Sharp Knives

[Mooria]

Does anyone know where my dad can get his knives sharpend, he likes really sharp ones for his cooking and carving but the steel he uses just doesn't make them sharp enough. - we live in Northampton so somewhere close to that would be great.

[BBWCHATT]

Do you think he would like one of those electric knife sharpeners - you just slide your knife blade thru it and it sharpens it for you? They are usually very inexpensive.

[whiffey]

Not an answer, but why not get him one of the Richardson Fusion 'never-need-sharpening' knives ? I have one, it is wickedly sharp (and Made in Sheffield)

[Snowy Owl]

Do you have a `proper` butcher anywhere near to you? If so, you MIGHT just manage to persuade them to do them for you. BUT....don`t expect it to be done for nothing, a good butcher will take some time to do the job and cannot be expected to do it for free.

[brachiopod]

Just for the record, if anyone has a set of decent knives - then NEVER use an electric sharpener or any rotary, gadgety or gimmicky sharpening tool !!

Hi Mooria have you considered getting him a diamond steel?. I have one of these and it brings my (Henckels) knives up a treat.

If any of your Dad's knives are quite old and don't respond that well to sharpening with a steel, then it may be time for them to be 're-ground'. I don't know where you could get this done in Northampton these days (there used to be a little place near Kettering many, many years ago!)

In looking for the other link, I did however come across this - but I haven't tried it myself. (I have had my Henckel's for years though!)

[londonbarry]

I can recommend the Ozitech sharpener. I got my partner one recently for his birthday and it was fantastic: -

http://www.firebox.com/index.html?dir=firebox& action=product&pid=1528&src_t=sbk&src_id=sharp ener

[heathfield]

If, like me, he's really keen on razor-sharp kitchen knives, he should learn how to do it from a joiner who sharpens his own chisels and plane-blades. It's not hard, and he'll be proud of the results.
I've occasionally re-sharpened Stanley knife blades, and own a hatchet that has an edge I can use to sharpen pencils!
I agree with Brachiopod - never ever use an electric sharpener on good knives.

[Mooria]

Thanks all for you ideas and suggestions i will let him know.

[Gef]

Remember, "sharpen little and often". Watch your local butcher and you will see him frequently sharpen his knives but not for long.

[Bellringer]

I use an oil stone every 6 months or so just to put the profile back and give them a quick once over on a stell before every use. I also got a gadget from Lakeland a "Swiss Istor" sharpener it is easy to use and very efective on any edged tool. I even sharpened an old axe with it. Not expensive & comes with instructions. I'll repeat what others have said, don't use electric sharpeners.