Reading Recommendations

[themobilesharpaner]

As I work on building my business plan for a mobile knife sharpening business, I would like to gain as much knowledge as I can about sharpening, knife types and metals. I sharpened my own Japanese knives for over 30 years with stones but that wont be how I run my new business as I will be going a more mechanical route. Does anyone have any reading recommendations on how I can gain as much knowledge on sharpening and knife geometry?
There's lots of books out there but was hoping someone had a favorite that helped them.

Thanks

 

[WildBoar]

not a book, but Dave Martell produced a DVD a few years back. He spent a bit of time covering geometery.

 

[themobilesharpaner]

not a book, but Dave Martell produced a DVD a few years back. He spent a bit of time covering geometery.

Thanks

 

[Benuser]

https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/a-basic-explanation-of-asymmetry.33951/

 

[Nemo]

If you wanna take a deep dive into knife steel metallurgy:

Verhoeven.

Used to be available as a PDF download. Maybe still is.

 

[Benuser]

And, in case one reads German, Roman Landes' Messerklingen und Stahl.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Side question...

Are you basing your Japanese sharpening off of knives like Shun and Yaxell or do you have a deeper pool to draw from? The country of origin only tells part of the tale.

 

[themobilesharpaner]

Side question...

Are you basing your Japanese sharpening off of knives like Shun and Yaxell or do you have a deeper pool to draw from? The country of origin only tells part of the tale.

My goal is to sharpen mostly household knives to start with as I know I can do that easily with great results then offer restaurants sharpening also. I can do the Japanese knives on my stones as I have done mine for many years but that will take too much time so I am looking into automation, possibly a Tormek T8 with diamond wheels and maybe their Japanese water stone. I want to be mobile, a truck with all the sharpening equipment in it so I can sharpen on-site and that is why I am trying to emass as much knowledge on sharpening and angles so I can the customer the best quality possible.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Got it, thanks. Speed will be your friend in this for sure. I wish you all the best.

 

[themobilesharpaner]

Got it, thanks. Speed will be your friend in this for sure. I wish you all the

Got it, thanks. Speed will be your friend in this for sure. I wish you all the best.

That's very kind. Don't want to laze around after retirement and have always wanted to try this but being a massive over achiever, I want to do this right.

 

[WCV]

This book by Larrin Thomas and the Knife Steel Nerds site may be helpful resources, particularly on questions related to different steels:New Book! Knife Engineering: Steel, Heat Treating, and Geometry - Knife Steel Nerds

Best of luck with the new business.

 

[mengwong]

possibly a Tormek T8

If you’re doing Tormek, then Deburring by Kraichuk covers all the angles.

 

[themobilesharpaner]

This book by Larrin Thomas and the Knife Steel Nerds site may be helpful resources, particularly on questions related to different steels:New Book! Knife Engineering: Steel, Heat Treating, and Geometry - Knife Steel Nerds

Best of luck with the new business.

It gets amazing reviews, thanks.

 

[Blank Blades.]

https://scienceofsharp.com/home/
Must read for sharpening as far as I'm concerned.

I don't 100% agree with every single conclusion he has made, but i do think everything here is pretty good information, and great reading for anyone that cares about sharpening.

 

[Blank Blades.]

https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/04/08/does-sharpening-with-a-grinder-ruin-your-edge/
https://knifesteelnerds.com/2018/08/06/sharpness-vs-cutting-ability/
https://knifesteelnerds.com/2018/06/18/maximizing-edge-retention/
Relivant knife steel nerds articles also.

Edit. I think this one is relivant also.

https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/07/15/carbide-types-in-knife-steels/

 

[Blank Blades.]

I did knife sharpening as a side hustle for a couple years. I chose to go the route of using stones, because avoiding any possibility of overheating the apex is pretty important for me. And i also had a large collection of them going into it. i was able to sharpen a knife in about 5 minutes each using a quick progression, and using a loaded strop to finish, and make sure the burr was gone.

The tormek someone mentioned is definitely the method I would choose if someone wanted to go the powered sharpening route. I very much do not like belt sanders for this. Especially if they aren't watercooled.

 

[themobilesharpaner]

I did knife sharpening as a side hustle for a couple years. I chose to go the route of using stones, because avoiding any possibility of overheating the apex is pretty important for me. And i also had a large collection of them going into it. i was able to sharpen a knife in about 5 minutes each using a quick progression, and using a loaded strop to finish, and make sure the burr was gone.

The tormek someone mentioned is definitely the method I would choose if someone wanted to go the powered sharpening route. I very much do not like belt sanders for this. Especially if

Yes, I have watched pretty much all of the Tormek videos and this is the route I will be going. They are expensive but the results are astounding.