The downside of using sharp tools often is, firstly, the risk of edge damage.
While they get the job done, sharp cutting tools such as knives also have the thinnest edge lining, which makes them quite delicate. So you’ll always be one wrong cut away from ruining it. No matter how sharp your damaged blade is, it won't function the way it’s designed to, and accidents could arise.
You can fix this yourself with a sharpening tool—not just any other sharpening tool; you need to get one that's electrically powered and acts as a grinding wheel. Cue the Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener (WSKTS)!
Before you get your WSKTS up and running, you need to know the type of damage you're going to deal with first.
Knowing the type of damage your edge incurred will give you an initial idea of how to approach the repair. The severity of the damage will dictate how long repairs would take or whether or not you should seek expert help. Here are the different types of edge damages you may experience:
Dent - A dented edge is when the thin lining of the edge becomes crooked and out of shape. If you inspect the lining with a magnifying glass, it would have a slight or heavy curve. There's no blade material removed from the knife, but the edge is deformed.
Mash - When a blade material is soft enough, it will be prone to mashing. A mash would look like a bar of soap after one of its corners hits the ground. If you pick it up and inspect it, the corner is flattened into an oval-shaped surface, with some of the soap material spilling over on its side like that of a mushroom. Mashing normally happens when your blade has a Rockwell grade of around 52 to 54 HRC.
Roll - Rolling happens when you're slicing or cutting something hard, like a lump of meat with a hidden bone or a hard metal wire. Take, for example, a knife. A knife's full edge length runs on the hard object as you make the slicing motion. And what is supposed to be only a dent or a mash gets "rolled" across the knife's edge, causing the damage to drag on the knife's length. Roll damage retains the material and can be fixed.
Chip - This occurs when a small portion of the blade edge comes off and leaves a nick on the edge lining. Chipping happens when you use a strong blade and with heavy force, enough to break off a portion of the edge that took the impact. A chipped blade is prone to cracks, and if left unfixed, may eventually break your blade into pieces. Blades with a Rockwell hardness of 54 to 61 are prone to this type of damage.
It's important to note that these kinds of damages can be repaired using an electric belt sharpener like the Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener. But if your edge is chipped heavily with a huge chunk of it removed, it's best to consult with a knifesmith before you attempt to repair it yourself.
Repairing a cutting tool's damaged edge is normally done by professional blade makers using a grinding wheel. But if the damage is not severe and you think you can wing it at home, getting an electric sharpener and taking the DIY route could suffice. Something like the Work Sharp tool sharpener will do the trick. Here's how you can make it work:
Be sure you're in a place where you won't disturb anyone, like a garage, a basement, or your own workshop, as the process can produce noises that may disturb someone. Conversely, you also don’t want to be bothered while you're grinding because losing focus may mean the risk of cutting yourself.
Find a sturdy countertop table, whip out your belt sharpening machine. If you haven't bought one already, we suggest you try the Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition because you can use it to sharpen and grind cutting tools of different shapes and sizes.
Once you have your Work Sharp Belt Sharpening Machine, place it on top of the surface, slightly away from the corners. Be sure that the surface is near an electrical socket as you will plug in the Work sharp knife sharpening machine.
Get a pan and fill it with water. Also, bring a dry cloth or paper towel. You will be using the water to cool the blade and the cloth to dry it out after sharpening the knife.
Lastly, do a last-minute inspection of the blade you're going to grind.
Once everything is ready in front of you. Turn on the Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener and place your blade at a proper angle (refer to an angle guide if you're unsure) on the running abrasive belt. Then, pull the blade towards you slowly - that's a single pass. Now, do it on the opposite side of the blade's cheek.
It's important to use the coarse sanding belt with a 40 to 60 grit level first. The optimal belt speed should be set low to prevent heating the blade too much. Depending on how soft your blade's edge is, the heat could affect how your grind fixes the damage. It's best to start at a low speed and work your way up, especially for thinner blades.
After doing a single pass on each side of the blade, dip it into the water quickly. This will remove the heat from the blade caused by the friction of the abrasive belt.
Be sure to touch the blade and check the temperature of the knife. If it's still hot, you'll have to soak it in the water until it cools. This water cooling serves to solidify your blade, locking in whatever angle you grind onto it.
After dipping it in the water, dry it up with a cloth. This prepares the knife for another bout of pass on the abrasive belt. It's important to keep the Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition belt abrasives dry to get the maximum benefit.
