Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite: A Sharpening System for People Who Care About Edges

Introduction

Work Sharp’s Professional Precision Adjust already earned a reputation as a serious guided sharpening system. The Elite version is not an entirely new sharpener. Instead, it is a new package built around the same proven platform, adding the accessories that dedicated sharpeners kept asking for.

The headline additions are a rugged hard case, three ultra-fine resin-bonded diamond plates, and a strop. Together they turn a capable sharpening system into a complete setup for anyone chasing a mirror-polished, scary-sharp edge.

Who This Product Is For

This is not an entry-level consumer sharpener. The name says “professional,” and the contents back that up. The Elite is aimed at people who genuinely care about their edges: the folks who get deep into grit progression, compound selection, and strop technique.

If you are more of a “hit it with a 600 grit and move on with my day” sharpener, the standard Professional Precision Adjust will already cover you. The Elite’s extra plates and strop exist specifically for the enthusiasts who want to take sharpening further.

What Is in the Box

The most obvious addition is the case. It is dust proof, waterproof, and drop proof, with solid latches and laser-cut foam inside. It may not feel quite like a Pelican case, but it is very strong, and it finally answers the question many owners asked when the Professional Precision Adjust first launched: when can I get a case for this thing?

Inside, everything has its place. You get all the same plates as the standard Pro version (220, 320, 400, 600, and 800 grit, plus a ceramic hone), plus the new additions: 1200, 2000, and 3000 grit resin-bonded diamond plates, a strop with honing compound included but not applied, a digital angle guide, a clamp support, and the abrasive handle and sharpening rod.

There is also an empty slot for the optional Universal Abrasive Handle, an accessory sold separately that works with the system’s stones as well as third-party aftermarket stones. If you do not love the included plates, you can swap in whatever you prefer and still have somewhere to store it.

The New Resin-Bonded Diamond Plates

The three new plates are the technical heart of the Elite package. Standard diamond plates use nickel-encapsulated particles, but at finer grits nickel cannot hold onto very fine diamond particles effectively. The solution is resin bonding: the diamond particles are infused into the resin itself.

This changes how the plate wears. Instead of wearing out inconsistently as finer grits degrade, the plate slowly wears away while continuously exposing fresh diamond grit, keeping the cutting surface consistent and even over its life. It will eventually need replacing like any diamond plate, but the wear behavior is much more predictable, which matters when you are refining an edge at 1200, 2000, or 3000 grit.

The included strop ships smooth out rather than rough out, and the honing compound comes separate so you can apply your own, including diamond compound if you want to get serious about it.

Sharpening Results

The system itself works the same way as before. Plates snap onto the abrasive handle with a magnet and alignment nubs, the knife is clamped in, and you sharpen at a consistent, guided angle.

The results speak for themselves. A customized PDW Enzo with a badly uneven bevel, one side at 20 degrees and the other drifted toward 16 after a jammed micro-adjustment screw, came back with an even bevel on both sides, a mirror polish, and an edge sharp enough to glide smoothly through slicing cuts on thick paper. A sentimental Buck 110 that had resisted home sharpening attempts also came back sharper than before.

That is the core value here: the guided geometry plus the extended grit range makes it genuinely practical to reach a mirror finish without freehand skill.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The Elite is a package upgrade, not a redesign. If you already own a Professional Precision Adjust and are happy finishing at 800 grit with the ceramic hone, the Elite’s additions may not justify doubling up.

The price tag reflects its position above entry-level sharpeners, and the fine plates and strop only pay off if you will actually use them. Also keep in mind the optional Universal Abrasive Handle is not included, though a slot is reserved for it in the case.

Buying Advice

If you are starting from scratch and want a serious, organized, portable sharpening setup, the Elite is arguably the best value configuration of this platform thanks to the case and the expanded plate selection included together.

If you already own the standard Pro version, the decision comes down to how much you value the 1200, 2000, and 3000 grit plates, the strop, and proper storage. Enthusiasts chasing mirror edges will find the new plates and strop compelling; casual users will not.

Conclusion

The Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite takes a proven guided sharpening system and completes it: a genuinely protective case, ultra-fine resin-bonded diamond plates that wear consistently, and a strop for final polishing. For knife owners who treat sharpening as part of the hobby, it is a well-thought-out upgrade. For everyone else, the standard version remains the smarter buy.