I just bought a Kikuichi tsuchime Damascus gyuto 8.25". I have never owned a single bevel blade like this one before and the store I bought it in wasn't very helpful. I'm hoping someone here can tell me the basics of single bevel care in so far as whether or not to use a honing steel and sharpen on a whetstone. I know how to use a whetstone on double bevel knives but I want to be sure of the process on this new one.
Also, does anyone know off hand what the bevel angle is on the Kikuichi, I can't figure it out exactly.
I purchased it at a store and the retailer assured me despite my misgivings that it is single bevel. Should I go a step above and email Kikuichi directly to find out?
Haven't had a chance to take photos yet but Kikuichi responded to an email in about 3 hours. They sent me the same info as the link above and confirmed the seller was wrong. Thanks all for helping out.
@RobertZhain what you probably want to know is that I sharpen about 12 degrees on the right side and 15 on the left side as a right handed person (this is a guess only never measured..). That's all asymmetric sharpening is. The exact numbers you use don't matter as long as they fit the grind of the knife and you are consistent in holding the angle.
Your question about maintenance- honing rod NO unless it is ceramic and then only very light pressure. I know chefs who use ceramic rods and swear by them. In my experience anything over 60HRC hardness I end up chipping so I don't bother. I sharpen at home and I have a backup knife in my kit.
Whetstones - yes. Japanese waterstones is preferred for harder steels. Keep in mind grit numbers for japanese synthetics follow a different system and the numbers quoted are higher than american.
In japanese water stones
200-400 coarse stone for repairs, faster bevel setting, thinning
If it's heavily asymmetric like 70/30 it might look like a single bevel to some people.
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