Knife sharpener needed

[Wereman]

I am looking for a knife sharpener before heading off camping for the season, if you have one at home.

Another option is a store that sharpens knifes whether you can recommend one in Vancouver/Burnaby area.

Thank you for your help and input.

[Tef]

House of Knives in Metrotown immediately comes to my mind. House of Knives is a chain of knife shops. I am pretty sure there is another one in the Vancouver area.

[Neox]

Get yourself a whetstone and some sort of light oil (3-in-1 brand works well). A whetstone can be purchased at almost any outdoor/utility store like Canadian Tire, Mountain Equipment Co-op, etc. Try to get one that's double-sided (coarse stone on one side; fine stone on the other). When I come up to CampFur, I can show you how to use one. I've been sharpening my own knives since I was 12. :)

[Wereman]

Thank you for your advise Tef, I'll keep this in mind.

Impressive to hear Neox. Worth considering. Please confirm that water will suffice to use the wet stone.

[Selkit]

Ask Loial nicely, and he might sharpen yours. He's got a proper whetstone, and the job he did on my kitchen knives made them good enough to shave with.

[Neox]

Thank you for your advise Tef, I'll keep this in mind.

Impressive to hear Neox. Worth considering. Please confirm that water will suffice to use the wet stone.

Water WILL work, but be careful you clean and dry both the stone and the blade as soon as possible to avoid rust and oxidation. Oil is far better as you don't need to continually add while sharpening and it helps protect the blade from oxidation. Oil also helps protect the stone as water will soak into the porous surfaces, carrying metal filings with it, which begin to rust and eventually wreck your stone.

[terutt]

Also make sure your stone is meant to be used with oil instead of water. You can ruin the surface of a water stone with oil. Also, if you're serious business into your knives, also get a coarse diamond plate to flatten the surface and create a slurry.

If you're in Vancouver, I'd suggest Lee Valley Hardware for whetstones. Insane selection from super coarse up to the stupid fine Japanese polishing stones.