ever send out. Every one was assembled, set and tested by me at the back bench, with a knife run through it before it went in the box. Nothing rushed. Nothing outsourced.
I’m proud of every single one. I hope they keep your knives sharp for years.
When they’re gone, they’re gone — and so is the shop.
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Shipping & Delivery
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping across the United States
- Ships within 24 hours, every package is tracked
- Most orders arrive within 3–5 business days
- Every order is packed by Herc’s granddaughter Teresa at the shop in Pittsburgh
- USB cable included, plug not included (any 5V/2A USB phone charger works)
- 90-day money-back guarantee — just email info@craft-folk.com

From the first owners
Excellent 4.9
What Herc’s customers are saying
My husband snapped this while I was doing my old chef's knife before soup night. I was nervous I'd ruin the edge, but you just pull it through slow and let the little wheel do the work. Carrots go through like butter now. It plugs into my regular phone charger, which I didn't know until I read the instructions.
Verified
Peggy R., Westerville, OH
Sharpened the carving knife on the sideboard about two minutes before the turkey came out. Thin even slices for once instead of shredding the breast meat. My daughter asked where I bought it before dessert. Straight edge knives only, it won't do the serrated bread knife, but they tell you that up front.
Verified
Walt D., Erie, PA
Did every knife in my block in one afternoon. The onion in the picture was the test and I didn't cry once, which tells you something about how dull they were. It's smaller than I expected and lives in the drawer next to the stove. A little buzz while it runs, nothing loud.
Verified
Joanne F., Rochester, NY
My granddaughter came over to help me test it and we ended up sharpening half her apartment knives too. My hands aren't what they used to be and I never got the hang of a stone. This I can do. We were laughing because she kept slicing paper just to watch it fall.
Verified
Ruth A., Ann Arbor, MI
Bought it because I'm from Bloomfield and remember the shop. Arrived well packed. Feels solid, the speckled finish is nicer in person than in the photos. Four knives done so far and every one cuts clean again.
Verified
Kathy M., Pittsburgh, PA
I was skeptical about a gadget this small. Then I did my 20 year old chef's knife and sliced a tomato paper thin without squashing it. Plug it in, flip the red switch, a few slow pulls. That's the whole lesson. Glad there's a 90 day guarantee but I won't need it.
Verified
Lorraine S., Syracuse, NY
My husband snapped this while I was doing my old chef's knife before soup night. I was nervous I'd ruin the edge, but you just pull it through slow and let the little wheel do the work. Carrots go through like butter now. It plugs into my regular phone charger, which I didn't know until I read the instructions.
Verified
Peggy R., Westerville, OH
Sharpened the carving knife on the sideboard about two minutes before the turkey came out. Thin even slices for once instead of shredding the breast meat. My daughter asked where I bought it before dessert. Straight edge knives only, it won't do the serrated bread knife, but they tell you that up front.
Verified
Walt D., Erie, PA
Did every knife in my block in one afternoon. The onion in the picture was the test and I didn't cry once, which tells you something about how dull they were. It's smaller than I expected and lives in the drawer next to the stove. A little buzz while it runs, nothing loud.
Verified
Joanne F., Rochester, NY
My granddaughter came over to help me test it and we ended up sharpening half her apartment knives too. My hands aren't what they used to be and I never got the hang of a stone. This I can do. We were laughing because she kept slicing paper just to watch it fall.
Verified
Ruth A., Ann Arbor, MI
Bought it because I'm from Bloomfield and remember the shop. Arrived well packed. Feels solid, the speckled finish is nicer in person than in the photos. Four knives done so far and every one cuts clean again.
Verified
Kathy M., Pittsburgh, PA
I was skeptical about a gadget this small. Then I did my 20 year old chef's knife and sliced a tomato paper thin without squashing it. Plug it in, flip the red switch, a few slow pulls. That's the whole lesson. Glad there's a 90 day guarantee but I won't need it.
Verified
Lorraine S., Syracuse, NY
My husband snapped this while I was doing my old chef's knife before soup night. I was nervous I'd ruin the edge, but you just pull it through slow and let the little wheel do the work. Carrots go through like butter now. It plugs into my regular phone charger, which I didn't know until I read the instructions.
