The Cooks' Den » Knife Sharpening http://www.thecooksden.com Cooking Tools - Gear for Cooks and Chefs Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:49:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 DMT Industrial Diamond Sharpening Steel | Knife Honing Extra Fine Grit DS2E 12 Inch http://www.thecooksden.com/dmt-industrial-diamond-sharpening-steel-knife-honing-extra-fine-grit-ds2e-12-inch/ http://www.thecooksden.com/dmt-industrial-diamond-sharpening-steel-knife-honing-extra-fine-grit-ds2e-12-inch/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 21:02:48 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4785 DMT Industrial Diamond Sharpening Steel The 12 inch diamond dust coated Extra Fine Grit Diamond Steel from Diamond Machining Technology can hone the edge of even the hardest modern stainless steel knives, but this honing level grit is not suitable for restoring or reshaping a damaged blade.

Diamond abrasive sharpening tools are now widely accepted by craftsmen in many different trades, and are chosen for their fast cutting and durability. A permanently bonded coating of tiny industrial diamonds over solid steel, this abrasive is meant to last a lifetime. As with any sharpening system, if you want to remove stock fast you need a larger grit--the grit on this steel is polishing grade.

For edges in good condition this steel works well. Pay close attention to the bevel angle so you don't waste time polishing the bevel shoulder rather than the surface and edge. This diamond honing steel should be nearly glaze free, unlike others that fill with steel particles and lose efficiency, but it's still a good idea to rinse it clean and let it dry before storing.

Though it will hone harder steel like VG-10, do that with a light touch. The harder steels in top quality Japanese blades will chip under side pressure, and some require special sharpening systems.

Find this DMT Industrial Diamond Sharpening Steel:

Find this sharpening steel on eBay:

]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/dmt-industrial-diamond-sharpening-steel-knife-honing-extra-fine-grit-ds2e-12-inch/feed/ 0 West Bend Automatic Can Opener | Electric Knife Sharpener http://www.thecooksden.com/west-bend-automatic-can-opener-electric-knife-sharpener/ http://www.thecooksden.com/west-bend-automatic-can-opener-electric-knife-sharpener/#comments Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:37:41 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4629 West Bend Automatic Can Opener This electric can opener from West Bend is as stylish as it is efficient, available in five bold colors to match any modern kitchen decor. You'll probably still want it even if you live in a log cabin.

Only nine inches tall and compact in design, this can opener will handle any standard can that fits between the cutting wheel and the counter. Small cans can be a nearly hands off procedure--just fit them to the machine and lock the handle down and the work goes on without you. Larger cans will require some counterbalancing.

You can also sharpen most plain edge kitchen knives with the built-in grinder on the back of the unit, but don't expect the best results from a can opener/grinder. Use better methods on expensive cutlery. When not in use, you can tidy up by storing the power cord in the unit, not around it. Power consumption is light, only 70 Watts, and since use is normally intermittent there's not much worry about overloading the machine.

Cleaning will be done by hand, and attention should be paid to the space behind the cutting wheel as well as to the gears. Cleaning often removes lubricant, which shortens the life of any machine. An occasional drop of mineral oil on bearings should help. The one year limited warranty covers any immediate problems and this can opener has a history of lasting well beyond that period. This is not the usual throw-away machine--replacement blades are available from West Bend, to keep this easy-action product working like new.

Find this West Bend Electric Can Opener:

Find this can opener on eBay:

]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/west-bend-automatic-can-opener-electric-knife-sharpener/feed/ 0 Wusthof Ikon Diamond Knife & Shears Sharpener http://www.thecooksden.com/wusthof-ikon-diamond-knife-shears-sharpener/ http://www.thecooksden.com/wusthof-ikon-diamond-knife-shears-sharpener/#comments Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:51:41 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4511 Wusthof Ikon Diamond Knife & ShearsOn the coarse side of this machine is a slot with diamond abrasive rods for quick removal of steel; on the fine side, a matching slot with two ceramic rods to refine the edge. A few strokes through each, and if all goes well, your knife should be ready for a final honing with a kitchen sharpening steel. Centered in the device is a floating ceramic rod which should adjust to the bevel of a scissors blade and strop the edge at the correct angle. This sharpener is set to the bevel of European cutlery, not the thin edges of Japanese blades.

Some drawbacks to this type of sharpener have been overcome by the introduction of the diamond rods--these abrasives are nearly permanent, while ceramic rods tend to wear away and lose effectiveness. Diamond can remove a lot of steel, so be careful not to overuse this gadget. Use it to restore the bevel when necessary, but most of your sharpening--the daily variety--should be with the sharpening steel.

