About
Re-aligns your knife's edge
Oversized hand guard
Hang ring for easy access
Economical
Easy to use
With regular use, any knife will lose its "bite" or sharp edge. A conventional sharpening steel can be used to re-align the blade's edge and keep it sharp; thus, extending the life of your knife. Edgeware offers 9-inch and 12-inch versions of a conventional sharpening steel with an oversized hand guard and a hang ring.
- Type: Sharpening steel
- Color: Metallic, black
- Weight: 8.6 oz
- Warranty: Limited against defects in materials and manufacturing
- Dimensions: 17" x 2" x 1.5"
- Composition: stainless steel, plastic handle
- Manufacturer: Smith's Abrasives
- Other versions: Smith's 9" Sharpening Steel
- Product number: 50080
Ambitions
| Apparent goal: | kids | gift/registry | home kitchens | restaurants | everywhere |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intended audience: | novice | advanced beginner | good home cook | gourmet | professional |
| Diet/nutrition: | does not apply | scary | empty promises | helpful | essential |
| Green?: | not especially | neutral | mixed blessing | earth friendly | green! |
| Innovative: | step back | standing still | progress | trendy | genius |
| Problem solving: | no better | baby steps | solid steps | giant steps | a revelation |
| Competition: | outclassed | follower | in the pack | strong challenger | likely champ |
Utility/Quality
| Ease of use: | impossible | frustrating | OK | simple | child's play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intuitive: | Ph.D. required | barely | logical | effortless | brilliant |
| Instructions: | missing | incomprehensible | adequate | unnecessary | excellent |
| Quality: | cheesy | questionable | good | years of service | impressive |
| Parts to lose: | inevitable | some/many | one-piece | self-storing | not a problem |
| Power source: | none | hands | batteries | outlet | green |
| Clean-up: | nightmare | wipe clean | soap & water | scouring pad | dishwasher |
| Does it work?: | not at all | adequately | well | very well | perfectly |
| Availability: | airfare required | online | kitchen store | department store | supermarket |
Packaging
| Easy to open?: | impossible | maddening | tolerable | good | opens itself |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green?: | fills a landfill | huge waste | passable | minimal waste | impressive |
Economy
| Time saving: | time wasting | not really | modest | substantial | huge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor saving: | less efficient | marginal | a bit | noticeable | remarkable |
| Money saving: | money wasted | none | $ | $$ | $$$ |
| Where will it live?: | garage/attic | drawer | cabinet | countertop | block/rack |
Summary
| Fulfills ambitions: | falls short | almost there | satisfies | exceeds | home run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How often used: | once/twice | ≥daily | ≥weekly | ≥monthly | ≥yearly/holidays |
| Worth the space?: | no | does not apply | w/unlimited space | w/limited space | absolutely |
| Need it?: | a luxury | discretionary | basic equipment | for serious cooks | get it |
| Value: | ouch! | a little pricey | worth splurging | on the money | a deal |
| Overall rating: | skip it | fair | good | very good | excellent |
Comments: "Sharpening steel," as we all know, is a misnomer. A steel doesn't actually sharpen a knife (which involves grinding away the old weak edge and reshaping a new stronger edge). The sharpening or honing steel is used to realign or straighten the edge of a knife, which is microscopically thin and folds over on itself with use. The regular use of a sharpening steel can keep the edge straight between sharpenings. If a knife is really dull, a sharpening steel will not help.
One is not necessarily looking for tons of innovation in world of sharpening steels, but this one, from a leader in the production of knife honing and sharpening tools, features an oversized hand guard and a hanging ring for easy access
Like a knife, a sharpening steel will lose its ridges with continued use, so if you've been using the same steel that came with the knife set you received as a wedding present, it may be time for a new sharpening steel. It is a very modest expense.