Ceramic Knife

[ForgeCorvus]

I just bought a folding ceramic knife as a dedicated food prep knife for my camping gear.
One of these

From here
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251643564445? ... EBIDX%3AIT

I thought I'd post initial impressions now and update with a write-up after I've messed with it a bit more.

OK, first and foremost. This is not UK legal as an no-reason EDC
It is a non-locking folder but the cutting edge is just over 81 mm, there are two ways to fix this. Either crop the point or grind in a big finger-choil (this last would make it safer to use as I'd able to grip at the base of the blade).*

Its a friction joint and so needs care in use

Its stupidly light at 30 grams, so as an extra blade in a backpacking setup it won't break the bank (or rather 'back').
The plastic is reasonably solid feeling and grips well, some friction tape or checkering would make it very secure when I'm cutting slippery or slimey stuff.

Its sharp, and believe me I know sharp when I've got it. I've cut a few difficult things with it(like bubblewrap) and I'm going to try an keep using it for kitchen jobs for as long as possible before I have to sharpen it.

Its stupidly cheap, and at the time the same seller had sales for larger lots.... If I'd of known what they were like before I'd of got a load and stuck them in everywhere.


* I'm not sure if it being non-metallic could be a problem

[munchh]

Hey Forgeman, looking good, is there anything special about sharpening these, we keep looking at the kitchen ones and ive seen the Japanese ones advertised, but always wondered about sharpening, although they say they stay good for a long time?

[ForgeCorvus]

I'm not sure as its my first ceramic and it hasn't needed any degree of sharpening yet.

I'm probably going to use my standard sharpening gear as I've pretty much gone all diamond .

The main reasoning was I wanted a knife that wouldn't be affected by neglect and I could just dump it in my cook kit and forget about (all steel blades loose their sharp over time as the iron corrodes )


Remember: Ceramic is hard not tough

[tanstaafl]

I just bought a folding ceramic knife as a dedicated food prep knife for my camping gear.
One of these

From here
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251643564445? ... EBIDX%3AIT


OK, first and foremost. This is not UK legal as an no-reason EDC
It is a non-locking folder but the cutting edge is just over 81 mm, there are two ways to fix this. Either crop the point or grind in a big finger-choil (this last would make it safer to use as I'd able to grip at the base of the blade).*

I would not bother shortening the blade, as its going to be part of your cook kit in your camping gear you have a "reason" to carry it, if it were me given that you have reason I would go for either a classic opinel or personally a cheap Mora fixed blade from a fiver http://www.springfields.co.uk/brands/mora.html

But if you want ceramic have a look here from £3 http://www.fasttech.com/category/2211/s ... 2/?ceramic , I think the ones half way down page 2 are the same as the ones you bought

[ForgeCorvus]

I should of said "The user" rather then "I "

My work knife is a #8 Opinel (carbon) with a reshaped point (I prefer a clipped-point to the standard upswept one) and my standard camping knife is a Hultafors Craftsman (used to be a Mora Utility).

Thanks for the second link, it seems that Ebay is up to its tricks again
You're right, it is the same knife


Update: I took it to work and put it through its paces.
Cardboard: No problems
Trimming plastic componants: No problems
Wrapping film: No problems
Pallet strapping: No problems

All these are things my work knife has to do on a daily basis...... And its still sharp

[Wolfman]

just be careful not to drop it as ceramic blades shatter quite easily. Other than that they are fantastic and rarely lose their edge, perfect for the food prep you intend to use it for