Look Sharp

Flickr photo by brianwferry

Flickr photo by brianwferry

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  • In the Heights

    Love the idea of the old fashioned truck, but beware. I had my really good knives sharpened and they were not done properly. I took them to Cooks Companion and they looked at the knives and asked me if they had been sharpened by the truck guy. They could tell because he doesn’t really know what he is doing when it comes to good knives.

  • http://www.myspace.com/billyreno Billy Reno

    I didn’t have any scissors or knives to sharpen…so I handed him my wit. Did wonders!

  • AEB

    (Can you prove that statement, Billy R.?)

    I, too, have had bad experiences with truck sharpeners. One lesson I learned was that, most of the time, re-honing, which is what the truck sharpeners (try to) do, isn’t really required, unless, of course, the knives have really been blunted.

    The thing to do is to buy a steel–they’re chap and amazingly effective if used with some regularity–that is, before almost every cutting job.

    The only trick is to maintain a rather acute blade angle–about 20 degrees–while swishing the knife edge against the steel. Two or three passes on both sides of the edge and you’re in business.

    Much better, easier and cheaper than “patent” sharpeners, which usually take chunks out of the knife edge.

  • promenade

    He KILLED my knives – over-honed them and sharp they were NOT!

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com Claude Scales

    There’s another grinder, Del Re, who does an excellent job. His truck, if I recall correctly, is red.

  • henry & state

    The Del Re – red truck guy does do a great job but I haven’t seen or heard him around. The other guy in green truck destroyed my sister-in-law’s knives.

  • lrb

    My bad experience with green truck “Bob” started before I even had a chance to give him my knives, which I guess is a good thing based on the other comments. I said, “excuse me sir” through the open window to get his attention and he barely looked up. When he finally did, I asked what his schedule was and he barked at me, “around every six weeks.” I then asked if he was always in the same spot and he said “NO”. I followed with “so how can I find you” and his reply was “you’ll just have to look for me.” My last question of “how long will you be here today” was completely ignored. A proprietor with that attitude towards a new potential customer does not deserve anyone’s business.

  • Sally

    Interesting…how much does knife sharpening/knife destroying cost?

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com Claude Scales

    If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.

    But seriously: my wife usually gives me three knives to take down to Del Re (he was in front of our building, 57 Montague, just a few day ago) and it comes to $15, so $5 a knife.

  • In the Heights

    Cooks Companion does a great job. They also charge $5 a knife. You won’t believe the difference if you haven’t had your knives sharpened in a long time.

  • steve1919

    the man in the RED truck does an excellent job. If you find him in the streets be sure to stop him. this is guy you want to see