How to sharpen weird serrated Shun

[talcum]

Hi,
I have a sorta serrated Shun given to me by my sister in law. Can someone tell me how the heck I sharpen it?
Thanks,
Bob

 

[Pie]

Oof. Dowels and sandpaper?

 

[talcum]

I'd have said with a trash basket but it was from my sister in law. Is this one to just take to one of the pros?

 

[deltaplex]

Without creating a custom profile jig to match the rounded teeth, you'd have the best luck treating it like scissors with a complex bevel and using something like a sharpening rod (not a honing rod) to freehand the profile.

 

[Rangen]

Without creating a custom profile jig to match the rounded teeth, you'd have the best luck treating it like scissors with a complex bevel and using something like a sharpening rod (not a honing rod) to freehand the profile.

Yup. I have a set of 5 ruby ceramic rods of varying diameters, which I've found invaluable for sharpening scissors and serrated knives. The set cost me less than $14 from Ali Express, and at the time I saw similar sets on Amazon for about $30. Being able to choose the right diameter rod for the job is really useful.

 

[McMan]

I'd have said with a trash basket

Yup. Not worth the time. Plus, the serrations at the front are wonky from wear.
If you absolutely have to sharpen it, just sharpen it like a regular knife and hope for the best. Will the tops of the serrations remain dull?--yes. Will this matter?--

 

[mengwong]

https://shun.kaiusa.com/sharpening

 

[tag98]

Low grit stone to remove the teeth and turn into a normal double bevel knife? Belt sander if you have one and are confident with it?

 

[crockerculinary]

https://shun.kaiusa.com/sharpening
“Note that serrated knives can be honed by our service, but cannot be sharpened.”

I was surprised by this when I read their terms. It seems so strange to me that they can’t sharpen their own crazy serrations. Seems to me it’s a clear admission that they make these badly designed and weird serrated knives to be deliberately short lived.

Like mentioned above, best practice is probably using smaller rods and working the curves as best as possible. It can definitely be done but takes a steady hand through the motions and usually way too much time to do in a clean and attractive manner. Add in the fact that the serrations like to chip out and you’re in for a world of fun.

 

[Desert Rat]

I fold sandpaper to form about any shape I need.

 

[Delat]

If you don’t want to toss it, I’d just remove all the teeth and turn it into a regular smooth edge. That part might be a job for a pro with power tools though.

 

[rob]

Spyderco ceramic rod round.?
https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details/400F1R/Ceramic-File-Round/89

 

[mengwong]

I fold sandpaper to form about any shape I need.

Crazy idea: scrape across polymer clay (Sculpey® etc) at sharpening angle to form custom complementary stone. (Note re shrinkage.) Sprinkle with appropriate grit powder before baking and scrape again to set the abrasive into the surface, or smoosh on a layer of sandpaper after baking. Et

 

[tostadas]

Yea I'd use sandpaper wrapped around dowels if u must keep it.

 

[gc0220]

https://shun.kaiusa.com/sharpening
“Note that serrated knives can be honed by our service, but cannot be sharpened.”

I was surprised by this when I read their terms. It seems so strange to me that they can’t sharpen their own crazy serrations. Seems to me it’s a clear admission that they make these badly designed and weird serrated knives to be deliberately short lived.

Like mentioned above, best practice is probably using smaller rods and working the curves as best as possible. It can definitely be done but takes a steady hand through the motions and usually way too much time to do in a clean and attractive manner. Add in the fact that the serrations like to chip out and you’re in for a world of fun.

Yeah there's no way that's going to be economic feasible. That's some work to actually resharpen that thing.

 

[talcum]

I think I've decided to just put it in the closet and I'll take it out when she visits; the steel isn't good enough to justify all the work to grind off the serrations, re profile and then resharpen or screw around with ruby rods. On the bright side, I'll free up a spot in the block to get another knife in the daily rotation. There was that Morihei on the forum.....

 

[daveb]

That's the "paint spackle" utility knife? Had to talk mom out of one of those a few years ago. I could not imagine anything it would do well.

Suggest send it to Shun for their sharpening service then keep it out of the way and don't use it - except when sister visits.

 

[Rangen]

That's the "paint spackle" utility knife? Had to talk mom out of one of those a few years ago. I could not imagine anything it would do well.

Suggest send it to Shun for their sharpening service then keep it out of the way and don't use it - except when sister visits.

I believe it has a very definite purpose: it's the perfect knife to hand someone to cut their sandwich in half, if they are going to do that right on the plate.

 

[wcothran]

Needs to be a bit longer for the diagonal sandwich cut lol

 

[Pensacola Tiger]

Unless it's too far gone, it should sharpen up fine on a sintered ruby rod. Let the rod ride into the scallops.

 

[drrayeye]

I've kept a similar knife by Tojiro (their flash series) "maintenance" sharp by pulling across a loaded (green) strop. The "give" in the leather gives a good fit. Necessary on only one side since it's really a single bevel knife.

This might work as a second stage after using a cylindrical rod for a first stage with the Shun.

 

[mengwong]

Since the inner angles are obtuse, the edge of a regular stone should be able to get in there.

 

[Case_D]

Crazy idea: scrape across polymer clay (Sculpey® etc) at sharpening angle to form custom complementary stone. (Note re shrinkage.) Sprinkle with appropriate grit powder before baking and scrape again to set the abrasive into the surface, or smoosh on a layer of sandpaper after baking. Et

I might genuinely give that a try one day soon. I could probably do it with actual ceramic too

 

[mengwong]

Wouldn’t actual ceramic shrink in firing though?

 

[Case_D]

Wouldn’t actual ceramic shrink in firing though?

I'm sure this experiment won't be without challenges

 

[blokey]

That's the "paint spackle" utility knife? Had to talk mom out of one of those a few years ago. I could not imagine anything it would do well.

Suggest send it to Shun for their sharpening service then keep it out of the way and don't use it - except when sister visits.

Weirdly this is the shun a lot of people swear by, cutting tomato, sandwich and basically everything. I guess it’s better than most small crappy knives people have owned

 

[daveb]

I had to "promote" them in cooking and product demos. Yuck.

But we did sell a lot of them to happy housewives..

 

[Jeff]

Hi,
I have a sorta serrated Shun given to me by my sister in law. Can someone tell me how the heck I sharpen it?
Thanks,
Bob
View attachment 221046

Invest in a sharpmaker knife sharpener. (Spyderco)

They are great for those odd / occasional jobs.

They sharpen everything from fishing hooks to sushi knives.

look at them online - lots of videos showing “how to”

I have never regretted my investment (kess than $100.

 

[Justinv]

Or don’t sharpen it and use it for peanut butter.

 

[M1k3]