Baconsdozen

A few tips on sharpening filleting and butchers knives etc.

Sharpening Devices,use little and often to keep your knife in good order.

Oil Stones... some in different grades,use hard for filleting and skinning knives.Sometimes have different grades each side.Use with oil or water as a lubricant we sell these with a plastic or wooden case for protection.

Steels...different grades and lengths.Said to give a better edge than other sharpening devices,we keep steels of various lengths and grades.

Diamond...usually a diamond dust bonded to a steel or alloy backing plate.Very fast action ideal for resoring a badly blunted edge normally very long lasting.Some diamond dust sharpeners are made resembling in size and shape a conventiona; oil stone and are used in a similar way they are made in different grades,we stock these.

Ceramic...good for maintaining a keen edge but probably not really suited to restoring a very blunt or damaged edge.

Bench grinder...using slow speed,a fine stone,(preferably wet) might be O.K but care is needed as you can ruin the best knife in seconds especially if the blade is allowed to overheat,we have bench and other grinders.

Using a stone or steel.

Using an oil stone...Hold the knife at an angle of approx 20 degrees with the edge facing away from you,push the knife almost as if you were trying to slice the oil stone.Repeat this two or three times then reverse the knife and do the same thing pulling the knife towards you.Stainless steels may need a fair bit of pressure to ensure the stone cuts a new edge.Take the same number of strokes on each side.Wash the stone after use in water.Try to use all the stones surface to avoid ending with an uneven surface.

Using a steel...Hold the steel in your left hand,the knife in the other.Place the knife on the side of the steel facing you,at the top.Draw the knife down the steel,holding at a angle of 20 degrees,repeat this on the other side of the steel with the other edge of the knife.As with using an oil stone try and keep the number of strokes the same on each side.