ZDP-189
17-01-04, 07:31 PM
I have a confession to make. Though I be a knife sharpening nut (ask my wife) and own every sharpening system under the sun, when I want a devilishly sharp edge, I pull out my Gerber Pocker Sharpener. It's really embarrasing, because it costs less than a McDonnalds hamburger meal and seriously undermines my recent purchases of two $120+ kits (plus shipping).
This little gizmo is made by Fiskars in the USA under the Gerber label. I have so far bought 4: One for the kitchen, one for the study, one spare NIB and one I gave to my Mum (it's that easy to use).
http://www.uberlevel.com/link2image/x90gdz87v3.JPG
Two small 'coarse' (actually medium) and two fine ceramic rods are mounted at 40 degrees inside a bit of plastic with a safety guard for the index and thumb fingers. If you can't figure out how to use it, you're too dumb to be trusted with a knife. The only thing I suggest is start with light strokes and end with very light strokes.
For best results use on a very thin blade with the bevel already completely ground off. My Henkels very thin paring knife is 1.1mm thick at the thickest point of the spine; the sharpening slot is only 5mm wide, so Greco knives and Busse's are out of the question.
Tonight, I wondered what would happen if I steeled the edge really gently on my mirror-smooth Raz-R Steel. The Well, hairs flew off my arm so readily I went for the ultimate test; shaving my face. Now, my facial hairs don't like to be shaved, they grow really flat against the skin. Only my Gillette Mach 3 Turbo is trusted with this job. And yes, it shaves. Shaves like a 2 week-old razor, but it's still in that premier league.
Stats: Edge Tester - max points; no detectable nicks. Silky smooth. Knife bites under its own weight at only 10 degrees from vertical (see image)
http://www.uberlevel.com/link2image/0o4h98r2ws.JPG
Advantages:
Really hard to beat performance.
Disposable price.
Safety, ease of use.
Does not leave a bur.
Cannot mar the blade finish.
Drawbacks:
Limited to 'ordinary' thickness knives.
Ceramic sticks eventually clog and are difficult to restore (but then you bin it and buy another.)
Cost (full kit):
A sheet of coarse wet'ndry, to grind the relief (costs pennies)
Gerber Pocket Sharpener (http://www.gerberblades.com/products/view.php?model=4307) ($2.70)
Raz-R Steel (http://www.razoredgesystems.com/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=47) ($22.95)
Edge Tester (http://www.razoredgesystems.com/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=50) ($7.95).
Total: $33.60 (£18.70)
Conclusion: This is the kit to beat for sharpening systems under $300. I'm not saying the performance is not beatable under $300, but it if you're going to spend over this amount, be sure you understand why you're doing it.
This little gizmo is made by Fiskars in the USA under the Gerber label. I have so far bought 4: One for the kitchen, one for the study, one spare NIB and one I gave to my Mum (it's that easy to use).
http://www.uberlevel.com/link2image/x90gdz87v3.JPG
Two small 'coarse' (actually medium) and two fine ceramic rods are mounted at 40 degrees inside a bit of plastic with a safety guard for the index and thumb fingers. If you can't figure out how to use it, you're too dumb to be trusted with a knife. The only thing I suggest is start with light strokes and end with very light strokes.
For best results use on a very thin blade with the bevel already completely ground off. My Henkels very thin paring knife is 1.1mm thick at the thickest point of the spine; the sharpening slot is only 5mm wide, so Greco knives and Busse's are out of the question.
Tonight, I wondered what would happen if I steeled the edge really gently on my mirror-smooth Raz-R Steel. The Well, hairs flew off my arm so readily I went for the ultimate test; shaving my face. Now, my facial hairs don't like to be shaved, they grow really flat against the skin. Only my Gillette Mach 3 Turbo is trusted with this job. And yes, it shaves. Shaves like a 2 week-old razor, but it's still in that premier league.
Stats: Edge Tester - max points; no detectable nicks. Silky smooth. Knife bites under its own weight at only 10 degrees from vertical (see image)
http://www.uberlevel.com/link2image/0o4h98r2ws.JPG
Advantages:
Really hard to beat performance.
Disposable price.
Safety, ease of use.
Does not leave a bur.
Cannot mar the blade finish.
Drawbacks:
Limited to 'ordinary' thickness knives.
Ceramic sticks eventually clog and are difficult to restore (but then you bin it and buy another.)
Cost (full kit):
A sheet of coarse wet'ndry, to grind the relief (costs pennies)
Gerber Pocket Sharpener (http://www.gerberblades.com/products/view.php?model=4307) ($2.70)
Raz-R Steel (http://www.razoredgesystems.com/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=47) ($22.95)
Edge Tester (http://www.razoredgesystems.com/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=50) ($7.95).
Total: $33.60 (£18.70)
Conclusion: This is the kit to beat for sharpening systems under $300. I'm not saying the performance is not beatable under $300, but it if you're going to spend over this amount, be sure you understand why you're doing it.