Had to choose between a new band saw blade or a full knife sharpening setup

So my old band saw blade was getting dull, making rough cuts on some beef ribs last month. I had about $200 set aside and the choice was either a brand new, high-tooth-count blade for the saw or a basic but solid sharpening system for my boning and breaking knives. I went with the sharpening stones and guide. Honestly, it was the right call. My knives were sharper in ten minutes than they'd been in a year, and I'm not tearing up the meat grain as much. The band saw cuts are a bit slower for now, but clean knife work matters more on most cuts. Anyone else put off a machine upgrade to focus on hand tools first?

3 comments

3 Comments

lunag302mo agoMost Upvoted

My neighbor tried to sharpen his chef's knife on the concrete curb last week. Said he saw it in a movie. It took me an hour to fix the edge on my stone.

jamesf412mo ago

Sharp knives beat a fast, dull blade any day, even if the saw sounds jealous!

clark.morgan2mo ago

Totally agree with that "sharp knives beat a fast, dull blade" thing, @jamesf41. I see people just hacking away with a blunt edge and it's brutal. A clean, sharp cut takes way less force and is actually safer because you're in control. Trying to force a dull knife is how you slip and get hurt. Spending a few minutes on a honing rod or stone makes all the difference, no fancy gear needed.