Knife sharpener

[Jim the Geordie]

Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener'
being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel
inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to £12 for
the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its
slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?

I'll get my money back, no doubt, but that's not the point.

[Joe]

On Wed, 5 Feb 2025 01:01:51 +0000

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener'
being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten
steel inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to £12
for the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of
its slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?
I'll get my money back, no doubt, but that's not the point.

I have an extremely heavy all-metal one which is quite old, but isn't
used often. By the time I've dug it out of the drawer, and more
importantly, worked out how to get it back in, it's quicker to use a
conventional steel.

[Jeff Layman]

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener'
being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel
inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to £12 for
the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its
slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?

I've never got on with any "mechanical" sharpener. I've used a
medium-fine grit carborundum stone (shaped like a scythe sharpener) for
many years and never failed to get a good edge. The only problem with it
is that it is brittle. I dropped it once and it broke in half, but I
stuck it back together with epoxy resin.

A range of stones such as at
<https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharpener-Sharpening-200x20mm-Silicone-200x20x20mm/dp/B099R72S82>
should do everything you require.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener'
being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel
inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to £12 for
the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its
slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?

I've never got on with any "mechanical" sharpener. I've used a medium-
fine grit carborundum stone (shaped like a scythe sharpener) for many
years and never failed to get a good edge. The only problem with it is
that it is brittle. I dropped it once and it broke in half, but I stuck
it back together with epoxy resin.
A range of stones such as at <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharpener-
Sharpening-200x20mm-Silicone-200x20x20mm/dp/B099R72S82> should do
everything you require.

Being somewhat maladroit when it comes to maintaining an accurate angle
when trying to hone a blade, I bought one of these:

https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-lansky-professional-sharpening-system.htm

On balance I should have bought one of their more basic kits - probably
this one:

https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-lansky-lkc03-controlled-angle-sharpening-system-standard.htm

Over the decades I tried several different "Pull through" kitchen
sharpeners, but never really found any to be worthwhile.

[Rod Speed]

Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener=

'

being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten st=

eel

inserts.
The price varies between =A330 for the metal framed one and ~=A36 to=

=A312 =

for
the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of =

its

slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?

I've never got on with any "mechanical" sharpener. I've used a mediu=

m- =

fine grit carborundum stone (shaped like a scythe sharpener) for many=

=

years and never failed to get a good edge. The only problem with it i=

s =

that it is brittle. I dropped it once and it broke in half, but I stu=

ck =

it back together with epoxy resin.
A range of stones such as at <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharpener- =
Sharpening-200x20mm-Silicone-200x20x20mm/dp/B099R72S82> should do =
everything you require.

Being somewhat maladroit when it comes to maintaining an accurate angl=

e =

https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-lansky-professional-sharpening=

-system.htm

On balance I should have bought one of their more basic kits - probabl=

y =

https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-lansky-lkc03-controlled-angle-=

sharpening-system-standard.htm

Over the decades I tried several different "Pull through" kitchen =
sharpeners, but never really found any to be worthwhile.

I love the Wilkinsword scabbard thing that comes with their carving knif=
e

Unfortunately they haven't made it for years

[Jim the Geordie]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener'
being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel
inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to £12 for
the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its
slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?

 I've never got on with any "mechanical" sharpener. I've used a
medium- fine grit carborundum stone (shaped like a scythe sharpener)
for many years and never failed to get a good edge. The only problem
with it is that it is brittle. I dropped it once and it broke in
half, but I stuck it back together with epoxy resin.
 A range of stones such as at <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharpener-
Sharpening-200x20mm-Silicone-200x20x20mm/dp/B099R72S82> should do
everything you require.

Being somewhat maladroit when it comes to maintaining an accurate
https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-lansky-professional-
sharpening-system.htm
On balance I should have bought one of their more basic kits -
https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-lansky-lkc03-controlled-angle-
sharpening-system-standard.htm
Over the decades I tried several different "Pull through" kitchen
sharpeners, but never really found any to be worthwhile.

I love the Wilkinsword scabbard thing that comes with their carving knife
Unfortunately they haven't made it for years

Sorry this is the device I was referring to https://tinyurl.com/22ll82lh
I was more interested in knowing whether anyone has had any success with
it (or not),so I can either return and get my money back or get it replaced.

[Pamela]

Post by Jim the Geordie

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife
sharpener' being advertised on TV and on the web? It consists of
an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to
£12 for the plastic framed version. I have bought the latter and
apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier knives, one of the
tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its slot. Am I
just unlucky or are they crap?

 I've never got on with any "mechanical" sharpener. I've used a
medium- fine grit carborundum stone (shaped like a scythe
sharpener) for many years and never failed to get a good edge. The
only problem with it is that it is brittle. I dropped it once and
it broke in half, but I stuck it back together with epoxy resin.
 A range of stones such as at <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharpener-
Sharpening-200x20mm-Silicone-200x20x20mm/dp/B099R72S82> should do
everything you require.

