Work Sharp Precision Adjust Upgrade Kit Review: A Wider Grit Range for an Already Great Sharpener

Introduction

The Work Sharp Precision Adjust already earned a permanent spot on the bench here, to the point where other sharpening tools barely get used anymore. The Precision Adjust Upgrade Kit takes that same guided system and fills in the gaps: a much wider grit range, a built-in strop with compound already applied, spare hardware, and a genuinely well-made carrying case that holds the entire sharpener.

The appeal is simple. The base Precision Adjust gives you a repeatable angle and three abrasives. The Upgrade Kit turns it into a complete sharpening progression, from coarse reprofiling work all the way down to a polished, stropped edge.

Who This Product Is For

This kit makes the most sense for two groups of people. First, anyone who already owns the Precision Adjust and has run into its main limitation: the jump between the included grits leaves edges that work fine but never quite look finished. Second, newcomers who want a guided system that removes most of the skill requirement.

That second point matters more than it sounds. Guided sharpeners like this one lock the blade at a consistent angle, so the result depends far more on the tool than on technique. Even someone who sharpens only occasionally can produce a genuinely keen edge. The Precision Adjust also assembles in seconds, which makes it easy to pull out for a quick touch-up rather than a whole sharpening session.

What Comes in the Kit

The Upgrade Kit arrives configured so your existing Precision Adjust slots directly into the included case, which is a thoughtful touch. The case has two sections: one for the abrasives and small parts, including dedicated storage for the clamp and a spare washer, and another for paperwork and odds and ends.

The abrasives are the headline addition. The base sharpener includes 320 and 600 grit stones plus a ceramic hone. The Upgrade Kit extends the range down to 220 grit for serious reprofiling, adds intermediate stones including 400 and 800 grit, and tops it off with a strop that comes pre-loaded with compound. The intermediate stones are what transform the final edge: the difference between 320 and 600 alone left visible roughness that the 800 grit and strop now eliminate cleanly.

Two small hardware changes are worth noting as well. Work Sharp added a second washer, which is cheap insurance against losing one, and swapped the cast steel ball arrangement for a plastic ball system. That change reads as a cost-saving move rather than a downgrade, since you never apply enough pressure during sharpening to stress it, and it helps keep the kit affordable.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Nothing here is flawless. During extended use, the magnet holding an abrasive in place came loose when its adhesive finally let go, an easy fix with a bit of glue but worth knowing about. The strop also demands a little care: near the tip of the blade, use almost no pressure or you risk cutting into the leather.

There is also a learning curve around setup details. Adjusting the blade position properly matters, as a slightly off setup leaves you using less of the abrasive surface than you could. None of these issues are dealbreakers, and most are the kind of thing you only encounter once and then account for forever.

Buying Advice

The best way to think about this kit is as the difference between a functional edge and a finished one. A reprofiling demonstration on a Benchmade Griptilian, taken from a factory 25-degree bevel down to 20 degrees using the full grit progression from 220 up through the ceramic and strop, produced a sharp, even edge with none of the rough scratch pattern the base kit leaves behind.

If you already own the Precision Adjust, the Upgrade Kit is an easy recommendation, because it does not replace anything you have. It simply extends it. If you are starting from zero, the complete version of the sharpener with everything bundled is the Elite kit, and that is the cleaner path for a first purchase. Both were set to become available on October 1.

Conclusion

The Precision Adjust Upgrade Kit solves the one real complaint about the base sharpener: a grit range too narrow to finish an edge properly. With the intermediate stones and the included strop, the result is a sharper, cleaner bevel with less effort than the original could deliver, even in the hands of a novice. For anyone who already owns the Precision Adjust, this is the obvious next step.