Although the ceramic slot is said to produce a sharp edge on serrated knives, do not expect the kind of accurate restoration you'd get from a factory refurbishing. Many finer knives come with a lifetime warranty that includes restoring serrated edges for free if you pay the postage. If you run that same knife through this machine and don't like the results, you may have voided your warranty. Try that on something cheap first.

As for the floating ceramic scissors sharpener, probably you'll get good results for awhile. When the ceramic begins to wear away, results will be not so good. When that happens, remember it's not the fault of the scissors.

Find this Wusthof Ikon Diamond Knife Sharpener:

Find this knife sharpener on eBay:

]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/wusthof-ikon-diamond-knife-shears-sharpener/feed/ 1 J.A. Henckels Twin Pro Polishing Sharpening Stone http://www.thecooksden.com/ja-henckels-twin-pro-polishing-sharpening-stone/ http://www.thecooksden.com/ja-henckels-twin-pro-polishing-sharpening-stone/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:46:55 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4471 J.A. Henckels Twin Pro Sharpening StoneFor connoisseurs of edges as well as food, Henckels supplies this finishing stone that goes beyond "fine" in edge maintenance. This grade of sharpening stone is for polishing, not stock removal, and is only for those who want a polished edge with a perfect bevel. For reworking damaged edges, step down to a medium or coarse grit stone.

Putting a mirror finish on the sharpening bevel of a knife is a step most do not take. With the finest knives it can make a noticeable difference in quality of cut, but with lower grade knives the advantage is fleeting. Lower grades of steel won't hold up long enough to be worth the extra work this stone entails.

Synthetic stones like this Henckels are also softer than the more traditional natural whetstones. Although finer in grit diameter and more uniform in density, they wear away and dish out more quickly. That might put a practical end to the usefulness of a natural Arkansas stone, so hard that it couldn't be resurfaced by hand; with a synthetic like this one, resurfacing can be done by grinding on a sheet of sandpaper.

Owners of fine VG-10 steel knives or CROMOVA blades might consider this as a finishing option. Thin edged knives from harder alloys can chip when honed with sharpening steels, and this stone will put that final finish on the blade without changing the edge shape. It takes some patience and is an acquired skill--it's also much easier on the stone if you use it to polish the straight sections of knife edges and just say "good enough" on the curves.

Find this Henckels Twin Pro Sharpening Stone:

]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/ja-henckels-twin-pro-polishing-sharpening-stone/feed/ 0 Chef’s Choice Edgecraft Diamond Knife Sharpening Stone http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-edgecraft-diamond-knife-sharpening-stone/ http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-edgecraft-diamond-knife-sharpening-stone/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:26:47 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4453 Chef's Choice Edgecraft Diamond KnifeThe Edgecraft Diamond Sharpening Stone from Chef's Choice has been designed as a single stone solution to knife sharpening. One general purpose grit is able to handle major edge restoration as well as put a finished cutting edge on a blade.

If you have fairly loose standards, that's true enough. Diamond stones cut quickly, so you can do major refurbishing with this stone, but it will take a little longer than the right stone for that job. You can put a good working edge on your blades with this stone also, but you can improve on that with finer grit stones or honing steels. Many will want to go just a little farther with edge maintenance than this stone will take them. The Edgecraft Diamond Stone will get your knives to that level quickly, though, and since it has many other good features it's a good stone to consider.

The 2" x 6" surface of diamond impregnated steel is nearly a permanent grinding surface. I say nearly because I'm fairly sure I could wear one out in a lifetime of use. It might take longer, but I'd get close. The wooden stand and cover keep the surface clean of dust and dirt that can at least partially foul the stone; although it can be used dry I'd recommend wetting it with plain water and rinsing it off carefully, otherwise you may see bumps of steel shavings collect now and then.

The rubberized bottom of the holder gives the stone a secure footing on your counter top or table without marring their surfaces, and brings the stone to a convenient working height. Finish the blade with a honing steel for that more perfect edge.

