James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Chef’s Choice 450 Electric Knife Sharpener | Diamond Hone Wheel w/ Coarse & Fine Grit
1 min read
The Chef’s Choice 450 two-stage diamond wheel knife sharpener allows even those chefs who don’t like to sharpen knives to work with sharp blades. The bevel it produces and the quality of the cutting edge won’t match professional standards, but many good cooks don’t care so much about the steel as they do about the food.
The Chef’s Choice 450 is typical of simple honing machines, requiring some practice to operate well. I’ve been surprised that people who don’t use sharpening stones can use machines like this, but some find honing systems more workable than flat stones and steels. Tricks to remember include holding the 450 firmly on the table or countertop and using a light touch. The large handle provides a firm grip for either righties or lefties, but does require some downward pressure to hold the sharpener in place. Pressing too hard with the blade throws the machine out of line.
The two-stage system offers a coarse side for reshaping very dull knives and a finer wheel for refining the edge. Part of the knife edge near the bolster won’t ever reach the wheels, but that’s expected when using a machine like this. Of more concern is the area near the tip, which sees much more actual use. Sharpening the last inch or two of the blade requires some finesse, because too much pressure can drop the blade too far into the machine, blunting the new edge against the frame. The Chef’s Choice 450 has built-in guide slots that place the blade against the long lasting diamond honing wheels at the correct angle for most western knife types. Draw the knife through each slot the same number of times and use a light, steady stroke.
The Chef’s Choice 450 won’t put a magical edge on your blades, but it works. The 450 quickly puts a serviceable edge on dull knives, and many people who are averse to whetstones and honing steels find these machines a practical alternative.
Find this Chef’s Choice 450 Electric Knife Sharpener:
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
The Diamond Edge Pro knife and scissors sharpener from Smith Abrasives combines electric and manual sharpening systems for quick and accurate refurbishing of knives...
The Chef’s Choice 450 two-stage diamond wheel knife sharpener allows even those chefs who don’t like to sharpen knives to work with sharp blades. The bevel it produces and the quality of the cutting edge won’t match professional standards, but many good cooks don’t care so much about the steel as they do about the food.
