Keeping your blades and kitchen knives sharp is an important task that every outdoorsman and chef alike must deal with. I often travel into the deep wilderness and camp overnight, but just because I’m backpacking, doesn’t mean that I don’t eat well. I don’t know if I’m getting old, or what, but I can’t stomach those freeze dried meals any longer. I plan ahead and bring meat and vegetables with me when I camp. It adds a bit of weight to my pack, but in the end, I am happier and better off for it. Because there’s nothing like living through a cold winter night abroad, as long as my belly is full and happy; it’s like I stay warmer, because of it.
Sharpening your knives can be a bit of an awkward task at first, but once you get the hang of it and the angle you’re aiming to maintain, then it becomes second nature; simply ask any professional chef, who uses their own kitchen sets. I always aim to sharpen my survival blades as well as my cooking knives before I leave for any trip, because carrying more than what is absolutely necessary can become quite a burden when you’re backpacking through the wilds.
Perhaps my favorite sharpening stone, especially for chef knives, is the EdgeCrafter diamond sharpening stone by Chef’sChoice. The EdgeCrafter 400DS is made of 100% diamond abrasives with ideal diamond grit size for single stone sharpening. It’s advertised as the ‘Ultimate Sharpening Stone!’ and warns that blades sharpened with it will be sharper than you anticipated. The diamond abrasives are permanently secured to its steel support plate, which is said to be exceptionally flat and will always stay flat. This dynamic sharpening stone can sharpen just about anything, from tungsten carbide to ceramic, as well as tool steel and stainless steel, and beyond. It doesn’t require any oils or lubricants, which I am thankful for, because it cuts down on any mess.
The Chef’sChoice EdgeCrafter Diamond sharpening stone is mounted in a fine solid wood box, which provides a strong and steady foundation while sharpening your blades. Also, the box is fitted with little rubber feet that help the stone stay put where you want it. When I run my hand over the surface of the stone, I can feel the diamond abrasives, and as I began to sharpen my first blade, I fell in love with how easy it was to do with the EdgeCrafter.
My Zhen chef knives became sharp within minutes. And as I finished my 5-piece set of kitchen knives, I moved to one of my dull survival blades. My fixed blade had been through a lot over the years and was in serious need of a some TLC, so I spent two or three times longer working the blade against the stone. After narrowing the thickness down at a 22.5 degree angle as suggested, I began honing the edge, working it back and forth until it was sharper than the day I had got it. All in all, I found the EdgeCrafter to be of great quality. It works great and is a cool modern stone for sharpening blades of all kinds.
If you would like to find out more about Chef’sChoice, click here.
Article written & Photo by Brandon Scott / Eye & Pen
Perhaps my favorite sharpening stone, especially for chef knives, is the EdgeCrafter diamond sharpening stone by Chef’sChoice. The EdgeCrafter 400DS is made of 100% diamond abrasives with ideal diamond grit size for single stone sharpening. It’s advertised as the ‘Ultimate Sharpening Stone!’ and warns that blades sharpened with it will be sharper than you anticipated. The diamond abrasives are permanently secured to its steel support plate, which is said to be exceptionally flat and will always stay flat. This dynamic sharpening stone can sharpen just about anything, from tungsten carbide to ceramic, as well as tool steel and stainless steel, and beyond. It doesn’t require any oils or lubricants, which I am thankful for, because it cuts down on any mess.
The Chef’sChoice EdgeCrafter Diamond sharpening stone is mounted in a fine solid wood box, which provides a strong and steady foundation while sharpening your blades. Also, the box is fitted with little rubber feet that help the stone stay put where you want it. When I run my hand over the surface of the stone, I can feel the diamond abrasives, and as I began to sharpen my first blade, I fell in love with how easy it was to do with the EdgeCrafter.
My Zhen chef knives became sharp within minutes. And as I finished my 5-piece set of kitchen knives, I moved to one of my dull survival blades. My fixed blade had been through a lot over the years and was in serious need of a some TLC, so I spent two or three times longer working the blade against the stone. After narrowing the thickness down at a 22.5 degree angle as suggested, I began honing the edge, working it back and forth until it was sharper than the day I had got it. All in all, I found the EdgeCrafter to be of great quality. It works great and is a cool modern stone for sharpening blades of all kinds.
If you would like to find out more about Chef’sChoice, click here.
Article written & Photo by Brandon Scott / Eye & Pen
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