Find this Chef's Choice Sharpening Stone:

]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-edgecraft-diamond-knife-sharpening-stone/feed/ 0 Kai USA Shun Kitchen Knife Sharpening Steel http://www.thecooksden.com/kai-usa-shun-kitchen-knife-sharpening-steel/ http://www.thecooksden.com/kai-usa-shun-kitchen-knife-sharpening-steel/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:22:12 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4450 Kai USA Shun Kitchen Knife SharpeningThe VG-10 stainless steel used for the cutting edge and core layer of Shun's Classic series Damascus blades is too hard for effective honing with an ordinary sharpening steel. Excessive pressure can even chip the fine edge, and the recommended method of sharpening this fine cutlery is a flat stone or one of Shun's home sharpening systems. For those of us who are determined to hang onto our tried and true habits, Shun provides a steel that matches up to VG-10, but use it with caution.

The old warnings about chipping the edge still apply, so use a light touch. The steel will definitely rework the edge, but it won't give the knife the original polish it had--a refinement you may not even miss. The best edge still results from careful whetting on a flat stone, at the proper angle, but for a quick touch up the sharpening steel is the easy answer.

On lesser cutlery this honing steel does fast work with less effort, quickly restoring blunted edges without the mess of whetstones or bulky grinding systems. This tool is not intended for reworking major damage, and when you stop getting quick results from its use, it is time to re-grind. Over the long haul, the sharpening steel is a great time saver, keeping your knives at peak efficiency.

Find this Kai USA Shun Sharpening Steel :

Find this sharpening steel on eBay:

]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/kai-usa-shun-kitchen-knife-sharpening-steel/feed/ 0 DMT Dia-Sharp Knife Sharpening Stone | Diamond Combination Extra Fine D6EF http://www.thecooksden.com/dmt-dia-sharp-knife-sharpening-stone-diamond-combination-extra-fine-d6ef/ http://www.thecooksden.com/dmt-dia-sharp-knife-sharpening-stone-diamond-combination-extra-fine-d6ef/#comments Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:43:45 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4438 DMT Dia-Sharp Knife Sharpening Stone Having used carborundum and Quachita stones to sharpen my knives for the last few decades it was a tough sell to get me to try diamond stones when they first came out. Their ability to restore edges in record time, without clogging or dishing, seemed completely unreasonable. Years later when I tried one out with a critical sneer, it took me just a few minutes to admit there's something better than Arkansas novaculite.

This combination diamond whetstone from Diamond Machining Technologies is all the good things that were promised, in a size large enough for efficient work. For occasional maintenance of high quality cutlery like Shun's Damascus steel products, this is a better option than the Japanese waterstones many people use. You'd need a rough and medium grit stone for major repairs, but if you keep an eye on edges and catch trouble before it goes too far, this stone will be enough. The fine side will give your blades a razor sharp edge; the extra fine side is for perfectionists who think they can tell the difference.

Although you can use this stone dry, I don't recommend it. Wet it down with water and rinse it off occasionally or you may have problems with clumps of steel shavings. The first few times you use it, it will cut fast, but the surface wears down a bit, exposing even more diamonds, and the results get a little slower and a little better. Then, the wearing away of the stone stops--no more dished stones that only touch the edge of the knife in two places.

Put a folded cloth or even a paper towel under the stone if you use it on any surface you care about. It will scratch just about anything, including expensive marble counter tops.

Find this DMT Dia-Sharp Sharpening Stone:

Find this sharpening stone on eBay:

]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/dmt-dia-sharp-knife-sharpening-stone-diamond-combination-extra-fine-d6ef/feed/ 0 Global MinoSharp Plus Knife Sharpening System 440 S/B http://www.thecooksden.com/global-minosharp-plus-knife-sharpening-system-440-sb/ http://www.thecooksden.com/global-minosharp-plus-knife-sharpening-system-440-sb/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:11:14 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=3570 Global MinoSharp Plus Knife SharpeningBecause Global's fine chef's knives are too hard to safely sharpen with a honing steel, that company recommends flat waterstones for touching up the blades when they need attention. Many home chefs find it difficult to hold the right blade angle when restoring the acute bevel these knives require. Although sending them back to the factory is an option, most of us would not want to lose these knives from our kitchens that long. To provide a workable solution, Global designed the MinoSharp hand held sharpening system.

The Global 440 S/B MinoSharp Plus is a sample of the efficiency and simplicity of this well made--and warranted for life--sharpening system. The two double wheeled grinding stations offer both coarse grit for quick adjustments and fine grit for a finishing polish. Use of the system is simple. Fill the wheel compartment with water and run the knife blade through the slots a few times, first through the white stones and then through the pink stones. Don't put much pressure on the blade and keep it straight; as you pull the knife through, the wheels should turn. Although this won't reach the entire length of the blade (leaving a short section near the handle untouched) it is a very serviceable and easy alternative to the trickier waterstone process.