After a couple of passes, do a swipe check by running the blade on the surface of soft plastic, wood, or piece of paper. If it runs smoothly and you don't feel any bump. You've fixed the chipped edge. If not, you'll have to do several more cycles again.
The Work Sharp tool sharpener is an adequate substitute for a heavy-duty grinder. Technically, this sharpening machine is built to sharpen tools, but the sanding belt technology of this machine can act as a miniature grinder. In turn, this machine can sharpen, but it can also repair edge damage by slowly shaping it. With enough patience and persistence, the Work Sharp Belt Sharpening Machine can be your portable, do-it-yourself edge fix.
How do you classify yourself when it comes to your tool of choice in preparing fish? Are you the classic type who goes for traditional tools, or do you favor innovative, automatic, and electricity-powered fish knives?
Whichever you are between the two, we compiled here the best classic and electric fish knives you can use in your fish meal preparation.
If you are a fishing enthusiast, a chef, or a home cook who prepares fish most of the time, you’ll need a fish knife that will assist you in scaling, filleting, deboning, and slicing. In that case, a classic fish fillet knife is an instant solution to your needs.
Blade
You will love the Calamus fish fillet knife for its aesthetically pleasing design. It has blue blades that are beautiful, highly durable, and sharp because of its German G1146 stainless steel makeup.
The knives are all flexible, making your filleting tasks easier to perform.
You can choose from or get all four knives. Two have 9-inch lengths, and the other two are 7 inches and 5 inches long. You can use the smallest knife as a bait knife. It has a serrated spine for scaling and an extremely practical gut hook.
Handle
The handle matches the blue design of the blade. It has blue streaks with black non-slip rubber, ensuring that you can hold it with stability despite the wet and slimy environment when preparing fish.
Safety
Since these knives are razor-sharp, each one comes with a separate sheath. These sheaths are breathable, allowing the blades to dry and avoid corrosion.
Verdict
We recommend Calamus because of the variety of blade sizes it offers. With it, you can handle filleting small and big catches alike. In addition, it has a knife for bait preparation which can assist you with every step of fish catching and preparation.
Blade
When you go out for a fishing trip, having an excellent knife can make catching and preparing a fish more exciting.
The Rapala NK03039-BRK fish fillet knife looks like a remnant of the past because of the sheath and handle materials. The engraving and the elegant look of the knife will leave a lasting impression on you.
The durability of this 7.5-inch blade is at par with that of other fishing knives because it uses European stainless steel. The knife has a full tang with brass rivets that ensure the blade's stability and handle connection.
Handle
Made of birch material, the handle is the standout feature of this product. Contrary to the belief that using wood for the handle might not be sanitary, birch has an antibacterial composition. Birch also makes the handle durable and last for a hundred years. It just needs maintenance to ensure that the handle does not discolor.
Safety
Topping off the excellent blade and the eye-catching handle is the leather sheath imprinted with a distinctive geometric pattern and the Rapala trademark.
Verdict
This knife fulfills its function as a fillet knife. Its beauty makes it stand out from all other fish knives.
Blade
The pitch-black color of the blade screams robustness and class simultaneously. At first glance, you know that the knife has something great to offer.
Indeed, with the G4116 German stainless steel used for the blades, the KastKing 9-, 7-, 6-, and 5-inch blades are all durable and razor-sharp. The different blade sizes give you a choice on which to use depending on the fish you will prepare.
The 5-inch bait knife keeps the fisherman and the cook in mind because of the design, which includes a gut hook and a serrated spine for scaling or even cutting ropes.
Handle
The handle’s color and excellent features match the blade so well. The handle is in bright orange color that catches just as much attention as the classy black blades do.
It is made of super polymer, making it easy to handle because it is non-slip.
Safety
The sheaths are also bright orange and have breathing windows to allow the knife blades to dry thoroughly after cleaning. They maintain the knife’s sharpness and ensure non-corrosion.
Verdict
The KastKing fish fillet knives undeniably look good. The different sizes also ensure that you are using the right knife for the size of the fish that you caught.
If you are one of the best fishers in town who brings home great catches from every trip, you’ll need knives that can handle the preparation of large volumes of fish. Having an electric fish knife will make your life easier. You just need to plug them in and start filleting.
Blade
Many in the fishing industry trust Rapala’s fish knives. If you already have its manual fish fillet knives, you should also try its heavy-duty fish fillet knives.
The Rapala Heavy-Duty fish fillet knife has a 7.5-inch serrated blade, which you can easily detach for cleaning. With a powerful motor, the sharp blade moves fast, allowing a smoother filleting.
