Knife sharpening vans

I was in Park Slope on Monday and saw a knife sharpening van, with guys lined up with machetes and other knives.

Does this guy come to PH? How do you "summon" the knife sharpener? Last thing I want to do is run after him with a bunch of knives.

Subject: Re: Knife sharpening vans

doublediamond wrote: I was in Park Slope on Monday and saw a knife sharpening van, with guys lined up with machetes and other knives.

Does this guy come to PH? How do you "summon" the knife sharpener? Last thing I want to do is run after him with a bunch of knives.

they do come to PH. I saw one a few weekends ago and txt'd everyone I know in PH "hey, the knife guy is at park & underhill" or something. not sure anyone cared.

Subject: Re: Knife sharpening vans

alafairnadia wrote:
they do come to PH. I saw one a few weekends ago and txt'd everyone I know in PH "hey, the knife guy is at park & underhill" or something. not sure anyone cared.

I'll have to keep an eye out then. I was very surprised to see a van, esp. in PS. I find it so latin.

do they do a good job? anyone know their rates?

i've never used them but a couple of people have complained in previous posts that they've ruined their knives. yet certainly some people must think they do a good job because they're still around. i don't know that you can summon them--you just have to happen to be around when they are. but your odds are improved because there are at least a couple of operations that do this.

I don't know if it's the same guy you're talking about but this one "van guy" some schlepp in a red UPS like truck who announced himself with a loud bell made a fucking mess out of my Sabatiers. I'm talking scars tworse than a botched breast implant. You're better off buying an electric sharpener or, learning how to manually sharpen with a wet stone. Bridge Kitchenware on
E.44th (I believe) in Manhattan has great stuff and they show you how to sharpen knives.

Idlewild wrote: I don't know if it's the same guy you're talking about but this one "van guy" some schlepp in a red UPS like truck who announced himself with a loud bell made a fucking mess out of my Sabatiers. I'm talking scars tworse than a botched breast implant. You're better off buying an electric sharpener or, learning how to manually sharpen with a wet stone. Bridge Kitchenware on
E.44th (I believe) in Manhattan has great stuff and they show you how to sharpen knives.

Egads! Yes, the guy I saw was in a red UPS like truck/van. I do have a wet stone, but I must not be using it right.

Sorry about your knives. That sucks.

Wet stones are very hard to master. Trust me and check out Bridge. The manager is an Indian dude who is very astute in these matters and will show you other sharpening options that work just as well.

In fact when you go there describe the knives you have and ask him to show you Furi Magic Fingers. I think these are the bomb. I'm not sure if they work on serated edges however.

i've seen a smaller red van in PS, and when i lived in jersey there was a red-van knife guy as well.

is this some kind of tradition?

They come in red vans to make a bloody mess out of your good cutlery. The savages.

Guy in green van = good job, but I haven't seen him for awhile.

Guy in red van sharpens everything like a lawnmower blade, so unless that's what you're bringing him, proceed with caution.

I don't think the whetstone thing is so difficult - I finally decided I better figure it out, and got someone that knew what they were doing to show me how. I hate hauling knives around, and I rarely see Mr Green Truck.

Westphal gets recommended alot as the best sharpening service
105 W. 30th [6th/7th] NYC 212-563-5990

Korin offers knife-sharpening lessons. If you buy a knife there, you get a free knife-sharpening lesson.

Here's a link with a basic how-to:

http://www.korin.com/knives/knife_sharpening.php

You can also get your knives sharpened there. If you do, you'll be able to shave with them.

Btw, people, Sur La Table is doing some promo through October where they'll sharpen three of your knives for free.

So many options! Thanks guys! 8)

BTW, I use the Chef's Choice 460 which runs about $30 and does a great job so long as your knives aren't destroyed.


http://www.edgecraft.com/page2b.html