Where to get Kitchen Knives sharpened

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scoots

scoots

Well-known member
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Joined
Oct 21, 2008
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444
Location
Chattanooga TN
Back in the day...

When kitchen knives got dull you'd take them up to the butcher's shop at Safeway and ask the man behind the counter to sharpen them. Apparently that doesn't happen any more since I've been turned away more than once this month.

Covid, don't you know.

So two questions:

1) Where do non-knife people go to get their knives sharpened?

2) Is there a YouTube video that you kitchen-folk approve of so I can learn to do this myself?

I'm sorry to make a mountain out of a mole hill, but I suspect that this is something that needs to be learned as a technique, not taught as a procedure.

My Dad ruined all my Mom's knives over the years from ham-fisted grinding. I'd like to try to get this technique straight in the long-run and do it myself, but right now I have a crisis with knives that just don't cut.

Thanks -
 
I received an electric knife sharpener for Christmas 3 years ago from my husband.  I’ve sharpened all of our knives with it, following the instructions to a tee.  What a difference it made!

 

 It was easy and fairly quick, plus I can sharpen them now any time its needed.  I’ve only needed to sharpen a couple of my most used knives twice in 3 years, and I use my knives daily. I wish I’d asked for this gift a long time ago.

 

It’s BOL Chef’s Choice and I’ve included the info in the link.

 

HTH,

Eddie

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0064/4877/5232/files/210instructions.pdf?5907587921501064448
 
I also

endorse the Chef's Choice line of sharpeners. America's Test Kitchen endorses them.

Also, the Sur La Table cookware stores used to offer sharpening. No idea if they still do, but if there is one in your region, call and ask.

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
I've been using a higher end Chef's Choice sharpener for over a decade, with excellent results. It's the one with three slots/wheels: coarse for dinged edges, then medium for routine sharpening, followed by very find (like stropping) for the finish. It gives a two angle edge that works extremely well in the kitchen.

Come to think of it, time to resharpen a couple of paring knives. I should probably stop using them to open letters <g> ...
 
I've has a couple of Chef's choice sharpeners over the years and liked them.  Their name recognition has gone to their CEOs head and they are greatly over priced at the moment.  Before tossing them out, I had an old one tucked away and when the newer one failed I decided to pull the motors out "just in case".

 

What I found is there is no wheel only a diamond encrusted bar about 2" long that goes back and forth on an eccentric drive.  There are some powerful magnets surrounding the slots that I harvested. This was the basic version with 2 slots. All the replacements I found where in the $100 range, I think I paid $30ish for the one I had, so I decided on the Presto version on Amazon for $39.  Jury is still out on it, this one appears to have rotating wheels but it does not hold the knife firmly at the correct angle, and tends to stall quite easily so light pressure is required.  I think I'm past the return window and I'm stuck with it and will have to learn how best to use it.

 

Moral of the story- don't cheap out but see if there is a knock off version of the chef's choice out there.
 
The model Chef's Choice I have is the "EdgeSelect 120, Diamond Hone Sharpener Plus.

The model I have has a nice chrome plated exterior, which has held up very well over the years. I notice newer models have a cheaper looking gray matte finish.

As I recall, Chef's Choice touts the "Trizor Edge" its sharpeners can deliver. I guess that's three angles: the steep primary grind, then the less steep secondary grind, and finally the even less steep final "hone". The gradations are gradual and give a good razor sharp result.

I've put the link for the 120 from Amazon below. I *think* I got mine at Costco many years ago for about $90. Maybe a lot less, since Costco routinely discounts stuff. Now they are going for $130 to $160, if you can find one. Apparently the quality isn't what it used to be. Have had zero problems with mine.

Also found an image online of the exact model I have...

https://www.amazon.com/ChefsChoice-EdgeSelect-Professional-Sharpener-20-Degree/dp/B00004S1B8
sudsmaster-2021042918454508669_1.jpg
 
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Kitchenaid ceramic knife...

Awesome knife, works great for me and NEVER needs to be sharpened.

Except for some guests that used them to cut hard stuff or dropped them. In 4 years i had probably 8 knives broken (I broke ONE stupidly trying to use the knife tip as a screwdriver for my barbecue grill light battery compartment.

Anyway, now I have a brand new (a few months old) Kitchenaid chef's knife (also ceramic) and I tell everybody that arrives here that "if you don't want me to cut a certain small part of your body and give it to my dogs, don't you dare to think about touching my knives.
 
Agreed about the various independent butcher and grocer option.  A small grocer near me has a guy set up in a tent every Friday for knife sharpening.  Farmers' markets are another place I've seen this offered.

