How A Master Knife Sharpener Restores Broken Knives | Epicurious
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Master knife sharpener Vincent Kazuhiro Lau visits with Epicurious to demonstrate how he gives new life to tarnished, chipped and broken knives.
Director: Ian Stroud
Director of Photography: Francis Bernal
Editor: Jamie Gordon
Expert: Vincent Kazuhito Lau
Creative Producer: Christie Garcia
Line Producer: Jen McGinity
Associate Producer: Amy Haskour; Shelby Boamah
Production Manager: Janine Dispensa
Production Coordinator: Elizabeth Hymes
Casting Producer: Vanessa Brown
Camera Operator: Duell Davis
Assistant Camera: Tony Aviles
Sound Mixer: Mariya Chulichkova
Production Assistant: Amara McNeil
Post Production Supervisor: Andrea Farr
Post Production Coordinator: Scout Alter
Supervising Editor: Scout Alter
Assistant Editor: Andy Morell
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As a very avid cook, and kitchen knife enjoyer, I have spent a lot of time sharpening knives. Over the years I have seen, I'd guess, at least 30 "knife sharpening" videos. I genuinely think this is the clearest, most approachable one I've seen for all levels of experience. Teaches, sympathizes, and reminds.
Vincent is the GOAT. He understands the practicalities of actually using a knife. So many times knife sharpeners feel like a knife needs to STAY sharp. Vincent seems to understand that knives get used.
You are an excellent teacher.
Thank you.
Brother the best is Japanese Knife imports! Follow his videos you’ll master it in no time.
Only 30?
Vincent when you are repairing the knife on that coarse stone try an even more obtuse angle to rapidly get to the bottom of the chips in the edge. Then as you progress and that damage is close to being repaired, lower the angle until you reach your chosen sharpening angle. Just some food for thought. Thank you for what you do.
Look at this fine gentleman, faithful to his knife for 13 years.
A nice lesson in that material removal processes do actually remove material as well
Say no to adultery
I found a really badly damaged knife in the kitchen, loads of chips in it. I followed your guidance and it turned out beautifully.
Altho ever since, my dad is always saying he can't find his bread knife.
😂
That knife joke was a real slice of life.
😂😂😂
First video that actually showed me what I needed to see to fix my terrible knife sharpening.
Dangerously incorrect now my skills can improve safely and effectively
Actually, the way he does it sucks. It sucks because he's using a difficult technique to do something that can be accomplished in a much easier way.
Microscope comparison was AMAZING!
Me: just learned everything I need to know about how to sharpen a knife.
Me: still frustrated that I don’t have the muscle memory to properly use all the information Chef so generously offered and shared.
I learnt its easier to maintain angle when you dont move your hands at all, but instead move your torso back and force with your leg. Like swaying movement, long and relatively slow. Managed to sharpen my knife to a point i can shave hair with it
The first time I sharpened a knife it took me like 4 hours. It takes a lot of dexterity and hand strength to apply force to the blade while overcoming the friction on the whetstone while maintaining a fine sharpening angle consistently. But conceptually it's quite simple. Just sharpen the blade without destroying it.
3 rules :
- Practice
- Practice
- Practice
Just take your time. At first just do everything slowly and meaningfully, thinking about every muscle you engage for the task. Then repeat it plenty of times as slow as you can, don't think about speeding up. Few days later you won't even realise you already have speed you could not reach a week ago.
Never fear. First time I started sharpening my knives I made scratch patterns on my knives. Fortunately I kept at it and got better. A shame for the knives, but I can still use them.
Hey Vincent! I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say how AWESOME you are! Your instructions are spot on, and your pace is perfect - not too fast, not too slow. I APPRECIATE how you make the tough stuff easy to understand, and you always know just what to say. Thanks a bunch for being such an incredible TEACHER!
My prison shank has never been soo sharp!!! thank you so much
Outstanding! Lol
Lmao
One of the best videos I've seen on knife sharpening with whetstones
The gadget (?) Used in the video:
1:34 Rough Stone >> 220 grit
1:38 Stone base (optional)
4:06 Stone fixer to flatten wetstone
4:41 2 coins to create an angel while sharpening
6:42 Medium stone >> 1000 grit
7:23 Finishing stone >> 3000 grit
You brilliant person, thank you for that
whetstone holder and a stone flatner or a diamond plate steel based for flatning since those stay flat so yeah
Thank you very much!!! Very helpful.
