northernhord
Active Member
extra dry said:woud'nt a bread knife be better....
No breads knifes on my allotment, plenty of Gardening tools and hardware though
sharpening up my blades
- Thread starter Tank Girl
- Start date
No breads knifes on my allotment, plenty of Gardening tools and hardware though
impossible
Too non-committal to even lurk regularly
In the kitchen, a diamond stone is the best option closely followed by japanese water stone. Diamonds are both cheaper and last longer than japanese water stones. Both are better than oilstones for the kitchen as they use water rather than oil = less mess. Japanese water stones need either storing in water or soaking for 5 mins before use, plus they are made from clay and so leave a residue on things after use.
Get me and my carpentry knowledge For a fine, hard working tool, a japanese water stone leaves a perfect finish but for quicker, easier, neater sharpening I'd say go for a diamond stone. Should cost you about 10-15 quid for one the size of the above pictures - £20 max! You can also get small ones that fit on a keyring for less than a tenner.
e2a: not saying that kitchen knives aren't 'fine' tools - They're the most important thing in the bloody kitchen!
Get me and my carpentry knowledge
For a fine, hard working tool, a japanese water stone leaves a perfect finish but for quicker, easier, neater sharpening I'd say go for a diamond stone. Should cost you about 10-15 quid for one the size of the above pictures - £20 max! You can also get small ones that fit on a keyring for less than a tenner.e2a: not saying that kitchen knives aren't 'fine' tools - They're the most important thing in the bloody kitchen!
pembrokestephen
New Member
Steel, without a doubt. Single use gadgets are teh 
and always end up demonstrating why we managed fine with the "old" way before someone suddenly had a bright idea of slapping a plastic handle on it and selling it in Woolworth's.
But, to get a really sharp edge on your knife, and have some hope of it staying that way, first get a damn good knife.
Getting a good-quality steel is a wise idea, too - steels blunt in the process of sharpening the knife, and a cheapo one will become nearly-smooth in time.
and always end up demonstrating why we managed fine with the "old" way before someone suddenly had a bright idea of slapping a plastic handle on it and selling it in Woolworth's.But, to get a really sharp edge on your knife, and have some hope of it staying that way, first get a damn good knife.
Getting a good-quality steel is a wise idea, too - steels blunt in the process of sharpening the knife, and a cheapo one will become nearly-smooth in time.
impossible
Too non-committal to even lurk regularly
Just like to say: Anyone with an old blunt steel, feel free to send it my way as it could be used as a burnisher for sharpening cabinet scrapers 
. I'm in the Brixton area.
Cheers
. I'm in the Brixton area.Cheers
pembrokestephen
New Member
I've never cut myself sharpening a knife on a steel (though I can see how you might), but I hacked my hand something horrible sharpening a small knife on one of those handheld gadgetsfelixthecat said:Mr FTC swears by his steel doofer - and I must admit he gets the knives razor sharp. I, on the otherhand, look more like I'm going to amputate my own hand when I'm trying to use itand depend on a gadget when him indoors isn't around.
The upshot is - steel if you're good at it, otherwise a gadget is safer
pembrokestephen
New Member
subversplat said:I also use my knives as makeshift tin openers too
SACRILEGE!
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
Wetstone. When you get the knack of using one you can get a knife you could shave with.
pembrokestephen
New Member
Take your knives to Someone who Knows, and get the edge reground: that's all it needs, in all likelihood.Mrs Miggins said:I would advise against one of those...I've got one and it gives the blade an ever-so-slightly serrated edge which over time, has fucked my knives and now I need new ones because they won't sharpen any more boo
Reckon I'm going to buy a steel when I get new knives. That's what I always see chefs on telly using.
And save the £70 or so you were going to spend on a not-even-halfway reasonable knife set, and buy TWO knives. One cook's knife, 22cm or so, and one vegetable/paring/peeling knife. If you were to buy Global, you'd get them for comfortably inside £70, and your knifular experiences will never be the same again. Any other decent make should be roughly that kind of price, too.
And someone will sell you a magnetic knife rack thing for a fiver, which you can borrow from Dubversion.
dylanredefined
Not a house elf a tiger
never got on with steels can do quite a good edge with an oil stone though
.Its a joyful moment when someone picks up your knife runs fingers over saying its not sharp and draws blood
.Its a joyful moment when someone picks up your knife runs fingers over saying its not sharp and draws blood subversplat
writer of wrongs
In order to waste time while unemployed and enjoy the good weather at the same time, I've offered to strip back my parents' garden in exchange for pints and dinners so have got a strimmer and machete and carborundum brick and it's good The only thing I'm wondering is how to get the hooked bit at the top sharp? 
After I've got that figured, I'm off to murder some plants in the sunshine!
The only thing I'm wondering is how to get the hooked bit at the top sharp? After I've got that figured, I'm off to murder some plants in the sunshine!
A sharpener is for sharpening - a foil is for maintaining an edge.
Kitchen sharpeners like the pic aren't very good (most of them produce quite a jagged edge of you look closely) - use a stone or have it done professionally every now and again and use a decent foil to maintain the edge.
