Sharpening wheels

Independent, accurate and unbiased information about kitchen knives used for the preparation of food

and how to sharpen them and keep them sharp

Sharpening wheels

These wheels look like the grinding wheels used on a typical workshop bench grinder except that they are thinner and a bit bigger in diameter. They are made from compressed paper composite, rubber, nylon or some composite material.

The wheels are fitted to a standard bench grinder with the guards removed. The most popular wheels have a diameter of 8 inches and are ¾ inch wide.

Two wheels are used: one is a sharpening wheel, which is coated with silicon carbide grit, and the other is a stropping or polishing wheel which is uncoated.

The sharpening wheel is used with a conditioning wax to lubricate the wheel and to keep the blade cool. The stropping wheel is used with Jewelers’ rouge or stainless steel or chrome rouge.

They are used in way similar to a standard bench grinder. Some experts recommend that the direction of the wheel is reversed so that the dust is pushed away from the user. With a typical speed of 3,000 pm the sharpening wheel is an efficient sharpening machine.

Detailed advice about the use of sharpening wheels is here >>>

What we like about the sharpening wheels:

oThey produce an extremely sharp and long lasting cutting edge

oSharpening is very fast

oThey combine sharpening and polishing functions

oConsidering the results produced they are remarkably good value sharpeners

What you might not like about he sharpening wheels

oSome skill is required

oThey are freehand sharpening devices, so controlling the angle is dependent on the operator’s skill

oThe are not compact machines, so are more suitable for a workshop bench