Not the Sharpest Knife in the Drawer….

[MirrOlure 14665]

We’ve got quality knives. Not one of those 48 piece monstrosities.

 

So what’s the consensus on best device/method for sharpening.

 

Or is it what I already know and don’t do enough: whetstone and patience?

[Sam Lin 3542]

There are a few other threads on this, but Ken Onion WorkSharp is my rec. Watch some YT and practice on a piece of shit knife a few times first, then nothing is as easy while still not being aggressive on the knife.

[Gene Parmesan 3993]

For sure practice I ruined my edc knife after watching a couple minutes on YouTube and giving it a shot. 

[jimmyjazz 45609]

I take a controversial approach -- I go to a professional and let them do it.  $5 per knife.  (More for serrated.)

[deadshank 24651]

Spyderco Sharpmaker. 

[Mo Horn 8808]

2 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

I take a controversial approach -- I go to a professional and let them do it.  $5 per knife.  (More for serrated.)

Exactly. My place charges $6, but well worth it. Honing steel on a regular basis. 

[4th&Five 41465]

[Shaddie 1640]

+1 on Ken Onion. 
1 thing I found about using mine is your belt grit. I thought after I fixed up a knife I wouldn’t need to use the “coarser” belts. Found just a few passes with coarser and then finer gets mine razor sharp. Use the paper towel trick to test. 
YT is your friend. 

[tigol 2383]

http://www.austinsknifesharpest.com/

[dcbc 14442]

I tried the whetstone and I realized that it's not my gift.  So on the less expensive end of the spectrum, I picked up one of these last year, and it has been great.  It even sharpens serrated knives.  I just give them a few passes when they need it (ever few months or so), and hit them with the honing steel before use.

 

Edited August 28, 2023 by dcbc

[CHIEF 5072]

Depends, Japanese or German edge? They have different bevels.

CHIEF

[Braff Zacklin 13434]

I don't waste time sharpening knives. Instead, I enter a sales contest once a year and sandbag just enough not to win first.

[NWBuck 8548]

1 hour ago, Braff Zacklin said:

I don't waste time sharpening knives. Instead, I enter a sales contest once a year and sandbag just enough not to win first.

Careful, though... miscalculate and end up third and you're fired.

[threesheets 1652]

19 hours ago, dcbc said:

I tried the whetstone and I realized that it's not my gift.  So on the less expensive end of the spectrum, I picked up one of these last year, and it has been great.  It even sharpens serrated knives.  I just give them a few passes when they need it (ever few months or so), and hit them with the honing steel before use.

 

I have the Wusthof version and it works great.  Coincidentally I took off the tip of my left ring finger (with my beloved Wusthof santoku) last week, which was awesome.

[dcbc 14442]

1 minute ago, threesheets said:

I have the Wusthof version and it works great.  Coincidentally I took off the tip of my left ring finger (with my beloved Wusthof santoku) last week, which was awesome.

Yeouch.  I scalloped my thumb with my Dexter-Russel slicer once.  Not my finest moment.

[threesheets 1652]

Yeah, I did that on a mandolin once @dcbc. Bled for like 3 days.

[Mo Horn 8808]

2 minutes ago, threesheets said:

I have the Wusthof version and it works great.  Coincidentally I took off the tip of my left ring finger (with my beloved Wusthof santoku) last week, which was awesome.

The "add a tip" thread is ➡️

[Carl Spackler 3461]

Live look-in at threesheets & dcbc

 

[ImissWallyPryor 9045]

22 hours ago, dcbc said:

I tried the whetstone and I realized that it's not my gift.  So on the less expensive end of the spectrum, I picked up one of these last year, and it has been great.  It even sharpens serrated knives.  I just give them a few passes when they need it (ever few months or so), and hit them with the honing steel before use.

 

I got one of these (white, not silver lol) as a gift at least a decade ago. I was underwhelmed. I’m not sure where it is now.

[Mittens 8189]

I use this guy:  https://www.austin-blades.com/

Bonus: great selection of pocket knives and every bladed weapon you ever wanted to see out of the back of the Ninja and Soldier of Fortune magazines when you were a kid.

[Deej 76600]

On 8/26/2023 at 9:38 PM, jimmyjazz said:

I take a controversial approach -- I go to a professional and let them do it.  $5 per knife.  (More for serrated.)

I have a friend who has an annual knife sharpening party. She hires a professional knife sharpener, and then invites everyone to bring their knives and get drunk. Hasn't ended badly...yet. 

[dcbc 14442]

2 hours ago, ImissWallyPryor said:

I got one of these (white, not silver lol) as a gift at least a decade ago. I was underwhelmed. I’m not sure where it is now.

I've got the white one too.  I'm glad I read the instructions though.  On this one, you run the knife blade forward and back (not just pull toward you like on some sharpeners).  About eight times and then another eight in the polishing slot and it had mine nice and sharp.  I don't doubt there are better sharpeners out there, but for $35 or whatever I paid, this does the trick.

[ImissWallyPryor 9045]

8 hours ago, threesheets said:

I have the Wusthof version and it works great.  Coincidentally I took off the tip of my left ring finger (with my beloved Wusthof santoku) last week, which was awesome.

 

8 hours ago, dcbc said:

Yeouch.  I scalloped my thumb with my Dexter-Russel slicer once.  Not my finest moment.

 

8 hours ago, threesheets said:

Yeah, I did that on a mandolin once @dcbc. Bled for like 3 days.

These plus my own mishaps is why I don’t try to chop and slice like I’m some kind of a professional. 

[dcbc 14442]

7 hours ago, ImissWallyPryor said:

These plus my own mishaps is why I don’t try to chop and slice like I’m some kind of a professional.

There may have been alcohol in anticipation of our playing USC for the first time since 2006 involved in my mishap.

 

We got rid of the mandolin years ago.  That thing wanted to kill my entire family.

Edited August 29, 2023 by dcbc

[gsoda3 3238]

used to go to a local place but i've been using sharpenters for a couple of years now.  you send it to them and they get it back within the week.  they probably use a belt sander though just fyi. about $8 / knife. 

[BHMCruiser 1813]

The Ken Onion sharpener is amazing on kitchen knives. Pocket knives with their different blade shapes and angles, as well as how far the handle protrudes, will take some practice. But my kitchen knives are literally razor sharp. I even put an edge on my cleaver (in case I ever need to use it for something for the first time ever). 

[Shaddie 1640]

The onion has 1 issue. After using a razor sharp knife you will never want to use anything else. It is fantastic edge if you watch a few videos. 

[ImissWallyPryor 9045]

2 hours ago, Shaddie said:

The onion has 1 issue. After using a razor sharp knife you will never want to use anything else. It is fantastic edge if you watch a few videos. 

Added to my Christmas wish list. Too late for my birthday. 

[Sam Lin 3542]

On 8/26/2023 at 5:44 PM, Sam Lin said:

There are a few other threads on this, but Ken Onion WorkSharp is my rec. Watch some YT and practice on a piece of shit knife a few times first, then nothing is as easy while still not being aggressive on the knife.

Preempting the question, the single reason I rec the Ken Onion is the blade guide allows Asian and conventional angles. If you have no Asian angle knives, you can save a few bucks and get the conventional WorkSharp. But even then I'd rec the Ken Onion for future flexibility, and I believe the guide also allows you to do other items like axes or lawnmower blades easier?

[jimmyjazz 45609]

You sharpen your kitchen knives on the same device you use to sharpen your lawnmower blade?

[Sam Lin 3542]

That's the beauty of it. It does everything, well. Can shave with my lawnmower blade when done. But I don't. That would be too kinky.