Your Sharp ‘n Smart Buying Guide to Finding the Right Knife Sharpener
Everyone that has to use knives on regular basis in their work place knows the importance of having sharp knives in their toolbox in order to cut with high accuracy and effectiveness. Cutting with a dull knife can negatively effect the outcome of your project, which is something you want to avoid at all cost. Just imagine yourself trying to cut a hard wire with a dull knife. A well sharped knife will make wire cutting as well as cutting other sturdy objects much more convenient and accurate.
What many people who don’t use knives regularly don’t realize is that knives need frequent maintenance in order to remain safe, sharp and efficient. Taking good care of them involves using a knife sharpener. But before you get a knife sharpener, you need to understand why knives go dull and the available types of sharpeners on the market.
One common misconception is that a sharp knife is dangerous and that dull knives are better for careful cutting. This is very wrong as when the knife is dull, you need to use more force which can lead to the knife slipping or cutting at an unexpected speed. However, if the knife is sharp, you will need less effort to cut something, thus accomplishing it with more precision, and therefore, you are less likely to cut yourself. The two basic methods that are used for knife sharpening are honing, and sharpening. A knife sharpener will remove particles of metal from the knife, while a honing tool will straighten the curved and bent edge. Ideally, you’ll need both actions to maintain the edge of a knife.
Various sharpening techniques have been used for thousands of years and stones were probably the first knife sharpeners. So why fix something that isn’t broken? Stone sharpeners still exist today and are used to sharpen knives manually. Most stones are lubricated before use nowadays, much like old times when whetstones were moistened with water. Besides stones, ceramic and diamond sharpening stones are also being used. These sharpeners can often be attached to a table to increase stability and make sharpening a more convenient process.
To conclude, it’s important for every industry that involves frequent use of knives and reliance on accurate cutting that you keep your knives well sharpened for the sake of safety. There are many options for knife sharpeners, each functioning slightly different. So it’s important to conduct proper research before deciding what you want to go with. Regardless of the type of sharpener you choose, use it properly to prolong the life span of the knife and ensure maximum safety.