Verified
Peggy R., Westerville, OH
Sharpened the carving knife on the sideboard about two minutes before the turkey came out. Thin even slices for once instead of shredding the breast meat. My daughter asked where I bought it before dessert. Straight edge knives only, it won't do the serrated bread knife, but they tell you that up front.
Verified
Walt D., Erie, PA
Did every knife in my block in one afternoon. The onion in the picture was the test and I didn't cry once, which tells you something about how dull they were. It's smaller than I expected and lives in the drawer next to the stove. A little buzz while it runs, nothing loud.
Verified
Joanne F., Rochester, NY
My granddaughter came over to help me test it and we ended up sharpening half her apartment knives too. My hands aren't what they used to be and I never got the hang of a stone. This I can do. We were laughing because she kept slicing paper just to watch it fall.
Verified
Ruth A., Ann Arbor, MI
Bought it because I'm from Bloomfield and remember the shop. Arrived well packed. Feels solid, the speckled finish is nicer in person than in the photos. Four knives done so far and every one cuts clean again.
Verified
Kathy M., Pittsburgh, PA
I was skeptical about a gadget this small. Then I did my 20 year old chef's knife and sliced a tomato paper thin without squashing it. Plug it in, flip the red switch, a few slow pulls. That's the whole lesson. Glad there's a 90 day guarantee but I won't need it.
Verified
Lorraine S., Syracuse, NY
My husband snapped this while I was doing my old chef's knife before soup night. I was nervous I'd ruin the edge, but you just pull it through slow and let the little wheel do the work. Carrots go through like butter now. It plugs into my regular phone charger, which I didn't know until I read the instructions.
Verified
Peggy R., Westerville, OH
Sharpened the carving knife on the sideboard about two minutes before the turkey came out. Thin even slices for once instead of shredding the breast meat. My daughter asked where I bought it before dessert. Straight edge knives only, it won't do the serrated bread knife, but they tell you that up front.
Verified
Walt D., Erie, PA
Did every knife in my block in one afternoon. The onion in the picture was the test and I didn't cry once, which tells you something about how dull they were. It's smaller than I expected and lives in the drawer next to the stove. A little buzz while it runs, nothing loud.
Verified
Joanne F., Rochester, NY
My granddaughter came over to help me test it and we ended up sharpening half her apartment knives too. My hands aren't what they used to be and I never got the hang of a stone. This I can do. We were laughing because she kept slicing paper just to watch it fall.
Verified
Ruth A., Ann Arbor, MI
Bought it because I'm from Bloomfield and remember the shop. Arrived well packed. Feels solid, the speckled finish is nicer in person than in the photos. Four knives done so far and every one cuts clean again.
Verified
Kathy M., Pittsburgh, PA
I was skeptical about a gadget this small. Then I did my 20 year old chef's knife and sliced a tomato paper thin without squashing it. Plug it in, flip the red switch, a few slow pulls. That's the whole lesson. Glad there's a 90 day guarantee but I won't need it.
Verified
Lorraine S., Syracuse, NY
See Herc’s Last Knife Sharpeners
Frequently Asked Questions
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Got a question? Here's how to reach us.
Got a question? Here's how to reach us.
Herc’s granddaughter Teresa answers every single email herself — as fast as she possibly can, and passes the nicest ones on to Herc at the bench. Whether you have a question about your order or which of your knives it suits, we’re here.
You can reach us:
- Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (ET)
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (ET)
Email: info@craft-folk.com
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Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Of course. Use it on every knife in the house for 90 days. If it isn’t right for you, email info@craft-folk.com within 90 days for a full refund. No forms, no fuss.
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How is it made?
How is it made?
Herc builds every sharpener himself at the back bench of Maffei Sharpening & Repair on Liberty Avenue: fitting the fine ceramic wheel, setting both slots and running a knife through each one before it goes in the box. Three winters of development and more than 300 test knives went into it. This is his final run.
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Ships Within 24 Hours
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Fine Ceramic Wheel, Angle Built In
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90-Day Money-Back Guarantee
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Built & Tested in Pittsburgh