Curry Recipes Online
Beginners Guide => Hints, Tips, Methods and so on.. => Cooking Equipment => Topic started by: Garp on August 23, 2013, 07:08 PM
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Ladies and gents,
Can you recommend a knife sharpener?
I have a set of Richardson Sabatier knives - though mostly just use the big one. It is now overdue sharpening and I'm a bit wary of fecking it up. I have, in the past, used a steel on cheaper knives (with varying success) and I'm not really qualified to do it on a stone.
Any experiences you have had would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Garp
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A stone is always the best way to go Garp.
Check out the video in this thread http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php/topic,9031.msg95488.html#msg95488 (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php/topic,9031.msg95488.html#msg95488)
Barring that, i'd try a cheap ceramic wheel sharpener http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOUSEHOLD-KITCHEN-KNIFE-SHARPENER-3-CERAMIC-DISCS-/141043567369?pt=UK_Kitchen_Accessories&hash=item20d6da0b09 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOUSEHOLD-KITCHEN-KNIFE-SHARPENER-3-CERAMIC-DISCS-/141043567369?pt=UK_Kitchen_Accessories&hash=item20d6da0b09)
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Thanks Dal. Like I said, I'm not confident about using a stone and even less confident about 'cheap' sharpeners. Do you use a stone and did you learn yourself and do you get good results?
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Thanks Dal. Like I said, I'm not confident about using a stone and even less confident about 'cheap' sharpeners. Do you use a stone and did you learn yourself and do you get good results?
I think you'd be safer with a cheap stone sharpener than a cheap steel one.
My old man taught me how to sharpen knives when i was a little kid using a stone and some 3in1 oil. :)
Its pretty much the same for all sharpening as that guy shows in that video. You just create a burr and then flip over and flatten it off.
I've always liked Richardson steel, most of my bone handle dinner knives are Richardsons.
I went through them all not so long ago on the stone too. ;)
But if youre still not convinced, then an old fashioned pull through wheel sharpener will bring back any blunt knife.(http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/pics/2e9a9098a6a1e07b6545fb8fff80281f.jpg)
Took it round to a mates house to grind some of his knives while he wasn't looking. ;D Quick and easy but you shouldnt make a habit of it because it is quite harsh on a blade.
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I bought an Andrew James electric sharpener last year, and very pleased with it. Worth the money IMO.
Used to have a steel wand type sharpener which was rubbish.
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I'm quite liking the stone idea - seems less harsh.
What about one of these?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sabatier-Professional-Stage-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B005O9517O/ref=sr_1_1/280-8490104-2674218?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1377286919&sr=1-1&keywords=sabatier+sharpener (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sabatier-Professional-Stage-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B005O9517O/ref=sr_1_1/280-8490104-2674218?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1377286919&sr=1-1&keywords=sabatier+sharpener)
Anyone tried one?
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http://www.kinknives.com/sharpening.aspx (http://www.kinknives.com/sharpening.aspx)
Some proper high class porn on there as well for those that can afford it. :-\
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Thanks Gav.
Interesting that Mrs G always refers to this forum as Curry Porn :)
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Thinking about this, you must have an old knife that you could practice with on a stone. With a bit of patience you'll get great results. Then you could do your Sabatier's once perfected. I've got a Black Arkansas stone somewhere in the house which I'm now going to find and do some honing.
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That's true mate. I take it you use a stone?
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I haven't for a while but I have a couple of knives that need re-honing. I normally tend to give them a wizz up on a steel which my mother showed me how to use. I have a couple of big Victorinox knives with wood handles which are my favourites. Never failed me yet.
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Another vote here for a carborundum stone, a good eye and a little patience.
Once you know the angles by eye and are confident, you can sharpen a knife in under 30 seconds.
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http://store.makro.co.uk/popup.aspx?src=images/PRODUCT/large/316921.jpg (http://store.makro.co.uk/popup.aspx?src=images/PRODUCT/large/316921.jpg)
got this stone for ?20 at Makro..excellent and sharpest my knives have been for years.
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Has anyone ever encountered double (or even 1 1/2) width oilstones ? I am regrinding the blades of my garden shredder, using a plane jig, and the stone is not wide enough to fully accommodate the blade and jig. This is not just one atypical stone : all three of my dual-grit oilstones are the same (standard) width.
** Phil.
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One year on, I finally got a stone (not one to rush into things).
I got it a few weeks ago, and after watching a wee Japanese dude on Youtube a few times, gave it a go. Firstly with an old knife, as suggested, then moved on to my favourites. What a difference. No more hacking through the skin of a ripe tomato or sawing through an onion.
Good times :)
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Yep, being a complete saddo, it is a sense of achievement when you've stone sharpened your knives to perfection. I wish i could find my stone which has once again been put in a safe place by my missus >:(
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I must be sad too, Gav, as I did feel satisfied :)
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The best ever, razor sharp. Ebay for about ?15.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9J8JcRQajw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9J8JcRQajw)
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Interesting, Sue. It all seems a bit Heath Robinson though :)
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It would've been nice to see him actual cut something after he sharpened them.
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Interesting product but it does seem a right pain in the bum to do, I know if I brought that, it would sit at the back of my cupboard until I do a car-boot sale! I do use a any-sharp and would recommend that.
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Nice to see you back, Matt. Thought you'd ran over the edge of a tall building or something :)
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Always lurking Garp, always looking for the next curry!
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Thanks Sue, I'm still struggling with the loss of 5 minuets I spent watching the video ;D
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I have one of those contraptions that Sue28 posted in the video. It's brilliant and I have ended up sharpening knives for other people including a local butcher! Dangerous though - it puts a razor edge on. A couple of months ago I got back from a convivial drink with a neighbour who makes his own "pineau" (also used to power French space rockets) and decided to chop up some onions ready for the next day (as you do). I forgot how sharp I had made my favourite knife and amputated the end of my finger. I am only just starting to play guitar again.
Beware.
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Thanks Sue, I'm still struggling with the loss of 5 minuets I spent watching the video ;D
Could have been worse, LC -- you could have lost a whole sarabande ...
** Phil.
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Thought you'd lost your marbles there Phil, until I re-read lc's post. :)