ceramic knives

[Realgar]

anyone tried them?
Just a gimmick or really worth it in the kitchen?

Realgar

[Tvividr]

More or less a gimmic ! I've seen them carve soft iron and the spine on a scandi knife, but they will break if you drop them on concrete or a stone.

[alick]

My local supermarket has a new range of (£10) kitchen knives in stock with a tungsten carbide coated edge. It's the first time I've come across this specific use of TC. They're claiming 50x durability compared to "ordinary" knives and a lifetime without sharpening. Less fragile than ceramic blades but they do look cheap and nasty.

[JakeR]

Shoulda put this in edged tools ;) :D

Can you show me a link, they sounds interesting. Can't be as useless as the Lansky knife, i don't think "reinforced ABS" is a very good idea IMO.

[Lithril]

OK I paid about 35 pounds for a ceramic knife at a tool show last year and its worth every penny. They will break if you drop but if you're careful its a good investment, its unbelievably sharp, regularly can cut soft tomatos thin enough to see through without crushing the tomato.

[Realgar]

Here's a link:
http://www.japaneseknifecompany.com/knives_tools/ceramic/ceramic_home.htm
These people claim their blades won't shatter.
I was looking at the mid sized blades, if they're as good as they claim I might not even need to get myself a microtome for my 'scope - just use the kitchen knife.

My other option is to find a smith that would make a custom kitchen knife for me ( I do like spending time in the kitchen )
Realgar

[C_Claycomb]

Most smiths only do carbon steel. Ceramics won't rust or discolour in the kitchen. I think that ceramic's big selling points are aimed more at people who don't know how to sharpen or maintain a quality kitchen knife.

Ceramics are stainless, rust proof, and hold an edge nearly for ever.

Axminster do both ceramic knives and laminated Japanese kitchen knives. Having used a couple laminated knives I would pick them over the ceramic any day, but then I like sharpening things.

If you have a relative who isn't so good at knife maintenance then a ceramic might be a great gift. You'll only have to sharpen it for them once a year :wink:

[Andy]

I've delt with richardson TC coated blades. they are good but they are aimed at people who can't sharpen normal knives. They coast more then my hand made cooks knives (which I'm doing a pass around of) and don't feel as nice either

[Realgar]

I did wonder if they'd perform as well as a decently maintained blade, I've got kitchen knives from 2 inch to 24inch blade and all are sharpened each time I use them ( and in the case of the 24, several times after I've used it to open coconuts ). My now ex refused to touch them on account of the severity of the edge regardless of any arguments about being less likely to slip. I've never cut myself with one of my own kitchen knives, the mandolin on the other hand - with a shredding blade in place - well you only do it once.

I think I'll find myself a friendly smith and hand over that meteorite and get a really well made one done, plus a spare to flog to recoup some of the cost of having it made.
One thing I've never got on with it the steels - I'm more likely to take a hand off or wreck the blade than get a decent edge with one of those things. It might be slwoer but I'll stick to my wetstones for sharpening

Meteoric iron kitchen knife anyone?

Realgar

[Andy]

One thing I've never got on with it the steels - I'm more likely to take a hand off or wreck the blade than get a decent edge with one of those things.

Realgar

I'm started off the other way round. for softer knives, though my dad still likes to out do me once in a while. Guyceps knives are sharpe I didn't think a carving knife would get anywhere near that sharpe I guess that a butchers playing around with three different hones on a good old carbon blade.
One thing I really liked about the richardson (sheffield made BTW) was the plastic case it came in. great for throwing in a draw or whatever out of the way (offstead check kitchen knives are well out of the way)

[Buckshot]

Andy - Love your sig
:rolmao: :rolmao: :rolmao: :rolmao: :biggthump

[JakeR]

hmmmmmmm....not really sure about those.