I would say that any cheap knife sharpener ought to give you acceptable results. What I mean by a cheap knife sharpener is one o' those hand held gismos with the crossed (V-shaped) sharpening sticks embeded in them. Many of them come with coarse and fine sticks.

Just hold the ulu in one hand and the sharpener in the other. Run the ulu blade between the crossed sticks and run it through from one end of the blade to the other. Several passes should be all that is needed (assuming the ulu is in fair shape to begin with).

 

What do you have to sharpen with? Wetstone, sharpening sticks, sandpaper (scarysharp method), old ceramic crock?

If you don't have any sharpening tools, I suggest something like this ceramic stick system. As long as you can keep the ulu verticle when you draw it through the sticks, you can get a useable edge.

The main thing to remember, no matter what method you use, is that the center of the blades arc needs to be kept inline with the stone/stick. For the sticks, that means holding the ulu in your hand above the sticks, and rotate the ulu past the sticks.

If you're not confident in your ability to sharpen it, you can always get it professionally sharpened. $1 at the mall or knife shop is typical.

Michael

 

I use the fine side of a good whetstone and put a final edge on with wet/dry sandpaper. Without looking I don't recall if it is 2,000 or 1200 grit.

The last 2-4 strokes are pretty much without any pressure at all and are at a slightly steeper angle than previous ones.

 

We purchased our ULU knife along with a sharpener for it at the ULU Factory, Anchorage, Ak. It is important to sharpen correctly, only on one side of the knife.
You could probably get a sharpener by contacting : The ULU Factory, 211 W. Ship Creek Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501. The sharpener we have only cost $6.95.

 

That's good to know! I got one years ago, and have not used it, as I had no idea how to properly sharpen it. Jan in Co

 

thanks all, its the first curved blade knife I've had so I didn't want to mess it up. think I will order the sharpener from the ulu factory. I would probably be considerably clumsy with the other methods. don't want to loose any fingers LOL

 

Love using our ULU knife. Get the bowl shaped cutting board too if you can. Makes it even easier to use.

Just found the web site for the ulu factory: http://www.theulufactory.com/

 

Bought my wife an Ulu set about 5 years ago with the bowl. We use to chop herbs almost every day, and haven't had to sharpen it yet. It's one of the most-used tools in our kitchen!

 

When I was in Alaska in the 90s, they said the ulu was the number one confiscated thing at the airport. People bought them as gifts and didn't even consider they might be a very nice weapon.

 

When I was in Alaska in the 90s, they said the ulu was the number one confiscated thing at the airport. People bought them as gifts and didn't even consider they might be a very nice weapon.

We put them in our check- in luggage. Didn't have any trouble last summer. I sure bet they wouldn't go as carry- on tho. LOL