How to Sharpen Gerber Knives
Made of high-carbon stainless steel, Gerber knives can be sharpened using a stone, ceramic or diamond abrasive. Gerber knives should be sharpened frequently, before their blades become dull. Cutting through tough materials like wood will dull a Gerber blade fairly quickly. Gerber knives can be sharpened by their owners or sent back to the company for sharpening. Gerber charges a nominal fee for sharpening services and the knife owner is responsible for shipping costs. Sharpening through the company may take several weeks.
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Clean the Gerber knife blade with a damp cloth to remove any stuck-on residue, grease or dirt. Allow the blade to dry thoroughly before beginning to sharpen.
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Pour several drops of light oil on a knife sharpener. Oil enhances the ability of the sharpener to remove burrs from stainless steel.
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Hold the Gerber knife at a 20 degree angle to the knife sharpener. Ensure the tip of the knife is facing away from you and there is no one in front of the knife sharpener. Place the tip of the Gerber knife on the edge of the sharpener closest to you.
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Push the Gerber knife forward in one steady, smooth motion until the end of the blade has reached the end of the knife sharpener. Repeat this process 10 to 15 times. If your Gerber knife is extremely dull, you may need to repeat this process 20 times or more.
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Flip the knife to its other side and place it at a 20 degree angle from the knife sharpener. Push the Gerber knife forward in the same manner as outlined in Step 4. Continue the process until you have completed the same number of repetitions on each side.
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Wipe the Gerber knife blade with the cotton cloth to remove excess oil. Test the knife's sharpness by cutting through a piece of cardboard. If you are unsatisfied with the blade's sharpness, repeat Steps 3, 4 and 5 and test again.
Check out this related video from Homesteady on Youtube.
References
Resources
Tips
- Always ensure the tip of the Gerber knife is pointed in a safe direction while sharpening. Make sure people and pets are a safe distance from the sharpener during use.
Warnings
- If sharpening a Gerber knife with a stone, never hold the stone in your hand.
Writer Bio
A professional writer since 1994, Eva Talent was trained as a journalist by the U.S. Army. She received two Army Commendation Medals and an Army Achievement Medal for journalistic excellence. Her press releases are frequently featured on the websites of the Department of Defense and the Army. Talent holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Michigan.
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- bottle of oil image by Adrian Hillman from Fotolia.com
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