are fast and efficient, however can
damage the blade. For a quick sharpen
they are good, but if they chip the
blade, a stone maybe required to get
the edge back, followed by honing.
Electric sharpeners can be both
expensive and inexpensive and the
cheaper versions tend to have lesser
quality sharpening stones within and
can easily cause damage.
If you want something that is quick,
portable and easy, a pull-though
sharpener might be an option. Once
again, pull-through sharpeners can
vary in quality, but do serve a good
purpose, especially if you are down at
the boat ramp ready to fillet fish with a
blunt knife. However, after using a pull-
through, the blade should be honed to
re-straighten the edge, otherwise it will
become blunt very quickly.STORING YOUR KNIVES
It may be great to own a selection of
quality fillet knives, but without looking
after them, they can deteriorate over
time. There is no use in paying over
$50 for a good quality knife for it to be
stowed carelessly in your tackle box or,
worse, just left in the boat soaked in salt
water and left to deteriorate. No matter
what knives you have, if you’re going to
take the time to keep them sharp, you
might as well look after them properly.
When it comes to storing knives, it is
nice to have a sheath to keep them in, but
they are still often left in places where
they can get lost or exposed to salt water.
Ideally, a purpose-made leather knife roll
is the best way to store knives. Knife rolls
can store multiple knives and keep them
organised and free from constant salt
water saltwater exposure.When using a diamond sharpener or
steel, achieving the desired sharpeness
is based on holding the blade on the
right angle. If this is difficult to grasp, a
pull-through sharpener takes out all of
the trouble by guiding the blade into the
correct position every time.
A wet stone looks more like a small
brick, but is undoubtedly the best type
of apparatus used for sharpening knives.
Before use, the stone is soaked in water
and then, holding the blade on a 15-
20 degree angle, it is moved back and
forth. After a short time, a grey residue
forms on the stone, which is small
fragments of the blade forming its edge.
This is a sure sign that the sharpening
process is working effectively. Though
using a stone takes a little longer to get
the blade sharp, it does bring out an
incredible edge.Keep your blades protected
with a decent knife walletuoS
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(^72) rleg http://www.saangler.com.au