Knife sharpening question

Cookinbob

I have Cutco knives, and I have the Worksharp knife sharpener (not the Ken Onion edition).  I finally know that the factory bevel on the Cutco straight knives is 30 deg (15 each side).  My sharpener has only a 20 deg guide, which explains why I did not have the success I expected on the Cutco's.

It does not look like I can buy a 15 deg guide as an accessory, and I do not want to buy a whole new sharpener.  Should I try to re-bevel the knives to 20 x 2?  Is there any downside to doing this?

SGH

@Cookinbob‌
I have never laid eyes on Cutco. Are they hollow ground or no?

SGH

Bump

SGH

Pending you reply I will offer this before hand. You can have a small billet of aluminum machined into a 15 degree guide for less than 20 bucks. I have some odd degree knives that I had to do this very thing for.

nolaegghead

Then send them in to Cutco for sharpening.  It's very inexpensive. You can use a steel to keep them sharp between annual or semi-annual sharpening.

Thatgrimguy

You have seen cutco knives @SGH‌ . It's what I have. You can get them sharpened for free by contacting a rep who can come to your house or by mailing it in for a free factory sharpening. I can't help on changing the pitch of the blade though.

SGH

@nolaegghead‌
Do you know if they are hollow ground?

Cookinbob

Yes.  This chef knife is the one I really care about

SGH

It being hollow ground I would not recommend trying to change the pitch unless you are well versed in this arena. Sent them to Cutco my friend.

SGH

On blades like below, you can easily change the pitch. On hollow ground blades you will be cutting into the "swedge". I do not recommend trying it.

blind99

You might also check if a local hardware store can do it. Mine are headed that way shortly.

nolaegghead

SGH said:

@nolaegghead‌ Do you know if they are hollow ground?

@SGH - I doubt it at 15 degrees.  But I don't know.  I use a Tormek style sharpener and it technically hollow grinds everything.  But it's a 5" radius.

If you have a wet grinder, you can grind over any angle.  A hand sharpener, fuggehtaboutit.

SGH

@nolaegghead‌
No doubt brother. It certainly can be done. My only concern was it should not be attempted by someone who is not well versed in hollow grinding. He mentioned that the knife was a heirloom of such. Just didn't want him to think that re tapering a hollow ground knife was a piece of cake for someone who has never attempted it before. You can ruin one very quick if you don't know what you are doing and have the proper equipment for the task at hand. But I do agree it can be done. Just not a easy task for the inexperienced.

hondabbq

I have taken all my work and home knives and put on a Japanese edge. There is no bevel at all. both sides of the blade come to a direct point with no change in angle.

It does take time on several grits of stone but it is definitely worth the efforts in the long run.

pantsypants

Knife question :

I have some Japanese Knives and German knives .
Can I use a honinig steal on all of them ?

gdenby

pantsypants said:

Knife question :

I have some Japanese Knives and German knives .
Can I use a honinig steal on all of them ?

Many of the Japanese knives have steel harder than the hone. I understand some of the newer German knives are reaching the same hardness.

The "honing" steels aren't really for honing, which is a form of sharpening. They are for smoothing out small wobbles in an established edge. Typically, the steels are around 500 grit, w. is OK for many knives, which have ony been sharpened to around 300 grit. Ceramic hones, which I use on my better knives, are around 1200 grit. But I don't sharpen my edges higher than that. For those that go to 3000+ grits, a "hone" ruins the edge.

Using one also presumes that one can hold the same bevel angle as the blade bevel. For day to day touch up, I have reasonable results just stropping the edges on a sheet of heavy brown paper on a flat counter surface. Much less pressure on any part of the edge, and the paper is around 1600 grit, tho it smooths out quickly.

pantsypants

awesome thanks !

would butcher paper be considered brown paper or are you talking brown paper bags ?

gdenby

Sack paper or kraft paper is what I've been using. The butcher paper I've worked with has been thinner and smoother. Not as good.

pantsypants

cool thanks !