Pellet Fan

Accessories & Essentials => Knives, Sharpeners, Cutting Boards & Mats => Topic started by: Darwin on April 27, 2022, 08:25:08 PM

Title: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: Darwin on April 27, 2022, 08:25:08 PM
I usually believe you get what you pay for, but sometimes I get surprised.  I purchased a Winco , medium, Stainless Steel Nakiri style knife for $13 last year and I really like it.  I gave it a few minutes on a honing steel and leather strop to get it right.  I use it daily and smile ever time I pick it up.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: BigDave83 on April 27, 2022, 08:39:41 PM
I never knew about that style until the MilkStreet guy showed up on my facebook. It looked interesting.

I have a set of the cheap Henkels Santuko I think one is 5" and one is maybe 8" I use the 5" one a lot for my vegetables. Had thought about one of the Nakiri designs.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: Canadian John on April 28, 2022, 10:03:34 AM

 If you can get by the craftsmanship & brand names, there are some good finds out there.

 A knife to me should fit well in the hand, cut well, maintain an edge reasonably well & be easily sharpened.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: pmillen on April 28, 2022, 10:28:29 AM
The nakiri is one of the oldest, most continually used knives in Japan.  It's a simple, double-bevel, rectangular blade, typically between 6½ and 7 inches.  It's almost like a cleaver that's short from spine to edge.  The name translates to vegetable knife, and it’s great for that use and not so great for anything else.

Show us a photograph of yours, Darwin.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: Darwin on April 28, 2022, 01:03:55 PM
it could easily be called a Chinese cleaver also. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VZ6NE0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1


Please delete link if it breaks the rules.  Amazon did not want to let me copy the image and I'm in a meeting with not time to hunt for another  :o
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: BigDave83 on April 29, 2022, 07:43:08 AM
Not sure I would like the handle.

I second what John said above especially about the part of fitting your hand and being comfortable to use.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: pmillen on April 29, 2022, 07:55:35 PM
Not sure I would like the handle.

 :D  So 30 million Japanese cooks have been wrong for centuries?

Although, I see where there may be some North American hand size variance.

Anyway, the above is mostly a joke.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: BigDave83 on April 30, 2022, 07:51:45 AM
Not sure I would like the handle.

 :D  So 30 million Japanese cooks have been wrong for centuries?

Although, I see where there may be some North American hand size variance.

Anyway, the above is mostly a joke.

I have noticed that that style of handle is used a lot on Japanese knives. I have never had one so I can't say they are wrong, but I am probably right.
Sometimes I wonder if things are made the way they out of simplicity, couple that thought with the way that handle looks it could be used right or left handed very easily.  Also the Centuries comment seems to lead me to believe that played a part in the design.  I may need to buy one and try it who knows. We all know you can never have to many knives.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: Brushpopper on April 30, 2022, 10:20:56 AM
We all know you can never have to many knives.

I wish I could convince my wife of that. :(
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: 02ebz06 on April 30, 2022, 10:49:24 AM
We all know you can never have to many knives.

I say the same thing about clamps. Probably have 60 or 70 of them.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: glitchy on April 30, 2022, 02:33:51 PM
My Mercer Nakiri is one of my favorite knives. I much prefer it over my chef’s knife for chopping vegetables.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: BigDave83 on April 30, 2022, 04:10:18 PM
We all know you can never have to many knives.

I say the same thing about clamps. Probably have 60 or 70 of them.

What kind of clamps or just a variety. I have a xxxx load of C clamps and now started buying the Irwin Quick Grips.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: 02ebz06 on April 30, 2022, 04:54:59 PM
We all know you can never have to many knives.

I say the same thing about clamps. Probably have 60 or 70 of them.

What kind of clamps or just a variety. I have a xxxx load of C clamps and now started buying the Irwin Quick Grips.