2 coins and I can get my own angel 😇
Thank you!
I've had my knives sharpened at Korin. Fantastic sharpening job.
this was a master class in knife sharpening. thank you.
Beginner here. Best sharpening video. Clear, thorough & concise. Thank you.
Thank you for this! My grandmother has ONE wet stone she would use DRY to sharpen her knives at a terrible angle (and has since developed that curve in the center), and immediately would cut food without cleaning the blade 😵 I'm taking over that task for her because those knives dont deserve that kind of treatment lol.
Is the knife actually sharper after her treatment?
I am thankful for this gentleman's meticulous craftsmanship and lucid elucidation of the process. After countless videos and personal experience with wet stones, his passion and expertise have provided the comprehensive answers I've sought.
I extend my deepest appreciation for the gentleman's superlative finesse displayed in craftsmanship and their eloquent explication, meticulously detailing the intricacies of the process. Immersed extensively in an array of videos and enriched by personal tactile encounters with wet stones, his steadfast ardor and matchless proficiency have not merely enlightened but also impeccably addressed the meticulous inquiries I have assiduously pursued.
@@ztweston thank you for accomplishing what I knew was requisite, but could only aspire to wistfully
‘Lucid elucidation’ is redundant, and it's a whetstone, not a ‘wet stone’.
@@Wren1 thank you internet grammar policeman
@@ztweston I responded to OP, which means that you would not have received a notification. Do you really have so much free time and narcissism that you go through checking threads you've commented on in a vain hope that someone has written something for you to jump on? Read a book and get a life, junior.
feels very zen while sharpening a knife with a whetstone. my first attempt sharpening my knife was kinda disappointing i did not get the results that i wanted but in my second attempt OMG it was glorious, slicing tomato with no effort i'm so very happy with the results. my $170 did not go to waste thanks to you ❤
Yet another proof whi Epicurious is one of my all time fav channels. This video is exacatly what I needed, I recently tried the wet stone sharpening for the first time (only after reading some instructions and basics) and was not satisfied with the result of that first try at all. Now it has become much clearer! Not to mention that this master sharpener is an excelent at teaching as well as sharpening. Thanks!
Godzilla had a stroke reading this and died
Wow... the transformation of that knife over the years... respect.
Ok but this guy is freaking AWESOME!! Best sharpening video I’ve ever found
I saw a video on this guy before
It certainly works. I repaired a cleaver with this method yesterday. I didn’t take it to the finishing stone level, just rough, medium and fine stones, then a quick hone on a steel. For a cleaver to cut paper is more than it needs, but before it wouldn’t cut butter!
i love knives, and this is the best knife restore/sharpening tutorial out there!
Very detail and clear tutorial. Thank you Vincent, finally know how to sharpen my knife.
Fantastic video, Vincent is a legend when it comes to the best knives in NYC
If it was with Frank Proto, he would have mined his iron, melted his steel ingot, forged his knife and only then sharpened it. And I'd loved every moment of that clip. This one wasn't bad either :)
Overrated
Wow, that joke was so creative and funny
it's a very Frank thing to do 🤣
😂😂 he’s actually done a knife sharpening video
will it keel?
I've been sharpening on a whetstone for 5 years but learn something new, thank you
This is the best and well explained video I've seen on how to sharpen a knife properly, thank you 👏👍
It really is very simple:
1) practice until you can hold the knife to within 1-minute-of-angle precision by hand ;)
2) move blade across stone until sharp :)
Sharpened most of my kitchen knives last week, now I have to go back and do it all over again.
I love seeing Vincent's videos.
Best sharpening video I’ve seen. Really great content. Thank you.
Best of all sharpening tutorials out there. Only thing I am missing are the grits of the stones you used
Thanks!!! Short and on point!
best video i've seen by a long shot. love this guy - super in depth. thanks
Nice recommends. Every detail counts and makes a master piece result. Thanks a lot
Sweet. We used the two penny trick in Boy Scouts. Glad to hear it had some basis behind it.
Really helpful video. I bought my first whetstone this week and am looking forward to learning this skill and getting my knife perfect 👍
a knife, is your most trusted weapon in the kitchen, basicaly the thing that makes the most difference when not well mantained, it's your job to mantain it well
Works a treat!!! Great advice
The best knife sharpening video I've seen! Wow. Thanks a lot
Very wonderful explanation with amazing close out
This was very informative, thanks
Best knife sharpening video I have watched to date. Thank you.
