We’ve told you before how to hone your own knives and why sharp knives are useful, but for a proper knife sharpening you need a professional. Our standard suggestion is to hit a local market or ask your friendly butcher, but we’re impressed by the mobile knife-sharpening operation Danny at Gizmodo spotted outside our building.
Obviously, someone with a motorbike and a generator could cover a wide area, so we wouldn’t be surprised to find similar operators at markets and other foodie-friendly locations. If you have a favourite knife-sharpening service, tell us about them in the comments.
Now That’s A Sharp Ride [Gizmodo]
Jeff
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 3:50 PMI have been hugely impressed with an electric (mains powered) sharpener I bought. With ceramic rollers set at the optimum angle (whatever that is, I forget now), it’s easy to use and very effective. It was about $90 from memory and I think it’s made by or affiliated with Shun, but the brand’s actually Kai. Worth a look. I got it when I bought a Shun, but I’ve used it on my old cheap kitchen knife and it gave it a razor’s edge. I think it’s as good an edge as when I used to take knives to King of Knives, and at the prices they charge it won’t take long to recoup my costs.
mark
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 4:00 PMI have seen a few mobile sharpeners around, they go from butchers shop to butchers shop.
the only drawback is if you give you knives to the butchers they will add a dollar or two to the price
Sharp
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 7:37 PMIf you live in Sydney, there’s a guy at Eveleigh markets (The Carriageworks) every Saturday.
Sharper
Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 4:35 PMIsn’t that the guy who goes to the Everleigh markets in the picture?
Hunter
Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 5:59 PMaarrrgghhh. Not on Lifehacker too. I see this guy everywhere. Well, mostly on Victoria Rd. Although i did follow him near the airport yesterday. The bike is so distinctive.
Terry
Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 10:20 AMThis knife sharpener is not the guy it is Vicky that gets around doing sharpening also.
John Leigh
Monday, April 23, 2012 at 3:42 PMHi Jeff, I did the sharpening for King of knives for 25 years,out of the $9 they charge they have to pay a lot of rent and thats always on the way up.I only got a small proportion of the price,and my biggest expense was petrol I did 350 K,s per day,did’nt leave much.Cheers JL.