Archive

Posts Tagged ‘howto’

Knife Knives

February 26th, 2010 admin No comments

Knife Knives

How To Keep Your Knives Sharp

Getting straight to the point may be the best way to handle conversation, but it's not the ideal way to sharpen a knife. Knives are invaluable tools around the kitchen and other areas of the home, but if they aren't sharp, they are useless - and dangerous.

Whether you buy expensive knives or cheap knives, they all get dull with use. You can have your knives serviced by a professional, or you can learn how to sharpen your knives yourself. A word of caution: learning to sharpen your knives takes time and practice; don't begin by trying to sharpen your best knives on your own as you could damage the blades.

Although your knives may seem sharp, a practical test can tell you whether your knives need to be sharpened. Slice a ripe tomato - if you can slice the tomato easily, you're knife is sharp; if the tomato squishes down and is difficult to slice, then it is time to add your knife to the 'to-be-sharpened' drawer.

Knife blades are essentially tiny saws, complete with teeth. With use, these teeth get worn, bent or twisted. Knives made of harder metal don't get dull as often as those made of soft metal, but when they do get dull, they are more difficult to sharpen. It is necessary to find a substance harder than what your knife is made of to sharpen that knife. Metal sharpeners called steels are often used by professionals like butchers, but for most people who own stainless steel knives, a ceramic sharpener may be a better choice.

Using a Ceramic Sharpener to Sharpen Your Knives:

• Begin by placing the heel of your knife blade at the tip of the sharpener and then sliding the entire length of the blade down the sharpener. Keep the pressure and angle constant; you should feel the abrasion between the cutting edge and the sharpener.

• Plan your stroke so that you will finish with the point of the knife's blade near the base of the ceramic sharpener. Repeat this move on the other side of the sharpener to sharpen the other side of your knife.

Steel Sharpeners:

• If you choose to use a steel sharpener rather than a ceramic one, begin with the heel of the blade at the base of the sharpener (rather than at the tip as with the ceramic sharpener) and work your hands away from each other while maintaining the contact between the knife blade and the sharpener at an angle of 25 degrees.

Depending on how often you use your knives, they will require periodic grinding to create a new cutting edge. If you have a sanding wheel or a large grinder with stones of varying coarseness, you can carve a new edge on your knives, but if you lack this equipment, skill or confidence, it may be a good idea to have a professional handle the grinding as it could damage your knives and possibly your fingers.

About the Author

Want to find out about crayfish care and crayfish habitat? Get tips from the Crayfish Facts website.

New Design Serrated Folding Pocket Blade Knife C118
New Design Serrated Folding Pocket Blade Knife C118
Paypal   US $4.25
Case Kentucky Bicentennial Knife G137
Case Kentucky Bicentennial Knife G137
Paypal   US $99.00
Damascus Folding knife
Damascus Folding knife
Paypal   US $46.00
Quality butterbean bullfrog knife stamped Layefette Tn
Quality butterbean bullfrog knife stamped Layefette Tn
Paypal   US $11.50
SOG folding custom knife
SOG folding custom knife
Paypal   US $17.99
1930s Continental Folding Collector Knife
1930s Continental Folding Collector Knife
Paypal   US $7.58
folding custom knife
folding custom knife
Paypal   US $17.99
NEW COLT M4 K BUTTON LOCK POCKET FOLDING KNIFE D65
NEW COLT M4 K BUTTON LOCK POCKET FOLDING KNIFE D65
Paypal   US $.99
Buck 110 Folding Hunter Hunting Knife with Nylon Sheath
Buck 110 Folding Hunter Hunting Knife with Nylon Sheath
Paypal   US $29.99
Ripper folding knife
Ripper folding knife
Paypal   US $5.00
Damascus pocket knife
Damascus pocket knife
Paypal   US $27.99
Boker Plus Airforce Pilot Survival Knife Leather Sheath
Boker Plus Airforce Pilot Survival Knife Leather Sheath
Paypal   US $51.99
SPIDA SKULL HUNTING KNIFE WITH WOOD STAND
SPIDA SKULL HUNTING KNIFE WITH WOOD STAND
Paypal   US $9.50
New 8 Spring Assisted Opening Pocket HK1 055 Knife
New 8 Spring Assisted Opening Pocket HK1 055 Knife
Paypal   US $.99
Kershaw ENER G2 NRG2 Folding Knife Sandvik 14C28N Steel
Kershaw ENER G2 NRG2 Folding Knife Sandvik 14C28N Steel
Paypal   US $24.99
NEW Cold Steel Tactical Sub Hilts OSS Fixed Balde Knife
NEW Cold Steel Tactical Sub Hilts OSS Fixed Balde Knife
Paypal   US $64.99
Damascus Hunting knife
Damascus Hunting knife
Paypal   US $24.99
BOLWING PIN KNIFE AND A CRACKERJACK KNIFE
BOLWING PIN KNIFE AND A CRACKERJACK KNIFE
Paypal   US $8.00
OLD WHITE KNIFE
OLD WHITE KNIFE
Paypal   US $5.00
Black Solid 1 pc Knife w Cord wrap Handle Fire Starter
Black Solid 1 pc Knife w Cord wrap Handle Fire Starter
Paypal   US $6.95
Damascus Axe Hunting knife
Damascus Axe Hunting knife
Paypal   US $49.99
Meyerco Blackie Collins Button Lock Nylon folding knife
Meyerco Blackie Collins Button Lock Nylon folding knife
Paypal   US $11.95
New Spring Assisted Opening Pocket N197 Knife
New Spring Assisted Opening Pocket N197 Knife
Paypal   US $.99
Cold Steel Kukri Machete Black Fixed Blade Knife Sheath
Cold Steel Kukri Machete Black Fixed Blade Knife Sheath
Paypal   US $22.99
genuine abalone Mother of Pearl knife scales handle
genuine abalone Mother of Pearl knife scales handle
Paypal   US $25.00
SMITH WESSON POCKET KNIFE VINTAGE TAKE LOOK
SMITH WESSON POCKET KNIFE VINTAGE TAKE LOOK
Paypal   US $9.99
View Page:   1  2  3  4

Knife Knives