Wow, thank you, amazing presentation!
It was very helpful video now I can sharpen the knife very efficiently. Thankyou ❤
Thank you for the clear explanation, Sensei! Arigato!
Wow that before and after is amazing.
Knives videos like this bring a very interesting demographic.
I make knives and like to watch people make/restore them.
But it seems allot of chefs are also here 😂
... a* lot* of chefs
Thank you for this video. I feel more confident attempting to sharpen my knives.❤
Really clear explanation and feel the humble of you. Thanks, I will try apply your method.
🙏
Vincent is the best!
Excellent. Thank You.
This guy is a great teacher
Can you share what stones you are using? Thanks! Excellent video
Wooow this was pretty cool ! Thabks for the video guys really enjoyed learning something new today!
Thanks for a remarkable easy to follow and understand video. Dumb down the process which is indeed a difficult to master.
2:13 you wanna have a nice grip and a stable holding, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow one way strictly. Use various types of handling the knife and try out the best you can. Since you wanna learn this, it is obligatory to remain patients and to master this, it could take a few months (you won’t sharpen you knife every day, not even after a week, maybe hardly after one month. So, this timeline might not fall for you, since it’s depending on regular practice)
I know many people who would consider the unsharpend knife already as very sharp 😂
"You must be delicate on this finishing stone"- hits edge directly on stone
Korin is such a fantastic place. A treasure in the city!
This is a great video. Well done.
Best 10min video on the internet
Great demonstration. Thank you.
Excelente video 🙌🏻
Thanks, this was very informative.
thanks vincent you legend
Beautifull video, thank you!
Sharpened my knives on a stone recently. Did not remember his advice to release pressure pushing towards the blade edge and gouged my stone a few times.
Beautiful knives
Thank you. Awesome video
I know how to sharp knives with stone and rods but i still like watching this kinda videos
Awesome video, thanks
thank you!
Finally a useful video
Stone base that you'd recommend?
That was satisfying I must say...
I love the kendo-gi.
Great tutoriel, very clear, thanks for the tips !
tutorial*
@einundsiebenziger5488 sorry it's my correcteur
I’m try this tomorrow
"This paring knife used to be a Claymore. See what happens when you properly sharpen your tools?"
F yeah, vincent is the best
thank you sir
I wish there was a link to the tools they are using
THANK YOU SIR!
Buena demostración
Bravo sir
I have battled with properly sharping knives for years, my biggest issue is maintaining the angle on both sides. The two pennies are so mindblowing and simplistic I think even I can pull this off. I guess the question now is, are some stones better that others? Or are all wetstones created equal by type?
Yea they are many different variants of stones. I would do my own research before you buy any.
I appreciate you for sharing your knowledge chef! Thank you!!!!
He is not a chef, since he does not cook.
👏👏👏EXCELLENT !!!
A very accessible, understandable and interesting video. Although I am self-taught, I have already 1.5 years of experience in sharpening knives and more. And so I want to say that this person is well versed in this. Thank you for this video)
What stones do you recommend
I have a real talent to make every knife i try to shart even more blunt than before.
These videos always gloss over the most important part: keeping the knife angle consistent. Most people are going to fail miserably at freehanding knife sharpening like this.
Great explanation !
I'm saving this one so I do it in the future (I'm moving soon, so I will be getting the tools).
I do have one suggestion for the channel hosts: Please, pretty please with sugar on top: do not use any music while someone is speaking. It is distracting. Thx.
That was excellent! Thank you!
Top informative video and your relaxed nature kept me engaged.
Fascinating stuff.
Awesome video!
I've seen other tools sharped on whetstones that are finished with a leather strip to "align the metal" or something like that. Is there a reason he doesn't do this after the finishing stone?
A leather strop in not necessarily a must if you finish on a high grit stone, though there‘s still a noticeable improvement after stropping your knife.
stropping is to remove burrs, or microscopic protrusions in the edge that make it duller
It's not a requirement but will definitely give you that insane level of sharpness should you want it. The stones alone will give you a razor edge needed for everyday cooking. You can also use newspaper to get similar results.
A strop will have similar results to a high grit whetstone.
Hi. After watching yr video am very keen to sharpen my knives but unsure of type of grit whetstones to buy. Can you recommend plse