Freehand

[FlyingMuskrat]

I recently sharpened my sister’s small collection of cutlery (nothing better than Chicago Cutlery). What made it noteworthy was that I forgot to take my Sharpmaker a DMT XC/F stone and was forced to freehand them with a two-sided water stone and ceramic stick. I found the experience quite freeing. It was fast, easy, and-gasp-the knives got sharp! Not in the true upper echelons of sharpness (tree topping) but plenty good enough (if there is such a thing). I guess the moral of the story is that you don't need fancy equipment to get things fully sharp enough to use.

(Another moral might be that you sharpen for the owner of the knife. There is really no point in making every knife in the block tree top hairs if they are going to go straight into the dishwasher after the first use.)

*end rambling*

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I guess the moral of the story is that you don't need fancy equipment to get things fully sharp enough to use.

(Another moral might be that you sharpen for the owner of the knife.

Very true. I will restore a really good edge on my own kitchen knife, but what's the use of that on a knife I won't "visit" again for a long time? Better a good working edge that can last at less than razor sharp.

I would rely on the Sharpmaker if I could, being essentially lazy. But sometimes a knife needs that diamond stone, and it's nice to know I can use that effectively, too.