How do you keep your knives sharp?

We have enough foodies on here that maybe I can glean some insight from some of you.

I have some serviceable knives that I sharpen once every two or three months with a stone. Otherwise, I just do some maintenance with the steel. That's getting to be a pretty big time commitment, though. Every time I do my 8" Chef's, 10" Chef's, boning, sankotu and two paring knives.

Does anyone have a sharpener that works? (For the most part, these suck, save for the industrial size models, but I'd love to hear from someone who has found a good home model.) Do they work for all knives, or only straight blades? (That would eliminate the boning and sankotu, but I think I could handle doing two at a time on the stone.)

Anyone send theirs out to a service or take them to the butcher shop?

Any other ideas?

 

I wait for the neighborhood fixit guy to come around

 

You could always ask O.J.

 

I take my blades to the mall where I share tips on football coverage with the lady working the counter.

 

I got a great steel with my set. I go about five times on each side at an angle, keeps them sharp for at least three months.

 

Awesome. That's the end of the thread folks.

 

Paging Pickle_Juice.

 

But ... but, I was going to make a cutter joke.

Ah, fuck it.

 

I use a Henckel's sharpener ... http://www.amazon.com/Twin-Sharp-32591-000-Twinsharp-Sharpener/dp/B00004RFMD/ref=sr_1_8/002-8322209-9550462?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1178741466&sr=1-8

It works well for quick touch-up work. About once a year, I'll do a serious sharpening on the kitchen knives. Usually in the fall when I'm working on my hunting knives.



Bravo Idaho, bravo.

 

Ides, it's an honor.

GB --

The steel will keep you from having to sharpen as often, but does not actually sharpen your knife. Justs resets bent edges.

I use mine often enough that I need to sharpen every so often.

 

A steel and a wetstone is about all you need.

 

ONLY reason I clicked on this thread title!

And JR's right, steel and a stone.

http://users.ameritech.net/knives/index.htm