About Knife Sharpeners

Knife sharpeners are an integral part of many working environments, both domestic and industrial. They range in size from small, hand-held manual sharpeners to larger sized, electric sharpeners, each one designed to restore the blade of a dull knife or edge tool to its original sharpness. These devices sharpen knives by grinding the blade against a hard rough surface, usually stone, or against a soft surface that has hard particles, like sandpaper. Knife sharpeners come in a wide range of designs for sharpening various size, lengths and type of knives.

History

Knife sharpeners were created out of a necessity to have sharp blades for whatever job was being performed. In the early days of invention, because there was no electricity, knife sharpening was a task performed using a all manner of hard, textured surfaces and materials. The most common, basic materials employed for pre-modern knife sharpeners consisted of a grindstone, water and sand or some other rough material. From these humble beginnings, knife sharpeners have evolved and modernized into today's versions, which sport more safety features and comfort benefits.

Types

There are two types of knife sharpeners: electric and manual. Electric sharpeners are considered to be safer than most hand-held sharpeners largely because they are typically stationary, offering more stability. While they are easier to use, they don't offer quite as much control as a manual sharpener does. Ranging in size from small counter top models to large floor standing models, these sharpeners are designed for both domestic and industrial use.

Features

The electric sharpeners typically feature dual blades and often incorporate industrial diamonds that are used in the sharpening process. They are operated completely by electricity, requiring little more than the insertion of the blade to be sharpened, into a designated, "V" shaped slot. The knife sharpener then completes the sharpening process with little more input from the user. This allows the user to maintain a firm, functioning grip on the knife without having to keep the knife sharpener stable at the same time.

Identification

The typical hand-held knife sharpener consists mainly of a small grindstone in a case. The sharpener is held firmly in one hand and the knife, held in the other hand, is run in a sawing motion between the "V" shaped slot with the blade down, against the grindstone. Other models include two diamonds that scrape either side of the knife blade as it is pulled through the sharpener. The diamonds serve to sharpen the blades much better than a simple grindstone.

Warning

It is essential to follow the manufacturer's safety measures and precautions when using either type of knife sharpener, as well as the protection of safety equipment if larger blades are being sharpened. Read and review all product directions and warnings that are provided.