Knife Sharpening Services
Japanese Knife Imports offers in-store knife sharpening at our Beverly Hills shop. Knives are taken first come, first served. Depending on our backlog, we can sometimes sharpen the same day; at other times it will take longer. We accept a maximum of 5 knives per customer at a time, which helps us keep the sharpening service open more consistently.
Service status: Our current sharpening status is always posted in the notification bar at the top of our website. When sharpening is open, the bar will say so; if the service is suspended, it will be announced there. For the most up-to-date information, including our current backlog, please call us at 310-399-0300.
Bringing knives to the store: Please make sure your knives are securely wrapped and completely out of sight when you bring them in, as exposed knives may be mistaken for weapons. Cover each edge with an edge guard, then carry the knives in a bag, box, or similar container. If you don't have edge guards, wrap the edges securely in newspaper or a similar material, taped in place.
If you live outside the Los Angeles area, we may be able to sharpen your knives through our mail-in service. Please contact us if you're interested. Do not send anything to us without speaking with us first. We have specific instructions for shipping knives, and we will ask for photos of the front, back, and close-ups of any damage.
Our specialty is Japanese kitchen knives, which we sharpen entirely by hand on Japanese water stones. We tailor each edge to the customer's needs and preferences, using a mix of synthetic and natural stones from 60 grit to over 20,000 grit.
We also sharpen Western knives, though depending on the knife we may use a belt grinder. Please check with us ahead of time. We do not sharpen serrated knives, and our services are limited to kitchen knives.
Thinning and refinishing change the finish on the sides of the blade and will alter its appearance. On request, we do our best to recreate the original finish, but logos and markings may fade or disappear depending on how much work is needed. Damascus finishes may also look different afterward: makers use a variety of methods (sandblasting, brush wheels, specific stone powders, particular etchants, etc.) that we may not be able to replicate exactly. We'll get as close to the original look as we can.
Pricing
Double Bevel Knives
$ 25
Wide Bevel Double Bevel knives
$ 60
Single Bevel Knives
Starting at
$ 60
Chip Repair
Starting at
$ 5
Broken tip
+$ 5
Surface Refinishing
Starting at
$ 60
Thinning/Refinishing
Starting at
$ 120
Honbadzuke/Finish Sharpening
(*Free with any new knife purchase)
*Price Upon Request
Major repairs
Starting at
$ 15
Mirror finishing/ Knife Spa Services-
Contact us for a quote
Belt Sharpening for Western Knives
$ 10
Discounts for professionals available
Knife Rehandling Service
We offer rehandling services for Japanese kitchen knives. Our services are limited to Japanese style handles, as we are not set up to do western rehandles.
Knife rehandles are done in the traditional Japanese method. Jonathan has trained with a number of craftsmen in Japan preparing for this. He has rehandled with a variety of woods including ho wood, iichi, ebony. For the time being, we will only be offering ho, iichi, and burnt chestnut octagonal handles.
Later on, we will add other types of wood. The handles are imported from Japan and we perform strict quality checks on all of them. When we install the handles, we will seal the area where the handle meets the tang so as to protect the tang from water, rust, food, etc.
Please note that we do not sell handles separately from our rehandling service.
$
Pricing
Ho Octagon Handles
$ 55
Iichi Octagon Handles
$ 65
Burnt Chestnut Octagon Handles
$ 75
Ebony Octagon Handles
$ 120
Blonde Horn (If Available)
+$ 5
Knife Sharpening Classes
At the moment, we are not accepting any new classes or requests for classes. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
We teach knife sharpening classes in our store in Beverly Hills (8642 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211). All knife sharpening classes are held as 1-on-1 classes to allow me to most effectively utilize my time with the student.
In 1-on-1 classes, I can adjust each class to suit the skill level of each student. Classes can range from very basic to advanced sharpening techniques, and I am always more than happy to focus on specific areas if that is required.
We provide sharpening equipment and a knife to sharpen on for use during the class. However, often times, it is better if you are able to bring your own knives and stones to learn on. This way they will be more comfortable for you to use when you return home or to work.Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our classes or if you would like to schedule a class - Hello@japaneseknifeimports.live
Our sharpening classes currently have a pre-requisite... we ask that all students watch the series of sharpening videos we have on youtube prior to signing up for the class.
Our classes are 3 hours long, which we have found to be long enough, in most cases, to get through everything we need to get through in our classes. However, we do sometimes run longer than planned, so, if possible, please allocate about 4 hours for the class.
$
Pricing
3 Hour class - Store Hours
$ 300
Knife Sharpening Demonstration for Restaurants
Online Sharpening Seminars
Our Online Sharpening Seminars are aimed at providing a more interactive method of learning knife sharpening than our youtube videos offer.
Many of our customers are not close enough to our store to stop by for a sharpening class, so we decided to make this available online. The goal is that we can cover various topics and then allow for some Q&A with immediate and direct feedback.
In addition, participants can ask questions anywhere along the way as we demonstrate sharpening techniques. So now, when you see something that doesn't quite make sense or you wish someone could explain, you can ask in real-time and get an answer.
Our seminars consist of 3 parts:
1. A lecture covering the basic concepts of the subject at hand.
2. A demonstration of the technique(s)
3. A question and answer section where we can review some of the subjects we covered in more depth
Times and Dates TBA
We will do our Stone Primer and Stone Selection class. In this class, we will cover the different types of stones that are out there, what their characteristics are, and how to choose the right stone for the job. We will also talk about what it takes to build a solid sharpening setup from start to finish. In addition to this, we will talk about stone maintenance and care, natural stones, and what kinds of techniques work best on each type of stone. As always, we will end the class with a brief Q&A.
In the class following that (DATE TBD), we will hold our Tip Sharpening Class. In this class, we will cover the concepts and movements involved in sharpening the tips of knives- specifically Japanese kitchen knives. We will cover both single and double bevel knives. In addition to the basic concepts, we will also demonstrate a couple of different methods for this kind of sharpening. As always, we will end the class with a brief Q&A.
The next class we will cover Stone Primer and Stone Selection. There will be slots for 6 people max in this class (to make it less confusing and easier for those participating). We will also have spots for 4 local people to come by the store and experience the seminar in person. Registration for the DATE TBD class will close on DATE TBD. Regardless of the number of people signed up at that time, class registrations will close. This will allow me to send out prepared materials to the participants ahead of time so they have visual aids through the class.
The seminar is conducted via Skype, so you will need a computer with the most recent version of skype. You will also need speakers and a microphone. Webcams are optional but highly recommended. At the time of the seminar, I will call the entire group in a group call. You do not need skype premium to do this (that's what i have it for).