Boker Vulkanas?

[BJE]

Not sure about the spelling.
Anyone tried it yet? Does it work? Any problems?

 

[razorburn]

I have the Boker Vulkanus Sharpening System (Black ABS version ) for about a year and I've been using it on my cheap kitchen knives(420) which never stay sharp.So I purchased this machine because of this and because I was tried of wasting time on my Gatco Sharpening System (which uses an angle guide) when I could steel them in a minute with 6 passes, resulting in a very sharp steeled edge.

I found that I can't get the first centimetre or two from the tip, sharp(maybe just me) An another problem is during sharpening ,if you push downwards with excessive force, a fair amount of metal shavings will form at the base of the machine after sharpening.

I've also tried it on my Cold Steel True Flight Knife After I stuck it through a large can of expired tomato juice can about two dozen times.Then honing the edge on the machine with a half a dozen passes,resulting in a razor sharp edge like before.

It works by using two hardened steel pads inserts in the spring loaded arms(forms a V shape) which adjusts to the blade's bevel as the knife is pulled through. The Valkanus differs from other steeling devices like the Chef Choice Because it honing angle adjusts to the knife as you pull it through. Making honing an edge a very simple task,requiring no skill of the user.And also it can do serrated knives, according to them but I think only on a bread knife with large serrations.

I don't know if you have seen their video of the Vulkanus in action.It shows the sharpening and honing system at work.
If you haven't go here http://www.bokerusa.com/images/vulkanus_en.wmv

 

[Jared Stenoien]

anything that leaves little shavings after sharpening I wouldn't let near anything more expensive than $20... It kind reminds me of those scraper sharpeners, just more gimmicky, I could be completely out of line though, it's been known to happen

 

[Native Justice]

It seems to be in line with the FujiTech sharpener in that it was intended for thiner knives, perhaps even kitchen knives. I think it may be well suited for light duty and light strokes but on thicker, higher end knives, you might want to look to the Sharpmaker or freehand methods. Interesting observations though!

NJ

 

[Will Power]

Been interested in this Vulkanus from Böker myself.

As I am a novice at sharpening (got a couple of stones and some massive hand turned grind-stone that came with a barn of a house I bought)and I would like something simple to start with. Would Vulkanus be any good for this?

Was alarmed about the shavings thing as well, maybe just low grade kitchen cutlery is the cause? But the idea of bits of a decent knife coming off, er...

Thought about the Sharpmaker but it seems to demand a lot of skill and experience.Appreciate more views thanks.

 

[BJE]

Been interested in this Vulkanus from Böker myself.

As I am a novice at sharpening (got a couple of stones and some massive hand turned grind-stone that came with a barn of a house I bought)and I would like something simple to start with. Would Vulkanus be any good for this?

Was alarmed about the shavings thing as well, maybe just low grade kitchen cutlery is the cause? But the idea of bits of a decent knife coming off, er...

Thought about the Sharpmaker but it seems to demand a lot of skill and experience.Appreciate more views thanks.

I would go with the Sharpmaker, it takes almost no skill at ALL and it gets knives extremely sharp in no time, it is also can be used to sharpen other tools. I am very happy with mine.

 

[razorburn]

Been interested in this Vulkanus from Böker myself.

As I am a novice at sharpening (got a couple of stones and some massive hand turned grind-stone that came with a barn of a house I bought)and I would like something simple to start with. Would Vulkanus be any good for this?

Was alarmed about the shavings thing as well, maybe just low grade kitchen cutlery is the cause? But the idea of bits of a decent knife coming off, er...

Thought about the Sharpmaker but it seems to demand a lot of skill and experience.Appreciate more views thanks.

Willgoy,I do think it's the knife, that's the cause of the shavings and especially low grade cutery that's the cause.The Knife that I used on my Boker Vulkanus was a Sheffield brand, 5'" utility knife, with a steel bolster and some kind of black plastic overmolded handle.which I bought from a clearance store for a few bucks,a couple of years agn the package,it didn't say what type of steel it was but after only a few uses around the kitchen it's absolutely dull.

Also I wanted to clarify that when I wrote shavings(strips of metal), I actually meant fillings(like dust) instead,Sorry to ALARM those who read my review.

I also what to note that the Boker Vulkanus is more of a Steeling device(ex.Butcher's Steel) than a sharpener, that it doesn't actually sharpen but maintains a knifes edge.So if your knife is extremely dull it has to be actually sharpened on a honing stone or other sharpening device ex.Gatco,Lansky,sharpmaker etc. So what I'm saying is that your knife has to be reasonably sharp to begin with in order to maintain a razor sharp edge.

But for me,my knife ,as I suspect is the low grade variety can be sharpened using the Vulkanus's Sharpening mode then on to the Honing mode which produces a sharp edge which is not razor sharp because this acts as a sharpening steel.

On one occasion,I was using my brothers Victorinox utility knife in the kitchen and found that while cutting tomatoes that the edge just wasn't cutting it.So I stopped cutting and tested the edge on my thumb to determine whether it's sharp and discover that the edge was bent to one side.So I used the Vulkanus in the honing mode and after half a dozen passes(5 - 10 seconds) the edge was straighted or restored and cutting tomatoes again.

I have also sliced grapes hanging on the vine in my hand and have the pieces hanging on the skin or on the ground.


I would say that the Boker Vulkanus is handy around the house not to mention kitchen when quick results are required.

 

[Will Power]

Thank you for the clarification razorburn!

Grapes off the vine? That sounds very nice, where are you?

 

[Kermit]

I have the pocket folding version, its weightless, doesnt rattle around in your kit bag can be used on even large items like machetes if need be with realiable results on the coarse stroke (reversed direction). Id pack one of these in a bag for fishing trips, rambling outdoors etc but for a home sharpening system there are so many options out there.....

The pocket version though, its worth testing for yourself or if you see a bargin snap it up and stash away for a sunny day.