Knife Sharpening
COVID-19 Update: 4 JANUARY 2021
While you wait knife sharpening services have been suspended under tier four regulations as both shops remain closed.
It is possible to drop off knives for sharpening in Stoke Newington and we will text you when they are ready for collection. Please drop to Unit 3, 2 Bouverie Road, London N16 0AE. We are open Tuesday - Friday, 10 - 2.30.
All sharpening lessons and group sharpening classes have been postponed.
What's the deal with knife sharpening?
We are happy to sharpen your knives or tools by hand on Japanese whetstones. Services include sharpening, thinning, re-profiling, chip removal and tip repairs. Please allow £8 per knife for sharpening with other services quoted on an individual basis (simply put, we remove the metal by hand and the more metal there is to remove, the longer it takes!).
The turnaround for sharpening work depends on how many jobs we have on and we work broadly on a first-come-first-served basis. We will let you know a rough timeframe when you drop the knives off and take your contact details to text you when it is ready. If you haven't received a text, this means they aren't ready!
Please bring the knives in clean (no dried food or grease) and well wrapped - a couple of tea towels will do it. We cannot take responsibility for knives left for longer than 60 days.
Can you sharpen while I wait?
Yes, at Coal Drops Yard and - with less availability - at Stoke Newington. Please use this link to make a reservation at Coal Drops Yard. This will show our availability on different days and allows you to reserve a slot dependent on the number of knives you have to sharpen. Please note that the availability for this service is far greater at Coal Drops Yard. Using this service requires your knives to be in a readily sharpenable condition. We reserve the right to refuse to sharpen any knives that are damaged or in poor condition on a while you wait service, or take the knives in to be sharpened over a longer period.
To reserve your slot, there is a non-refundable deposit of £12 payable which will be deducted from the cost of sharpening. Please also note that the while you wait service is charged at x1.5 rate and you should allow for £12 per knife.
Can I post my knives to you?
Certainly. Send it signed-for or on a similarly recorded service and drop us an email on hello@kitchenprovisions.co.uk to confirm arrangements and let us know to expect them. Please make sure to wrap them well - tea towels and a poster tube normally do the trick. We add the cost of return postage to the bill. Please don't just randomly post knives to us!
Do you sharpen things other than knives?
Yes - we're more than happy to do scissors, secateurs and axes, and have even turned our hands to chisels and planes. We did turn down ice skates and a lawn mower blade. It is worth bearing in mind that anything carbon steel will sharpen more readily, and it is priced based on length so while we will happily sharpen your antique sickle, it will be more expensive than a penknife. We will need to see all of these item before we can price and confirm that sharpening is feasible.
Do you teach knife sharpening?
Yes. We offer one-on-one tuition during shop hours at Coal Drops Yard. This costs £65 and lasts 90 minutes. This covers the basic technique in a very hands on session. Please bring your knives with you. Please use this link to book. We are also happy to provide you with a voucher for a sharpening lesson for you or a buddy.
Alternatively, you can book into a group sharpening class for £45, also held at Coal Drops Yard.
Please email if you would like an individual class at Stoke Newington.
Can you come into a professional kitchen, sharpen and teach sharpening?
We sure can! Drop us an email at hello@kitchenprovisions.co.uk and we can book you in.