Frequently asked Questions

What does it cost to have your knives sharpened by The Strop Shop®?
Call 952-237-0775 for a quote.
What brands and what types of knives can be sharpened?
Fine cutlery from Wüsthof, Hinkels, Messermeister - in fact, just about any fine cutlery can and should be sharpened. Straight, curved blades (bread knives, steak knives, etc.) Practically any kitchen knife can be sharpened.
What about scissors? Pinking Shears? The blade from mandolines, potato peelers, bird-beak paring knives and the like?
Yes! These knives and blades can all be sharpened.
But I've always heard serrated bread knives or serrated steak knives cannot be sharpened.
Some can't be sharpened, but most can be.
How long should an expensive, well made knife stay sharp?
It depends on how it is used, on what, and how often. Restaurant chefs will want their knives sharpened at least every 30 to 90 days. You may not use your knives as much as a professional chef so yours will most likely stay sharp longer. If you use any knife on a ceramic plate, you will dull that knife very fast (some knife sharpeners are made of ceramic materials). If you use a wooden cutting board, your knives will stay sharp longer. Click here for more information on proper knife care.
How often should I have my knives sharpened?
You will know when they need sharpening. The idea with the Strop Shop® Cutting Edge Sharpening Service is, the first time you have your knives sharpened, it may take some serious honing to re-shape the edges back to the original factory condition. Once the correct angle has been re-established, you want to simply maintain the edge, then you automatically go on the Strop Shop® Cutting Edge Maintenance Program.
I have some special tools that are expensive to replace, and they're difficult to find. Is it possible to sharpen these types of tools?
As a general rule, if a tool came sharp from the factory, it can be re-sharpened. Call the Strop Shop® at 952-237-0775 and describe your special tools.
I have some wood chisels that should be hollow ground. Can the Strop Shop® grind these types of chisels and then hone the cutting edge for fine cutting?
Wood chisels may or may not have been hollow ground at the factory. Whether they are hollow ground or not should be determined by their use. Some woods require hollow ground chisels for smooth cuts, other woods a different approach.
I have some tools that won't hold an edge. Does that mean they are useless or can they be re-conditioned?
Some tools may have been heated excessively during a previous sharpening. This could cause the steel to become too soft to hold an edge. It may be possible to have these tools re-hardened, re-shaped and sharpened. Call the Strop Shop® at 952-237-0775 for a recommendation on how to get tool steel re-hardened or tempered if necessary.
I have a set of wood carving chisels that are dull. Some of these chisels are concave, some are convex and some are angled for various types of cuts. Is it possible to sharpen these chisels?
Someone had to have sharpened them at the factory. Give the Strop Shop® a call and maybe you can put them back to work soon.
I found a curved draw knife at an antique store and would love to be able to use it in my shop, but, frankly, it's just too dull to cut wood. Is it possible to sharpen old tools like this?
Unless the draw knife was so abused that the cutting edge can't be re-shaped, it can most likely be sharpened.
I usually replace my mulching mower blade every year because I just didn't know where to get it sharpened. Now I have three or four dull ones. These blades are really curved and look like they would be difficult to sharpen. Can the Strop Shop® sharpen these blades, too?
As long as they're off the mower, the Strop Shop® can sharpen them.
I have a regular garden hoe and it's too dull to cut weeds. Can the Strop Shop® sharpen them, too?
Just give the Strop Shop® a call and we can have you back in your garden before you know it.
My hunting knives vary in size from small to very large. Can the Strop Shop® sharpen them back to their original condition?
While hunting knives require a little different treatment than kitchen knives because of thier intended uses, it is still possible to put a nice edge on them as well.