Knife sharpening

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Discussion

RizzoTheRat

Original Poster:

25,222 posts

193 months

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
21TonyK said:
Like most things. If you have a reasonable knife (or knives) its worth spending a bit of money making sure you have suitable kit to maintain it. if you are not minded to fiddle around with stones then the roller type sharpeners seem to be popular.

However, its also important to remember theres a balance between sharpness and functionality and practicality.

Once sharp a decent quality fine steel (not diamond) will keep the edge in order.
So with these roller sharpeners, you should use the grinding end maybe once every couple of years to get a decent edge, and then just hone occasionally with the ceramic end?

wyson

2,094 posts

105 months

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
I use a kitchen devils ceramic roller sharpener occasionally (brought because it was a which? best buy) and a honing steel before each use.

No idea how chefs like Gordon Ramsey hone with that sort of intensity, I followed a youtube video, knife at 90 degrees to the steel, then halve the angle and halve it again and run the knife edges backwards and forwards.

I take the ceramic sharpener on self catering holidays etc. Its small and light and makes quick work of sharpening the often criminally dull knives provided in the accommodation.





Edited by wyson on Wednesday 8th May 17:14

21TonyK

11,574 posts

210 months

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
RizzoTheRat said:
21TonyK said:
Like most things. If you have a reasonable knife (or knives) its worth spending a bit of money making sure you have suitable kit to maintain it. if you are not minded to fiddle around with stones then the roller type sharpeners seem to be popular.

However, its also important to remember theres a balance between sharpness and functionality and practicality.

Once sharp a decent quality fine steel (not diamond) will keep the edge in order.
So with these roller sharpeners, you should use the grinding end maybe once every couple of years to get a decent edge, and then just hone occasionally with the ceramic end?
Basically yes. Once you have an apex at the correct angle created with coarser grinds then a finer grind produces a less serrated edge of the same angle (we're talking magnifying glass to see). A uniform apex and cutting edge can then be maintained with a steel will using only the finer grinds to remove nicks and restore the edge when blunt.

A course grind should only be needed if the edge becomes damaged and you need to repair the cutting edge.

Thats the theory.