Originally Posted By: greenjp
I've found the honing steel is sufficient for maintaining sharpness over time but ultimately a knife will get dull. Haven't found knife sharpeners to be too effective. I had a great experience with a mail-in knife sharpening service - $5 per blade including cerrated blades. They were returned to like new condition, it was actually startling using them the first time after being sharpened.
jeff
Honing steels hone. That is not sharpening. Keeping a sharp knife honed will prolong the life of the sharp edge, but honing will not sharpen.
You hit the head on the nail though. Have a professional sharpen your blade. If you know anyone who one owns or works at a restaurant, ask them to have your blades done. We get charged a dollar a blade and the guys drives up in his van to do it onsite.
You can also just google "Knife Sharpening" in your area.
Nothing beats a true professional's sharpening. When my Henckels get done, you can shave with those babies for like a month after!!!