Decent Kitchen Knife Sharpener

[237SJ]

I noticed one of my little paring knives has gone blunt. I couldn`t even cut through a tomato with it. I have one of those long metal knife sharpeners and have had a go with it. I`m probably doing it wrong but anyway, it hasn`t made any difference. Can anyone recommend anything?

[Old_Geezer]

Whilst suspect the basic ones are fine, you might consider one of those electric ones. Hopefully it'll ensure you hold the blade at just the right angles. I got a second hand one off of eBay once, but it was a bad idea, it was almost worn out and kept jamming. Been wary of second hand auctions ever since.

[jomifl]

I use a diamond plane sharpener to get a decent edge on our domestic knives. You get a set of three different grades for about a fiver in the right shop. You just have to learn the technique of sharpening(a bit like stropping a razor). If the blade is decent quality ie. hard enough you can very easily get a razor sharp edge if necessary. Most people do not know how to look after kitchen knives and ruin the edge within a few days by chucking them in the sink or knife drawer and cutting on hard surfaces which turn the edge of the blade.

[Sycamore3House]

I bought a pack of three vegetables knives from Wilkinson for 99p one of them is called a tomato knife which I had never seen before. It is small & very finely serrated. So that it almost grips the tomato when you cut. Works a treat.

[retrocop]

I have tried many knife sharpeners/steels. The finest one I have found is called Eversharp.It is about £12-14 online. Has a strong sucker at bottom of round cylinder.Two blades are set on top at a precise angle.You draw the knife between the two blades a few times and the knives are sharpened extremely well and effortlessly.Well worth the money and replacement honing blades can be bought at a later date.

[jomifl]

Retro, that sounds like a simpler solution to my suggestion and more practical too. I just like sharpening blades....creepy.

[RATTER15]

If my knives get really blunt I will put a good edge back on them with an oil stone, other than that I always use use a good sharpening steel!certainly no electrical device!

[RATTER15]

Just look at what the chefs and butchers use, A steel! very cheap and wont rip all the edges off your blade and will last for many years!

[ummmm]

Like sycamore says buy a finely serrated knife. They are brilliant for things like tomatoes, onions, peppers...etc.

I have the same sharpener as you....but mine sharpens :-)

[paddywak]

I've always used a steel,it took a long time to get it right but if you've got good knives to start with it's worth it as you'll get a great edge.

[ummmm]

And my uncle used to be a butcher so he taught me how to sharpen my knives.

He's anti gadgets...

[retrocop]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Re above post the actual model I describe is called Anysharp and is £16.50p advertised currently on Ebay. The Eversharp brand have gone up market now and produce a more expensive electric sharpener. I prefer the cheaper manual,go anywhere type produced,now,by Anysharp.

[RATTER15]

[237SJ]

Thanks for the replies and thanks for the video Ratter. It`s a sharpening steel that I have. I think I just haven`t got the hang of it or maybe it`s a rubbish steel. I`ll persevere and if I don`t get anywhere, I try what Retro said.

[retrocop]

Just bought another on e-bay (£10 p&p free). Well worth it.
Bit worried about Sweeney jomifl though. Creepy !!!!