Archive for August, 2010

Ray L. Walberg asked:

Ever since the very first tool was made it was seen just how important it was to sharpen knives. In colonial times when a new settlement was created a grist mill was normally the very first building to be built. These were used to sharpen tools, without sharp tools the speed of development will slow down dramatically.

Modern sharpening tools work in the same way as these old mills and whet stones. Modern equivalents are however much more powerful. Grinding wheels used to be powered by water, however they are now powered by electricity.

What to Look for in a Knife Sharpener

A knife sharpener is an extremely useful tool which will last for a number of years. There are various different types of knife sharpeners which all serve the same basic purpose. A table top grinder is very useful for sharpening the blades of gardening tools and axe blades.

You will commonly need to sharpen your chain saw blades on a regular basis to make sure that everything is cut evenly. To sharpen these chain saws you need specialist equipment. A drill bit style attachment is placed into the drill and rotates as the chain saw blade moves against it. When you are choosing a chain saw sharpener to buy you should find one that has multiple tips, these will wear down quickly.

A very high quality knife sharpener is the Tormek, this is mounted on the top of a bench and uses water to prevent any friction which would wear the machine out quickly. This grinder comes with a leather strop, however some other people suggest using a paper wheel to strop the edges of the knife.

When choosing a knife sharpener the most important thing is to consider the versatility. You should choose a device which can sharpen as many different types of blades possible, find out if it can sharpen longer blades, and make sure that it can strop the edges well. Also check how long the machine will last for, and find out how easy it is to get any spare parts. Some knife sharpening equipment can cost a lot of money.

Sharpeners for Everyday Uses

Heavy duty sharpening tools are probably only really needed for serious woodworkers or anyone that uses a chainsaw on a regular basis. For the general consumer you can get cheaper and more portable models.

You would find a basic handheld knife sharpener in a butchers shop, this is a very simple tool which does not need electricity. There are many other variations, including machines where you pass the blade of the knife between two sharpening wheels. A knife is sharpened when the knife is drawn at a 30 degree angle on an abrasive material.

You don’t need to use electric tools if you don’t want to, you can get good results using hand sharpeners. The skill is getting the angle right so that you can sharpen your blades as best as possible. There are plenty of classes which you can go to so you can learn more about knife sharpening.

Karin T. Clayton asked:




If case you’re looking for pristine kitchen items and tools that will make your cooking more enjoyable, look no further, the answer is JA Henckels Four Star. This company has been in business longer than you’re grandmother, for more than 200 years in fact. And they are well known all over the world for their top notch craftsmanship and meticulous attention to quality and efficiency. Why buy cheap knives that just get dull and useless after a couple of months? Save yourself the trouble and invest in pure quality kitchen tools instead! That’s where Henckels four star knives comes in.

This outstanding set of cutting blades is one of the top sellers on Amazon, and with good reason. The superb design makes them fit perfectly into the hand, and there is a cutting blade for every type of use.

People who already enjoy Henckels four star are familiar with the high quality engineering and precision materials that are used to create each knife. Yet for those of you out there who have not already discovered all of the benefits of Henckels Four Star Knives, here is a list of the top 7 reasons why these will revolutionize your kitchen experience:

1) High carbon, stainless steel construction means that each blade is manufactured to meet the highest levels of quality and strength. Dishwasher safe handles allows these knives to be cleaned effortlessly, although the preferable treatment is to wash and dry them by hand.

2) Bonded steel produces a blade that will hold its edge for an exceptionally long period of time.

3) Additional, matching cutlery pieces are readily available. This means that you can expand your collection of JA Henckels International products at your leisure. Many home cooks prefer to have all of the kitchen blades as a matching set.

4) Henckels Cutlery has enjoyed a proud reputation for hundreds of years. The German based company is well known for its quality products and outstanding customer service. Many people realize that a set of Henckels knives is evidence that they understand the value and use of these top of the line products.

5) Henckels Four Star knives are constructed with blades featuring flexible steel on the backside. This carefully thought out design allows the blades to withstand heavier amounts of physical stress while they are being used. The flexible bend of the knife blade is a feature that appeals strongly to many users of these products.

6) Forged Tang and Handle create additional strength to each knife. There is no need to worry about the knife blade snapping in two at the handle as is the case with many inferior cutlery products. These Henckels knives were designed to handle even the heaviest work loads.

7) Perfectly balanced weight makes these knives easy to grasp and maneuver. Each knife in the Henckels Four Star set is carefully crafted so that they have a comfortable weight and feel.

JA Henckels international four star kitchen knives are a magnificent set that any cook will enjoy for their finely crafted edges and ease of use. Just ask around, many pro chefs out there use nothing other than Henckels four star knives each day. Get your set of these knives today! You won’t regret it.

Order your own set of Henckels four star kitchen knives today, and your cooking and kitchen experience will improve greatly! If you’re considering what new kitchen items to buy look no further. This is the best you will ever find.

Bud1%  @

Gregory Wales asked:




Knives are the most important tools of any chef. They are thus required to be kept in sharp shape. The method to do so is by sharpening them regularly. The best and easiest method of sharpening is with the chefs choice knife sharpener. There are many ways of getting the best results with an Electric Knife Sharpener. The most important one is to keep it unplugged when not in use. The blades of the sharpener should not be put in a dishwasher for there will be an adverse chemical reaction.

To help you in getting the best results with an Electric Knife Sharpener, the sharpener should never be used on an electric can opener, this is bound to cause irreparable damage to the tool. While sharpening knife blades, utmost care has to be taken to ensure that the right prescribed angels are maintained while undergoing the different activities.

There is a chance that because the sharpeners grind too aggressively, too much metal is lost from the knives. To avoid such a loss, it is important to do the job of sharpening at a slow and exact pace. Diligent use of the sharpener allows the blades to be kept intact. For getting the best results with an Electric Knife Sharpener, it may be mentioned that the manufacturer’s instruction manual has to be followed and the procedure enlisted therein has to be implemented to the letter.

For getting the best results with an Electric Knife Sharpener, you should strictly follow the instructions diligently. The various stages and the relevant steps they perform should be acted upon. Just like the best food recipes are very simple; it is also very simple to obtain knowledge and skill to use this electric sharpener optimally.

You have to just remember the basics and do them in order to getting the best results with an Electric Knife Sharpener. The big secret has now been bared upon; you can get your work done in a very professional manner. All you have to do is to follow the basic steps of burr, then angle, then abrasive and later consistency and strategy. It is similar to cooking wherein your cooking improves as you practice. Similarly, your expertise at sharpening your knives will increase with the advent of a new day.

The use of composite plastic boards only will help you to keep the edges of the knives very sharp. Dropping your knives in the sink should not be done because not only will it affect the sharpness of the knives, it may also cause injury to the person using them.

It is imperative that you do not use any kind of lubricant or oil with the electric knife sharpener. The metal fillings from the knife blades are collected in two receptacles at the bottom of the electric knife sharpener. The proper use of the sharpener to sharpen the blades of the knife entails you to utilize the first stage is for dull blades while the next step is for sharpening of normal blades while the last one is for honing of the blades.

Bud1%  @

The Truth About a Ceramic Knife Sharpener