How to Choose a Knife-Sharpening Service

Well-used tools and blades will perform better when they are sharpened

By Sabah Karimi

Photo by iStockphoto.com

Keeping your knives, saws and scissors sharp and clean helps your perform tasks safely and effectively on all types of home improvement or crafting projects. A knife-sharpening service provider can help you maintain your cutting tools, saving you time and making tasks in the kitchen and workshop safer and faster.

Benefits

While it is fairly simple to sharpen knives, saws and other cutting tools yourself, you may not have the right tools and equipment to sharpen the blades without damaging or breaking the blade. Working with a knife-sharpening service provider means the blades can be sharpened safely and efficiently, and in most cases, the tools will be ready for use for your craft and home improvement projects within days. Some knife-sharpening service providers offer the benefit of shipping your items directly to your home.

Types of Services

When choosing a knife-sharpening service, take a close look at the pricing for different types of knives, and other maintenance and repair services available. In addition to sharpening blunt knives, some professional knife sharpeners offer other services such as repairing chipped blades, replacing or repairing broken tips, and reshaping bevels on knives and saws. If you have a specialty knife or saw such as a sashimi knife or a Santoku knife, make sure that the knife sharpener has the tools and equipment needed to sharpen the knife without causing damage.

Types of Techniques

Each knife-sharpening service uses different techniques to sharpen knives, saws and other cutting tools. When choosing a knife-sharpening service, find out which technique he will use for your blades. The traditional technique used for sharpening chef's knives and kitchen knives involves honing the knives with a steel rod. Some knife-sharpening services use diamond or ceramic steel sharpeners that work by gently removing metal from the edge of the blade to sharpen it. Whet stones remove small amounts of metal from the blades and sharpen the edges.

Warnings

Even when you have invested in very expensive knives and cutting tools, these tools still must be sharpened regularly. Expensive, premium brands of knives and cutting tools may not wear quickly, but they will require sharpening occasionally. Reading the manufacturer's care and maintenance instructions carefully will tell you how frequently you should sharpen the knives over their lifetime.

Considerations

Some knife-sharpening services offer a warranty or satisfaction guarantee for their service. Determine what type of coverage you have against future replacement or sharpening service costs if the knife begins to dull or breaks shortly after sharpening. Most knife-sharpening service providers can offer you a quote for services that include any shipping or handling costs if they are outside of your state. Shopping around for the best price can help you make the most budget-conscious decision.