Common with pull-through sharpeners. By digging in at the heel, they create an uneven blade shape. This limits the knife’s cutting ability since the entire blade can no longer contact the cutting board. This before and after picture shows how I was able to correct this problem and restore the knife’s proper shape and cutting ability.

The tips of knives can break for several reasons, but this doesn’t mean they can’t be fixed. This knife was a customer’s grandfather’s knife. It held a lot of sentimental value. I was able to restore its original shape and put a sharper than the new edge on it. I was told by the customer, that when he saw it, he cried for joy. One of the reasons I love doing this work is knowing what it means to someone when I can restore a part of their family history.

This knife had a bend in it. The smaller picture shows it straightened once again. I have a specialty tool that helps with this process.

Sharpening is the process of resetting the bevel. Which sometimes includes getting past chips and other damage. This is followed by refining (honing) the edge and bringing it to meet at a fine point. Here is a microscopic before and after picture of a Shun paring knife. You can see chips and the use of a sharpening steel at the very edge. All of this made for a very dull knife. After sharpening, that same blade now has a smooth and even bevel. This creates a sharper than new edge. Even high-end knives often come from the factory with a relatively coarse and uneven grind.

This collage is another example. In the first two pictures, you can see the chips and the slightly broken tip. This too was very dull. The pictures with the darker background are after sharpening. By clicking on the video, you can also see what a knife is capable of after sharpening.

A polished edge takes quite a bit more work. Although it certainly isn’t necessary for a knife to work properly, it does increase the durability of the leading edge and adds an esthetically pleasing look to the knife. The high-end folder in the first picture received a polished edge that is razor sharp. The second is showing the mirror polish of the edge by reflecting the word “Amazing” off the paper.

Handles can sometimes be restored to like new condition as with this vintage Chicago Cutlery or even replaced if needed.

The wooden handles in this set had shrunk over the years. The cracks were filled in, the handles were sanded smoothly, and an oil finish was applied to restore the wood's original color.

The logo was missing on the back of this knife.. The hole was filled, sanded, and buffed smoothly to match the rest of the handle.

These handles were smoothed out and buffed to restore the color that had faded after being cleaned in a dishwasher for many years.