Being somewhat maladroit when it comes to maintaining an accurate
https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-lansky-professional-
sharpening-system.htm
On balance I should have bought one of their more basic kits -
https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-lansky-lkc03-
controlled-angle-sharpening-system-standard.htm
Over the decades I tried several different "Pull through" kitchen
sharpeners, but never really found any to be worthwhile.

I love the Wilkinsword scabbard thing that comes with their carving knife
Unfortunately they haven't made it for years

Sorry this is the device I was referring to
https://tinyurl.com/22ll82lh I was more interested in knowing whether
anyone has had any success with it (or not),so I can either return and
get my money back or get it replaced.

Your link doesn't work for me but if the sharpener is one where the two
grooved rollers turn, then I have found this design to be the best of an
admittedly bad bunch of pull-through sharpeners.

The action is not very aggressive and it is more of honing (where burrs
are removed and the cutting edge straightened) than sharpening by
forming a new edge by removing metal. However it does do a bit of the
latter too.

I have never heard of a roller coming adrift, as you describe.
Presumably that's poor construction.

As an alternative, I find a diamond-studded sharpening file works very well
but you have to maintain a reasonably steady angle.

[Jim the Geordie]

Post by Pamela

Post by Jim the Geordie

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife
sharpener' being advertised on TV and on the web? It consists of
an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel inserts.
The price varies between Ł30 for the metal framed one and ~Ł6 to
Ł12 for the plastic framed version. I have bought the latter and
apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier knives, one of the
tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its slot. Am I
just unlucky or are they crap?

 I've never got on with any "mechanical" sharpener. I've used a
medium- fine grit carborundum stone (shaped like a scythe
sharpener) for many years and never failed to get a good edge. The
only problem with it is that it is brittle. I dropped it once and
it broke in half, but I stuck it back together with epoxy resin.
 A range of stones such as at <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharpener-
Sharpening-200x20mm-Silicone-200x20x20mm/dp/B099R72S82> should do
everything you require.

Being somewhat maladroit when it comes to maintaining an accurate
https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-lansky-professional-
sharpening-system.htm
On balance I should have bought one of their more basic kits -
https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-lansky-lkc03-
controlled-angle-sharpening-system-standard.htm
Over the decades I tried several different "Pull through" kitchen
sharpeners, but never really found any to be worthwhile.

I love the Wilkinsword scabbard thing that comes with their carving knife
Unfortunately they haven't made it for years

Sorry this is the device I was referring to
https://tinyurl.com/22ll82lh I was more interested in knowing whether
anyone has had any success with it (or not),so I can either return and
get my money back or get it replaced.

Your link doesn't work for me but if the sharpener is one where the two
grooved rollers turn, then I have found this design to be the best of an
admittedly bad bunch of pull-through sharpeners.
The action is not very aggressive and it is more of honing (where burrs
are removed and the cutting edge straightened) than sharpening by
forming a new edge by removing metal. However it does do a bit of the
latter too.
I have never heard of a roller coming adrift, as you describe.
Presumably that's poor construction.
As an alternative, I find a diamond-studded sharpening file works very well
but you have to maintain a reasonably steady angle.

Try this ten
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356430919868?var=625423712970&_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20230811123856%26meid%3D43536aefea6642bb9a1419c13cb55170%26pid%3D101770%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D625423712970%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2WithMLRPboosterAndUpdatedFeatures_BP%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p4375194.c101770.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3Ae0d4a96a1940a549ac778c51fffe2604%7Cpageci%3A86a954cc-e560-11ef-ba1c-623b4864b53f%7Ciid%3A1%7Cvlpname%3Avlp_homepage

The active bit is two small tungsten plates ~ 20mm x 3mm where the arms
cross. The device made no impression on my Sabatier knives and after a
dozen or so uses, one of the 'plates' fell off.
I reported it to the supplier who first offered 25% off, then 50%. Once
Ebay got involved, I was offered a full discount and not to return.
Full marks to the supplier, but not to the manufacturer.
Now to look for an alternative that handles Sabatier knives without my
having to get out my whetstone.

[Rod Speed]

Post by Jeff Layman
I've never got on with any "mechanical" sharpener.

I have used a Wilkinson Sword carving knife and its sort of scabbard
charpener for what must be something like 50 years now and it has
worked very well indeed. Unfortunately it has just recently stopped
working and I haven't got around to dissembling it to see why yet

And they haven't mades them for years.

I am currently using a steel which works fine but isnt as convenient.
I normally use it before each roast leg of lamb or when cutting up
massive great blocks of steak into individual stakes.

Post by Jeff Layman
I've used a medium-fine grit carborundum stone (shaped like a scythe
sharpener) for many years and never failed to get a good edge. The only
problem with it is that it is brittle. I dropped it once and it broke in
half, but I stuck it back together with epoxy resin.
A range of stones such as at
<https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharpener-Sharpening-200x20mm-Silicone-200x20x20mm/dp/B099R72S82>
should do everything you require.

