Knife sharpener

[TRNCVaughan]

Saw a knife sharpener working at the side of the road a while ago and can't remember where.
I have a drawer full of blunt kitchen knives.
Where can I get them sharpened?

[Groucho]

http://www.buyincoins.com/item/2641.html#.VFcRnvmUd8E

I've got one of these and sharpening your own knives could not be any simpler...

The guys who go around with an electric wheel will make your knives sharp but have a tendency to remove quite a lot of the blade in the process whereas these little gadgets will make them razor-sharp with very little work and without overworking the cutting edge. The bevel at the edge is is at exactly the right angle to dress the cutting surface so all you do it roll it back and forth on a surface to do the job.

[Carbotec]

Vaughan.....I too have a drawer full of blunt knives, I put a thread on kibkom months ago and got no replies. The DIY gadgets are OK for a couple of days then back to normal ( BLUNT)

[Groucho]

Carbotec, Not all knife sharpeners are the same. The one I highlighted works in exactly the same way as the man with the carborundum wheel....It's just gentler and more precise. It takes a bit of knowledge to perfect the technique but I can demo on a blunt knife if you want.

If the knife is of good quality and not abused after sharpening (anyone can blunt a knife by misusing it)- the sharp edge will last a long time. My chef's knife will slice through a ripe tomato (my test of just how sharp a knife is ) with ease where a blunt knife would tend to squash a really ripe one.

[flowerfairy]

Groucho, the sharpener looks good, but surely they won't ship it free from USA?, can we not order it from UK?

[fatouche]

There is a myriad of knife sharpening wheels/knife sharpeners on Amazon uk. This is my favourite; I've used it for more years than I care to remember.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Taylors-Eye-Wit ... sharpeners

[Philoz]

Fatouche is right in saying there is a myriad of knife sharpeners on the market, and believe me, I have tried them all over the years.

Then I bought one of these-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AnySharp-Worlds ... B002JM1UT2

And now have the sharpest knives in the world(possibly).

Unlike other sharpeners,which merely try to hone an already blunt blade,this thing actually makes a new precision cutting edge-God knows what its made of (Plutonium or Cryptonite spring to mind)but the first time you use it you are left with a pile of metal swarf.

It is all metal construction and quite small and sticks to a worktop using a lever which makes it stick very firmly so it's safe to use.

[Groucho]

Groucho, the sharpener looks good, but surely they won't ship it free from USA?, can we not order it from UK?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00F ... WH3XLP3L7V

Same thing from Amazon

[Groucho]

Fatouche is right in saying there is a myriad of knife sharpeners on the market, and believe me, I have tried them all over the years.

Then I bought one of these-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AnySharp-Worlds ... B002JM1UT2

And now have the sharpest knives in the world(possibly).

Unlike other sharpeners,which merely try to hone an already blunt blade,this thing actually makes a new precision cutting edge-God knows what its made of (Plutonium or Cryptonite spring to mind)but the first time you use it you are left with a pile of metal swarf.

It is all metal construction and quite small and sticks to a worktop using a lever which makes it stick very firmly so it's safe to use.

I don't like ones that strip the blade too aggressively... a honed cutting edge is not suited to being sharpened in this way. You will pretty soon remove the 5mm edge meant for cutting using this type too often. Once it's gone you can't create a new one in any real sense as the blade should thicken towards the non-cutting side without major grinding. I have used this type before and yes they do sharpen blades but at the expense of the longevity of the knife. That's OK if you are prepared to ditch them once you've gone too far but I like my knifes and don't want to replace them - just sharpen them in a controlled but easy and quick manner.

The roller system is very safe - you simply run the knife backwards and forwards in the groove with the blade lying flat against the bevel so that the stone runs along the blade at 30 degrees to the blade. Both sides and once more on the first side to remove any burrs a quick wipe with a damp cloth will reveal the very small amount of metal that has been gently ground off and Bobs your uncle.... super sharp and not distressed.