This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. Find out more on privacy policy how we use cookies and how you can change your settings.
Flügel CSS sharpening steels

The Sharpening Steels - Technical details


The Material
All sharpening steels are made of alloyed tool – steel of 1.15 % carbon, 0.6 % chromium, and 0.03 % vanadium. Due to this alloy, the sharpening steel is highly wear-resistant, which is important since the hardness of steel used for knife blades is constantly increasing.

The Surface of Sharpening Steels Sharpening Steels have three different surfaces:

Medium fine grain: Typical for kitchen steels, this steel quickly forms a new burr at the edge of a blade for a smooth cut.

Fine grain:
Recommended for butchers who sharpen their blades on a grinding machine, and use a sharpening steel in addition to raise a burr for a smooth cut.

Polished surface:
For use in slaughterhouses, performs the same as the fine grain.

Finishings of FLÜGEL Sharpening Steel Surfaces

(Microscopical Images)

Microscopical Surface Image NORMAL CUT   Microscopical Surface Image MICRO-FINE-CUT   Microscopical Surface Image MICRO GRINDING   Microscopical Surface Image FINE GRINDING   Microscopical Surface Image POLISHED 

Hardness
It is essential that the surface of sharpening steel is harder than the blade to be sharpened. Otherwise the edge of the blade could not be sharpened to satisfaction, and the steel would wear out too fast.

Hard Chromium Plating
Hard Chromium plating protects the steel as much as possible against corrosion. From a microscopic point of view, hard chromium plating has a thin surface, which makes 100% protection impossible. A thicker chromium plating would make the sharpness of the grooving ineffective. A Nickel plating would be too soft for the required standards of the steel, although it would be dense.

Magnetism
Sharpening steels are magnetic, and therefore attract metal particles, which are worn off the blade during the sharpening.

The Handle
Handles come in a choice of different shapes and different materials, and are either made of wood or synthetic materials.

The Guard
The main purpose of the guard is to protect the hand during the sharpening process. The handle protector must therefore be mounted to the handle so that the steel can easily be moved in any direction. Both synthetic material and wood are suggested for this purpose. Moreover, the guard prevents a rounded steel from rolling off the table.

The Ring
There is a good reason why a Sharpening Steel should be hung after use. The steel should be kept separately from knives. Otherwise, in time, the knives would also become magnetic and attract metal particles.