cmw... it says it will take out the nicks because there are 2 sharpening devices. One is coarse and the other is fine. Use the coarse one first. I can't say I've gotten nicks in my blades, I suppose if I had, I'd probably know it. But I use both the coarse and the fine, just to be on the safe side. It does say that those sharpening "wheels" will wear down, but I think that would take a long time. They are made of metal, sort of like a grinder.