Butcher Steel

[BJE]

Does anyone other than me use butcher steel to sharpen some knives? What type of knives do you sharpen with it? How does the finish compare to that of a stone? Also, does anyone like to use the Lansky or DMT system to sharpen their knives. I do, and that is how I get them the sharpest.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I sharpen the inexpensive stainless kitchen knives on a butchers steel using heavy force. It acts like a file and produces a very aggressive edge.

-Cliff

 

[matt321]

I have two sharpening steels. They both came with kitchen knife sets, and they both have a very fine-grooved surface texture. I use them to bring back the kitchen knives after the sharpened edges start to fold over from contact with the counter top.

I'm not proficient or patient enough to deal with burr removal during sharpening, so I generally just leave it and make sure that it is aligned staight ahead. The steel can do that too.

I use the steel lightly at first and then with more force weeks later as the edge becomes less responsive. Eventually, I go back to the sharpmaker for a few minutes to restart the cycle.

I keep my folders sharp but seldom use them. The kitchen knifes get used heavily, so I find the steel to be a practical approach for keeping them going between sharpmaker sessions.

 

[Old CW4]

I also use a steel for both the final step when I sharpen a kitchen knife and to ALWAYS touch up a knife BEFORE it's used in the kitchen. I don't know but I've read some supposedly expert articles that say the steel of thin knives like many kitchen tools will "relax" into a sort of wavy or snaky edge even when not used. Therefore the recommendation to lightly steel the knife and make it straight before use. I know I can sure go a long time between more aggressive sharpenings. BTW, I keep a piece of 200 grit sandpaper in a kitchen drawer. Ever so often, I wrap it around the steel at the base and pull it up and off the steel by keeping a fairly firm grip around the paper and steel. I do this several times. This restores the fine grooves in the steel so it will really work, also cleans off the metal gunk imbedded from previous use.