Knife Sharpening

[Juice88]

Just wondering...How do you all keep your fillet knives nice and sharp? I've never owned a knife sharpener. Kind of wondering if I should get one...

[Esox_Magnum]

My hand one I send back to the maker and let them do it, 22 years now been resharpened once but needs it again. My electic I'll just buy a new one if it gets dull

[Cicada]

I stay away from the wheel grinders. They cut a grooved (hollow)edge on the blade. It is best to use a flat stone or belt grinder, the edge will last longer. Keep the angle of the blade at about 30 degrees to the stone. Always have a steel handy and use it after you clean a fish or two. The steel will quickly resharpen the blade and remove any slight burrs left on the blade from sharpening.

[RebelSS]

I've been using a Smith's hard and soft Arkansas stone for many years...however, unless you have someone to teach you, it's really a "learned art". I learned many years ago while I was a meatcutter from a pro...if you don't want to go that route, the only system to use in my opinion is a Chef's Choice Diamond Hone...they do a good job and there are many models available. However, you MUST start out with a good knife..most of the complaints are because you don't have a good blade. Expect to spend some money..you get what you pay for. When your knife is sharp, you should be able to slice through a piece of paper cleanly, with with no rough edges. Mine do. Touch up the edge after EVERY cutting job, and keep in mind that hard cutting boards DO dull the edge..wood or plastic. Thst's my .02 worth.

[jeffreyd]

I take all my knives both home and sport to a mobile sharping guy. he is at the local steak house on monday. if you live near a larger city might be worth to find an upper end restraunt that has someone come in to do their work. i do have a steel and learned from my dad who worked in a beef packing plant on how to sharpen a knife. sometimes tho you just need to have it put on a belt.

[cliffy]

I feel your pain. I had a ton of dull knives and tried everything under the sun. I bought all the stone kits..etc. Unless you are ready to spend a lot of time learning the art of using a stone..I would stay away. I tried and tried but never got the results I wanted. I am sure its the best way but not for me.

Two years ago I bought a Chef's Choice three stage sharpener for about 150.00 and never looked back. All my knives are RAZOR sharp. A guy could shave with my knives after I have sharpen them. It works well on my fillet, hunting and regular house knives. I have not had any problems keeping them sharp. I just have to touch them up after heavy usage. Its worth checking out.

[Pooh]

one word LANSKY.... its a stone kit that keeps the blade angle the same on every pass, look em up on the web.

[MNSnow]

I've been using the Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker for over 10 years. This is hands down the best sharpener I've ever used. It will sharpen everything including serrated blades, fishing hooks, scissors, axes etc.... Every year when we take our guys fishing trips I sharpen everyone's knives as nothing else has come close. I can literally take the hair off of my arm after I'm done sharpening my fillet knife.

It is not cheap but it is the best (in my opinion).

[MN Mike]

I can't remember where I bought it, might have been Gander or Cabelas but one of the best ones I have used is a Firestone 2 stage sharpener.

I've tried the sharpening stones and the electric ones but this has to be one of the easiest and quickest sharpeners I have used, puts a great edge on a blade.

Mike

[matthothand]

I have a three stage chefschoice and am happy with it after it's first season. I use cheap knives though. The electric gets most of the work now.

[Juice88]

Thanks for the info!