sharpening things

[marmalade]

How does one go about sharpening the blades of a food processor? Do you treat them like any other knife, or is there a trick to it? Or do you just buy a new food processor?

What's everyone's favorite sharpening gizmos?

[Kalzazz]

Could you take the blades out and use a whetstone on them?

I just take knives to the butchers and have them sharpened

[silverwhisper]

i honestly don't know, marmalade. it's never come up before for me.

[Mouser]

You can sharpen them like any other cheap knife.

Don't try to put them through a grinder, or you will find yourself with nothing but metal shavings.

Or, you can buy a new set for about five bucks from the manufacturer.

[Stephane]

Knives: I use a sharpening rod.

I know how to use a grinder, but I don't own one (my father does). So when I go back home I bring my knives and either do them myself or have him do it. He's the professional.

I don't use a whetstone, never really learned to use it. I know the principles and what to use, but I find it a little slow for my uses.

[Stephane]

Oh.. I concur with Mouser, buy a new set. It's easier. The ones I've seen aren't made for sharpening.

[TinSoldier]

I don't know about food processors...

I watched Modern Marvels today on History Channel. The show was about butchers and was very informative.

However, the thing that stuck most in my mind was early in the program about sharp knives and sharpening knives.

They explained that when you look at a knife under a microscope, even a good knife, the edge looks much like a hacksaw or other serrated edge knife. When the knife gets dull, the teeth bend away from being in a true line. So using a sharpening steel you are actually bending those teeth back into line. The show had cool computer graphics to demonstrate it and everything.

You know, I always had trouble remembering how to sharpen knives. Now, I don't think that I will forget again.