Wheels will eventually wear out, but are replaceable (at your cost) and the MinoSharp will work for any fine edge (non serrated) double bevel knife--even Western style blades. Be aware that any knife you sharpen with this system will have the narrow bevel of the Japanese style when you're done. Many Western steels will fold when ground that thin.

Find this Global MinoSharp Plus:

]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/global-minosharp-plus-knife-sharpening-system-440-sb/feed/ 0 J.A. Henckels Twin Cuisine Knife Set | Kitchen 3 Piece Stainless Full Tang Cutlery http://www.thecooksden.com/ja-henckels-twin-cuisine-knife-set-kitchen-3-piece-stainless-full-tang-cutlery/ http://www.thecooksden.com/ja-henckels-twin-cuisine-knife-set-kitchen-3-piece-stainless-full-tang-cutlery/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:29:38 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=3546 J.A. Henckels Twin Cuisine Knife Set The newest product line from the well known cutlery manufacturer J. A. Henckels of Solingen, Germany, the Twin Cuisine line offers forged steel construction with newly designed ergonomic full tang handles. Three of the most used knives in the kitchen plus a sharpening steel make up this very useful and beautiful assortment. This is an excellent gift for anyone starting up their own kitchen, with blades to cover every task.

The forged patterns here are definitely heavier than counterparts in stamped steel or top quality forged steel Japanese chef's knives. With thicker blades as well as heavy bolsters that extend to the edge of the cutting blade, these three knives can handle heavy work including chopping and twisting. The wider edge bevel of this European style gives the blades strength and resistance to chipping, but does not hold an edge so long as harder grades of steel or cut quite so effortless as a good quality thinner blade.

Still, if you need a few knives to cover the range of a full set, the chef's knife here is versatile enough to mince herbs and even do some chopping with the base of the blade. The 6" utility knife will do the work of boning poultry or fish as well as handling medium slicing chores like preparing tomatoes for sandwiches, and the paring knife is often the first you'll pick up, for peeling and cutting out blemishes in fruit and vegetables. All three are easily sharpened with the honing steel provided. To really round out the set, add a good Santoku in a lighter build for slicing vegetables.

The eye catching pattern of the handle is strong and gap free, using a permanent bonding method to join the polymer slabs to the tang, instead of the older three rivet construction.

For extra paring power, add this fruit & vegetable knife set from Calphalon.

Find this J.A. Henckels Twin Cuisine Knife Set:

Find this knife set on eBay:

]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/ja-henckels-twin-cuisine-knife-set-kitchen-3-piece-stainless-full-tang-cutlery/feed/ 1 Global Cutlery Minosharp Plus Japanese Chef’s Knife Sharpener http://www.thecooksden.com/global-cutlery-minosharp-plus-japanese-chefs-knife-sharpener/ http://www.thecooksden.com/global-cutlery-minosharp-plus-japanese-chefs-knife-sharpener/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:11:42 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=3495 Global Cutlery Minosharp Plus JapaneseIt's still my opinion that the best way to sharpen a knife is with a flat stone--but the reason I feel that way is that I've had lots of practice. Many people find that skill difficult to learn, so there has always been a market for a simpler method. With finer knives like the thin blades from Global Cutlery, restoring an edge is an even more critical task. Honing the hard thin cutting edges of the best Japanese knives with a European sharpening steel can actually cause them damage. If you aren't skilled with a flat stone you can wind up with a very good dull knife.

This double stone sharpening system from Global, with two sets of sharpening wheels and two grades of grit, is a compromise. Used properly it will do a satisfactory job, but follow directions and take your time. Always use a light stroke, and keep the blade parallel to the sharpening groove. Start with the rough set and after a few strokes move to the medium set for a few more. The grinding wheels should turn with the stroke of the blade; if you press hard enough to jam the grinder you are not doing it right.

The Minosharp system is designed for Global knives, but will work on any thin bladed Japanese double beveled style. The stones are set to grind the narrowly angled edge of a Japanese chef's blade, not the wider bevel favored by most Western cutlers. They will work on Western fine edge (non-serrated) double beveled blades, but since (for example) Solingen steel is softer than the alloy Global uses, it wouldn't be wise to run a Henckels carving knife through the Minosharp. The resulting edge would be too delicate.

Find this Global Minosharp Plus Knife Sharpener :

]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/global-cutlery-minosharp-plus-japanese-chefs-knife-sharpener/feed/ 0