Boker Knifestyle | BUSA Edition 2020 / 2021

KNIFE SHARPENING
63
KNIFE SHARPENING
The knife is humankind's oldest tool.
The need for sharp blades is just as
old and still very pressing today.
According to a survey, more than 90%
of German households use dull knives.
Even though everybody uses knives in
the kitchen, the subject of sharpening
knives is still shrouded in mystery.
For many people, sharpening and
honing are unfamiliar territory - skills
ascribed only to an elite circle of select
specialists who use secret methods
to make dull knives sharp again; it is
almost like magic.
However, there's really no wizardry
involved. If you find the method that
is right for you, you can restore the
edge of your own knives to exquisite
sharpness without a problem. One
more thing about manual sharpening
- there is an old adage saying that
things done quickly are not worth
much. If something is worth doing, it
is worth doing slowly. A good manual
sharpening process always takes a little
more time. A manual knife sharpener
who is primarily advertising his high
speed will never be able to offer the
desired result that can be achieved
with the methods described below.
Today, machine sharpening has become
a good, practical alternative. A vast
variety of home sharpening tools are
available, but our experience has
shown that machines with sharpening
belts achieve a far superior quality of
the finished product than machines
working with grinding wheels.
We hope that our overview on the
following pages will take some of
the "mystery" out of the subject of
sharpening knives and motivate you to
take a closer look at this practical and
useful skill.