Handle
The handle houses a heavy-duty motor that can last longer than rival electric fillet knives. Unlike other electric fish fillet knives that overheat, the Rapala electric knife can fillet fish after fish without overheating. The handle also ensures proper airflow, allowing the motor to cool while in use.
The 8-foot power cord is long enough, allowing you to move from one area to another in your filleting station.
Safety
Since the handle’s design allows the electric fish knife to cool and not overheat, you can expect safe use from this brand.
Verdict
Once you have tried this electric fish knife, filleting fish will never be the same for you. You will realize that you can prepare your catch with speed, smoothness, and convenience with the use of electric fish knives.
File name: American Angler Pro cordless electric fish knife.jpg
Image alt: American Angler Pro cordless electric fish knife
Blade
By the looks of the American Angler Pro Titanium, you’ll have the impression that it’s a choice offering many advantages. Because of the titanium coating and the titanium carbon gray handle, the pitch-black blade will make you look and feel like the head chef of a professional kitchen.
Aside from the titanium coating, the 8-inch blade is made of 420 stainless steel, making it highly durable. Despite the wet environment where you’ll be using it all of the time, it will remain as new and razor-sharp as it was the day you bought it.
Handle
The handle, made of nylon, houses the motor powered by 110 V electricity. Despite long hours of use, the Fanjet Air System of the handle allows the motor to remain cool. The handle is also covered with a Santoprene grip pad, ensuring that the handle is comfortable to touch.
Safety
Because of the design and technology of the motor and the handle, your safety is guaranteed. You can let go of your worries about the handle overheating or having to stop your work to let the motor cool down.
You can also neatly pack the electric knife in an equally durable nylon bag.
Verdict
We recommend the American Angler Pro Titanium because of the blade's durability and the motor. The features of these two essential knife parts ensure that you have the electric knife for heavy-duty filleting needs.
The development of fish fillet knives is not stopping any time soon. From the manual ones, innovations such as electric fish knives came. For even more convenience, there are now cordless electric fish knives.
Blade
Aside from being cordless, this electric fish fillet knife will steal your heart because the kit includes four blades: 7, 8.5, 9, and 12 inches. You can easily detach and attach these blades depending on the fish type and size you are preparing.
All the knives are made of stainless steel and coated with titanium nitride, making the blade corrosion-resistant and durable.
Handle
The handle allows the user to hold the trigger with a comfortable grip for a convenient operation. Attached at the end of the handle is the rechargeable lithium-ion battery. You also have an extra battery included in the kit if you have more fish to fillet. The LED light on the handle will notify you of the battery status.
Safety
Because the trigger and the handle are ergonomically designed, you can have a solid grip to ensure the knife won’t slip despite the wet and slimy fish you are preparing.
The storage case ensures the blades included in the set are correctly and safely stored.
Verdict
Bubba Li-Ion is one of the pioneer products and the best cordless fillet knife you’ll see. It shows remarkable advantages, which makes it worth trying.
Blade
With the Rapala Deluxe, you can fish anywhere or travel as far from charging stations as you can. You can even afford to forget the clips that connect your fish fillet knife to your car or boat for electricity. You can do all these when you have this cordless electric fillet knife from Rapala.
There are two blades, a 6- and 7.5-inch, included in the set, which you can easily connect and disconnect from the handle. You can also safely store these blades in the sturdy bag provided.
Handle
There are two rechargeable batteries provided. You can attach one at the end of the handle and use it while waiting for the second battery to be recharged after 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Charging is easy. Just remove the battery from the handle and attach it to the charger until the green light beams, which means that it is fully charged.
Like any Rapala fish knife, the motor of this cordless fish fillet knife can handle heavy-duty tasks without overheating.
Safety
The step-by-step guide on using the Rapala electric knife shows how safe this product is. You can only attach and detach the blades after pressing a safety lock button. Removing the battery when the knife is not in use is also advisable.
Verdict
We recommend this product because it is the best cordless fish fillet knife there is today. It is durable and safe to use. Most of all, it is convenient and portable.
Now that you know the best choices, you have to decide whether you want the classic manual fish fillet knives or you favor the convenience brought by electric fish knives. All these knives are reliable and worth your investment.
The manual fish knives are made with high-quality steel so that you can use them for a long time. On the other hand, the electric fish knives have powerful motors that can handle filleting as many fish as you can. The cordless electric knives also offer portability and ease of use even in areas with no electricity.
Whichever you choose from this list, we assure you that knife will serve you well.