 

Several years ago I bought a NLA attachment for my KitchenAid mixer that has been the best knife sharpener I've yet to use, but given the remarks about Chef's Choice, I could be overstating things.  Regardless, I leave the sharpening attachment on all the time so it's ready when needed.  It's easy to use and my knives have been a pleasure to use ever since I nabbed this attachment on eBay. 

 

I don't have a picture of it, but I do have a picture of the instructions that I was able to lift from another eBay listing that gives you an idea of what it looks like.

rp2813-2021042922290109504_1.jpg
 
QSD Dan

I have one of those and have to say its been one of the better non electric sharpeners I have had.

A quick nose on eBay and you find a Chefs Choice electric model £249 ????? I don't think so.

Austin
 
Mom used to take ours to the sewing machine shop she frequented. They sharpened scissors and knives. At that time they charged $1 each. I bought a sharpener on Amazon that does pretty well as well.
 
£249 sounds like quite a markup. They are going here on Amazon for "just" $130, which is something like £110. I think.

I *think* I may have snagged my chrome CC sharpener for $50 way back when. It's a shame the prices have since gone berserk.

I remember the wisdom of some famous chef: a dull kitchen knife is dangerous.
 
I have a "Work-Sharp" sharpener I bought from Agri Supply that works just fine!!Instead of wheels uses miniature abrasive belts for sharpening with guides on the machine.Also the device has slots for scissors-haven't tried that yet.
 
Well, that's a limitation of the Chef's Choice Edge Select line. No provision for sharpening anything other than kitchen knives. No scissors, no hatchets, no chain saws.

But I have a bench grinder in my workshop and a good assortment of hand files for that stuff.
 
Usually taylors and or shoe repair shops used to give a sharpening service for knives and scissors.
Beside these kind of shops disappearing over here, if police pulls you over and find such items in your car then you may have issues.
This is as they will not believe you are going to get them sharpened, and will confiscate them as they call them weapons. And will report you as a potential offender. LOL
It happened to me with a vitage stove roasting rod I forgot in my trunk.

These kind of things are one of the endless reasons why I am looking forward to get the hell away from here ASAP.
 
Freddy,

over here shoe repair shops are extremly few today. So are tailors, except in higher end apparrel shops, and they don't do blades. Most buy cheap cutlery, and replace it when it's dull. Otherwise, like us, we bought Wusthoff from Solingen Germany in the 90's, and a good electric sharpener. They cost about $50.
 
Same here, tailors-clothes repairs in some malls. Usually also do keys and shoes.
Disappearing every where though since as for knives people just buy cheap clothes and do not get bothered with repairs. And for those having to fix or modify expensive dresses drapes and such there is always "Martha" the old lady neighbor good at the sewing machine or high end shop services to adapt dresses.

But at least elsewhere they do not do any crazy stuff if a person carries a couple knives or whatever with them.
They make stories even for baseball bats here, since baseball isn't a popular sport here they take for granted you are going around to smash it on someone's head.[this post was last edited: 5/7/2021-12:02]
 
Well, I sort of answered that imaginary question further up . . . and now I have a picture to share.

 

And of course it renders here on AW "iPhone sideways."  Those #@*&$% millennials and their sloppy, presumptuous #@*&$% algorithms.  I challenge anyone unfamiliar with the definition of insanity to try and fix it. 

rp2813-2021050719572009953_1.jpg
 
Freddy,

Could you put a steel lockbox in your trunk? Bolted through the box bottom to the floor of the trunk, of course. Then, if that doesn't satisfy the cops, when they ask you to open, just shrug your shoulders and say, "La senorita tiene el cle" or however you would say "the woman has the key" in Italian. Worst they could do is slap you in cuffs.

Update: Google translate to the rescue:

"la donna ha la chiave"

Presto!
 
Hahahahah.
A steel box like that would probably cause more morbid curiosity from cops than else.
Keep in count I would have no Señora but rather a señor, and yes I beleive they have that data too in their archives since I have been stopped and questioned what I was doing around late at night while maybe waiting-leaving some Grindr dates and I had to disclose some things.
I would rather hide the stuff in the spare wheel-jack compartment.
Hopefully they won't check if I actually carry a spare wheel in good shape (as required by law)
Said this, it is the concept behind all of this that irritates me.
And I would rather be the one hundcuffing some carabinieri🤤...but in other situations..you know what I mean.😂😂😂
[this post was last edited: 5/8/2021-06:22]
 

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