Periodicaly, the clean out door on the bottom of the sharpener should be opened and
cleaned. Also try to clear any remaining particles from the collection area inside the hous-
ing before replacing the door.
Cleaning or Replacement of Ceramic Stones
The ceramic stones should be cleaned periodically to refresh their abrasive qualities using a
scrub brush and common cleansing kitchen powder. If after cleaning you feel the ceramic
stones are still not sharpening properly, they should be replaced. For replacement stones
and installation instructions, contact Smith's Customer Service department at (501) 321-
2244; (800) 221-4156 or visit Smith's website at www.smithsproducts.com/parts and
accessories.
Consumer Service Information
If you have questions regarding the operation of your Smith's Electric Knife Sharpener or
need service work on your sharpener, please call our Customer Service Department at
(501) 321-2244; (800) 221-4156 or visit our website, www.smithsproducts.com, for ad-
ditional contact information.
All returns submitted without return authorization must be accompanied with a current
shipping address, telephone contact number or email address, and a brief description of
the problem or damage. Send your sharpener to:
Smith's
CS Dept. 50377
747 Mid-America Boulevard
Hot Springs, AR 71913-8414 USA
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Symptom: The sharpener will not start when initially plugged into electrical socket.
Cause: Sharpener or electrical cord could be damaged or malfunctioning.
Solution: Return your sharpener and receipt to the place of purchase for replacement.
Symptom: Sharpener stops running while in use.
Cause: Sharpener has a built in motor thermostat as a safety feature. It protects sharpener
from overheating if left on accidentally for a long period or if being used improperly.
Solution: If the thermostat shuts down the motor, unplug the sharpener and wait about one
hour for the motor to cool down, and the sharpener will restart. If motor still will not re-start,
return sharpener to place of purchase.
Symptom: Diamond Wheels stop removing metal.
Solution: Diamond Break-In Period – The initial aggressive cutting speed of the Diamond
Sharpening Wheels will slow with use. At the same time, the abrasive finish will improve. Do
not be confused by this break in process because it is normal and should be expected. The
diamond wheels are breaking in, NOT wearing out.
Symptom: Ceramic stones stop sharpening.
Cause: The ceramic stones will lose their sharpening ability over time, thus reducing their
effectiveness.
Solution: Ceramic stones should be cleaned or replaced as described in "Cleaning or
Replacement of Ceramic Stones" section in this manual.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How often should I sharpen my knives?
A: Sharpen your knife before each use if you want to maintain a razor sharp edge. After extensive
use, if you have honed the knife blade and it no longer slices food with ease, use the electric sharp-
ening wheel plus the manual finishing slot to put a new razor sharp edge on your blade.
Q: How can I tell if my knife is sharp?
A: Use it to slice food. If the knife does not slice food with ease, it needs additional sharpening.
Q: My knife is not sharp and I've gone through the whole knife sharpening process. What am I doing
wrong?
A: Although unusual, there are times when you have to repeat the sharpening process more than
once or make more passes through the mechanical sharpening slots. This may occur during the first
sharpening of a knife or if a knife was sharpened incorrectly by another process. It may also occur
when sharpening blades made of tempered steel, which are extremely hard, such as some hunting
knives.
You can use the Smith's electric knife sharpener to sharpen these type of knives, but you may have
to repeat the process several times or make numerous passes through the mechanical sharpening
slots (in excess of 20 times or more for extreme cases). This extended process will only be necessary
the first time you use the sharpener for this type of blade. Thereafter, you will be able to sharpen the
blade following the normal sharpening procedures.
Q: Sometimes the sharpening wheel stalls when I am drawing the knife through the blade guides.
What causes this?
A: The knife sharpener is designed so that very little effort is needed to draw the blade through the
sharpening slots. If excessive downward pressure is applied to the knife as it is being pulled through
the sharpening slots, the sharpening wheel will stall.
Q: How do I get an even edge on my blade?
A: Always do an equal number of strokes on both sides of the blade for best results. Always sharpen
from heel to tip, never back and forth. Remember to lift up slightly on the handle as the curved por-
tion of the blade is drawn through the sharpening slots.
Q: Occasionally I see sparks when sharpening my knives. What causes this?
A: At a professional knife sharpening service, certain blades with high carbon content (usually higher
quality knives) sometimes will spark or produce a stream of sparks when they come in contact with
the sharpening wheel. Your Smith's Electric Knife Sharpener uses the same type of sharpening wheel
that the professionals use. Therefore, you can expect to see similar sparking when you sharpen
blades with high carbon content. This is normal.
Q: Can I sharpen serrated blades, scissors, or other blades with my Smith's Electric Knife Sharpener?
A: Your Smith's electric knife sharpener will sharpen straight edge blades of alloy, carbon, or stainless