Boy! If I sound excited about this item, you bet your butt it's true! This marvelous tool belongs in EVERY kitchen, ASAP!
I am 59, almost 60, and have used knives all my life, both outside, and inside, and especially in the kitchen. One thing I was never taught by my dad (died when I was 10) and also was never able to "master" in these subsequent years, was how to sharpen a knife! Trust me, I can take a dull knife and make it duller!
Then, Zam! I'm at a local (big, well-known, name) shop here two weeks ago, and they are giving a knife sharpening seminar in the hunting & archery department, so, naturally, I trecked upstairs to check it out.
Well, the guy doing the demonstration showed us 3 things, a flat oilstone system, a hydrastone system, and this little baby. He thoroughly went through all three systems with us, carefully explaining their workings, and what they are best for.
Hydrastone and oilstone are for outdoor/sporting/pocket knives, where you want and need a very fine edge to the blade, and always polishing at the end with a leather strop and jeweler's polish.
But, for KITCHEN, the single best item is this system from Spyderco. I saw it work, I even tried it myself, and can do it! And, if I can do it, you can, too! Trust me! I purchased this ON THE SPOT, and it was NOT an impulse purchase, either!
Every knife in my block, and in my utility drawer is now razor sharp, able to slice down a piece of adding machine tape (paper). What a truly GREAT feeling to pick up ANY knife and be able to cut with it! I'm in heaven! Another tip...when finished with ANY knife, wash and rinse in hot soapy water and wipe dry immediately....DO NOT allow foodstuff to "sit" for any length of time on a blade, especially if you have been cutting fruit.
OK, I'll stop now, I realize I've made this a long review, but I am very pleased and excited about this product, and want you to know about it, and to know that it is a GREAT product, and it REALLY WORKS! And WELL! ~operabruin