[Graham.]

On Wed, 5 Feb 2025 01:01:51 +0000, Jim the Geordie

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener'
being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel
inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to £12 for
the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its
slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?
I'll get my money back, no doubt, but that's not the point.

20 years ago I bought a free-standing electric can opener which had a
knife-sharpening function, a grind-wheel, driven by the motor
sharpened the blade as it was moved down a slot a few times.

Recently I replaced it with a new similar looking one, but now the
knife sharpener is a completely manual operation by a V shamed piece
of ceramic in the slot.

[Timatmarford]

Post by Graham.
On Wed, 5 Feb 2025 01:01:51 +0000, Jim the Geordie

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener'
being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel
inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to £12 for
the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its
slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?
I'll get my money back, no doubt, but that's not the point.

20 years ago I bought a free-standing electric can opener which had a
knife-sharpening function, a grind-wheel, driven by the motor
sharpened the blade as it was moved down a slot a few times.
Recently I replaced it with a new similar looking one, but now the
knife sharpener is a completely manual operation by a V shamed piece
of ceramic in the slot.

Kindly tell me how you stop domestic staff using a newly sharpened
carving knife to slice food downwards onto a ceramic plate?

[The Natural Philosopher]

Post by Timatmarford

Post by Graham.
On Wed, 5 Feb 2025 01:01:51 +0000, Jim the Geordie

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener'
being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel
inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to £12 for
the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its
slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?
I'll get my money back, no doubt, but that's not the point.

20 years ago I bought a free-standing electric can opener which had a
knife-sharpening function, a grind-wheel, driven by the motor
sharpened the blade as it was moved down a slot a few times.
Recently I replaced it with a new similar looking one, but now the
knife sharpener is a completely manual operation by a V shamed piece
of ceramic in the slot.

Kindly tell me how you stop domestic staff using a newly sharpened
carving knife to slice food downwards onto a ceramic plate?

Throw the ceramic plate in the bin and get a wood or polythene cutting board

[Timatmarford]

Post by The Natural Philosopher

Post by Timatmarford

Post by Graham.
On Wed, 5 Feb 2025 01:01:51 +0000, Jim the Geordie

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener'
being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel
inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to £12 for
the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its
slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?
I'll get my money back, no doubt, but that's not the point.

20 years ago I bought a free-standing electric can opener which had a
knife-sharpening function, a grind-wheel, driven by the motor
sharpened the blade as it was moved down a slot a few times.
Recently I replaced it with a new similar looking one, but now the
knife sharpener is a completely manual operation by a V shamed piece
of ceramic in the slot.

Kindly tell me how you stop domestic staff using a newly sharpened
carving knife to slice food downwards onto a ceramic plate?

Throw the ceramic plate in the bin and get a wood or polythene cutting board

We have several! I think it must be a presentation issue.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Timatmarford

Post by Graham.
On Wed, 5 Feb 2025 01:01:51 +0000, Jim the Geordie

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener'
being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel
inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to £12 for
the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its
slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?
I'll get my money back, no doubt, but that's not the point.

20 years ago I bought a free-standing electric can opener which had a
knife-sharpening function, a grind-wheel, driven by the motor
sharpened the blade as it was moved down a slot a few times.
Recently I replaced it with a new similar looking one, but now the
knife sharpener is a completely manual operation by a V shamed piece
of ceramic in the slot.

Kindly tell me how you stop domestic staff using a newly sharpened
carving knife to slice food downwards onto a ceramic plate?

World peace? Just ask.
Your problem? Sorry mate.

P.S. I prefer slicing downwards to the obvious alternative.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Post by Graham.
On Wed, 5 Feb 2025 01:01:51 +0000, Jim the Geordie

Post by Jim the Geordie
Has anyone experience of the so called 'professional knife sharpener'
being advertised on TV and on the web?
It consists of an 'X' of spring-loaded plastic rods with tungsten steel
inserts.
The price varies between £30 for the metal framed one and ~£6 to £12 for
the plastic framed version.
I have bought the latter and apart from not 'touching' my Sabatier
knives, one of the tungsten-steel inserts has already fallen out of its
slot.
Am I just unlucky or are they crap?
I'll get my money back, no doubt, but that's not the point.

20 years ago I bought a free-standing electric can opener which had a
knife-sharpening function, a grind-wheel, driven by the motor
sharpened the blade as it was moved down a slot a few times.
Recently I replaced it with a new similar looking one, but now the
knife sharpener is a completely manual operation by a V shamed piece
of ceramic in the slot.

I've got/had every type there is. Now using a diamond encrusted 'steel'...
...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diamond-Steel-Inch-Professional-Sharpening/dp/B0C18DNGCV/

It works simply and reliably.