Mostly woodworking clamps and have a box full of C-clamps and strap clamps.
Have Irwin clamps (bottom row of fist pic and longer ones in back rack).  They are good and easy to use,  but you don't get the pressure you need in some cases.
The cheap  Harbor Freight (blue/gray ones) work really well.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: Darwin on April 30, 2022, 07:35:55 PM
Cabinet and furniture makers can never have enough clamps.  I have a box full of German and Japanese knives, I use 4 or 5 of them frequently.  I catch myself always wanting a new one.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: pmillen on April 30, 2022, 09:46:14 PM
it could easily be called a Chinese cleaver also. 

Knife names are often chosen by marketing people.  They give them the names that they think will create the most sales.  As a result, the same knife is sometimes sold by different retailers with different names.

This is especially true of knives that have the same profile (i.e., Japanese Nakiri and Chinese Cleaver).  Although they have the same general profile, the difference between them lies in the blade thickness.  The Chinese cleaver blade gets thicker from front to rear.  They are generally around 5.3 mm at the front growing to around 5.5 mm at the blade's rear.  This gives the user the ability to use the heavier rear-blade portion to chop through light bones.

From the side, profile view, the Nakiri looks the same but the blade will be thinner and not tapered.  That's why it's at home as a vegetable knife and not as good for anything else.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: 02ebz06 on May 01, 2022, 09:37:13 AM
I have an ancient set of Chicago Cutlery that wasn't all that crazy about.
Even bough a couple Wurstof knives in more recent times.
The Wurstof brisket knife is outstanding. Chefs knife not so much.
A while back I bought a knife sharpener.
Made all the difference in the world changing the 30 degree angle to 15.
Now I'm happy with all of them.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: pmillen on May 01, 2022, 10:31:44 AM
Made all the difference in the world changing the 30 degree angle to 15.
Now I'm happy with all of them.

That might be the same angle.  The knife's bevel angle is calculated based on the total of the sharp angles on each side of the blade.  If the angle is sharpened at 15° on each side, then the total angle of the bevel will be 30°.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: 02ebz06 on May 01, 2022, 11:10:22 AM
Made all the difference in the world changing the 30 degree angle to 15.
Now I'm happy with all of them.

That might be the same angle.  The knife's bevel angle is calculated based on the total of the sharp angles on each side of the blade.  If the angle is sharpened at 15° on each side, then the total angle of the bevel will be 30°.

15 on each side (30)  to  7.5 on each side (15).
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: pmillen on May 01, 2022, 01:07:59 PM
15 on each side (30)  to  7.5 on each side (15).

Yes—7.5 on each side (15) is typically reserved for fillet knives and paring knives.  It's generally thought of as a rather weak edge for working kitchen knives.  You may treat it carefully and prefer that fine edge.

EDIT:  What model sharpener are you using?
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: pmillen on May 01, 2022, 01:32:37 PM
it could easily be called a Chinese cleaver also. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VZ6NE0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Yeah, I found the Winco KC-201R listed as a Chinese cleaver here (https://www.tigerchef.com/winco-kc-201r-chinese-cleaver.html).

We won't know which one it is until we examine the blade.  BUT...It really doesn't make any difference what the purists call it, as long as the user is pleased.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: 02ebz06 on May 01, 2022, 01:49:36 PM
15 on each side (30)  to  7.5 on each side (15).

Yes—7.5 on each side (15) is typically reserved for fillet knives and paring knives.  It's generally thought of as a rather weak edge for working kitchen knives.  You may treat it carefully and prefer that fine edge.

EDIT:  What model sharpener are you using?

"Chef'sChoice Trizor XV EdgeSelect Professional Electric Knife Sharpener with 100-Percent Diamond Abrasives and Precision Angle Guides for Straight Edge and Serrated Knives, 3-stage, Gray"

I don't how about what edge for what purpose, but they all work a lot better now since angle changed.
Title: Re: Inexpensive nakiri
Post by: pmillen on August 04, 2023, 11:16:01 PM
02ebz06, it's been somewhat more that a year since you posted about your fondness for the 15° bevel kitchen knife.  Does the edge hold up for you?