Kitchen sharpeners like the pic aren't very good (most of them produce quite a jagged edge of you look closely) - use a stone or have it done professionally every now and again and use a decent foil to maintain the edge.
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
Slight bump. 
Using lockdown to learn new skills. I like sharp blades in the kitchen and have been using a Minosharp 3 for years. However the little wheels have worn right down and the replacements are almost as expensive as a new one, so thought I'd try something different.
Got a cheap 1000/6000 waterstone, I'm a long way of some of the mad edges you see on you tube, but blades are already as sharp as I get with the Minosharp, so that's a win. Just ordered a 240/600 to do work knives with. It's actually suprisingly relaxing. Don't know if thats worrying.
Anyone else sharpen blades this way?
Using lockdown to learn new skills. I like sharp blades in the kitchen and have been using a Minosharp 3 for years. However the little wheels have worn right down and the replacements are almost as expensive as a new one, so thought I'd try something different.
Got a cheap 1000/6000 waterstone, I'm a long way of some of the mad edges you see on you tube, but blades are already as sharp as I get with the Minosharp, so that's a win. Just ordered a 240/600 to do work knives with. It's actually suprisingly relaxing. Don't know if thats worrying.
Anyone else sharpen blades this way?
Bahco SHARP-X Carbide Sharpener - For Tool & Knife Blades
Buy Bahco SHARP-X Carbide Sharpener - For Tool & Knife Blades for only 16.79 GBP! Read customer reviews. In stock for fast UK delivery!
www.buybrandtools.com
Saul Goodman
It's all good, man
I used a 1000/6000 whetstone for years, and they work really well, but since I started making knives, I needed something a little less time consuming, so I treated myself and my knives to one of these. It makes the job so much easier.Slight bump.
Using lockdown to learn new skills. I like sharp blades in the kitchen and have been using a Minosharp 3 for years. However the little wheels have worn right down and the replacements are almost as expensive as a new one, so thought I'd try something different.
Got a cheap 1000/6000 waterstone, I'm a long way of some of the mad edges you see on you tube, but blades are already as sharp as I get with the Minosharp, so that's a win. Just ordered a 240/600 to do work knives with. It's actually suprisingly relaxing. Don't know if thats worrying.
Anyone else sharpen blades this way?
Triton TWSS10 - 120W 230/250mm Whetstone Sharpener 230V: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools
Shop Triton TWSS10 - 120W 230/250mm Whetstone Sharpener 230V. Free delivery on eligible orders of £20 or more.
www.amazon.co.uk
Saul Goodman
It's all good, man
I'm not too bad freehand but I got one of these to put an edge on a Tanto. I didn't want to risk making a mess of it.
Are you a fabricator, Saul? My youngest has been doing this for a decade or so - metal had previously occupied a tiny nIche in my world...but has expanded considerably (and have been learning to weld). electro-plating organic objects and patination are the latest fads in our household)
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
I used a 1000/6000 whetstone for years, and they work really well, but since I started making knives, I needed something a little less time consuming, so I treated myself and my knives to one of these. It makes the job so much easier.
Triton TWSS10 - 120W 230/250mm Whetstone Sharpener 230V: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools
Shop Triton TWSS10 - 120W 230/250mm Whetstone Sharpener 230V. Free delivery on eligible orders of £20 or more.www.amazon.co.uk
I imagine I could get in a lot of trouble with one of those quite quickly.
I started work on a very very blunt Mora knife this morning. Even with 180/600 it's still very blunt. Gave up for now. Suspect actually my angle is to shallow, I've got something to measure it with on route, finding trying to use my phone so clunky.
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
I have a little Bahco sharpener - 2 strips of carbide on a plastic stick - originally for secateurs but kept on a kitchen shelf, has been my main knife sharpener for well over a decade. Never really like a steel because I can't keep a consistent 22degree angle...but much easier if you can hold a blade against a flat surface. Unlike my carborundum stone, this fits in my pocket...and is orange (so visible)Bahco SHARP-X Carbide Sharpener - For Tool & Knife Blades
Buy Bahco SHARP-X Carbide Sharpener - For Tool & Knife Blades for only 16.79 GBP! Read customer reviews. In stock for fast UK delivery!
Maybe for her garden knives this may actually be the way forwards, but now I've bought an abrasive whetstone I'm not buying another thingy until I've got some sharp edges with it!
Saul Goodman
It's all good, man
I was a metal fabricator/CNC engineer for most of my life. I've given it up now but I took up knife making a couple of years ago, and I got hooked.
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
I've always wanted to have a go at making one. Got any pics of your work?
Saul Goodman
It's all good, man
Have a look at this lad's videos. He's extremely good at sharpening on a stone.
I've always wanted to have a go at making one. Got any pics of your work?
I seem to have misplaced a load of my knives photos but here are a few.
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
Have a look at this lad's videos. He's extremely good at sharpening on a stone.
I seem to have misplaced a load of my knives photos but here are a few.
Wow. Superb.
dessiato
4 years and I still cry sometimes
Saul Goodman how many folds go into those blades? They look amazing.
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Saul Goodman
It's all good, man
There are ~300 layers in the Tanto and the chef knife. I acquired the steel for the last one through a friend, from a supplier in Japan. I think it's around 100 layers.
