Forum
« Machinist or Metalworker Beating The Toto Drake »
December 31, 2007
The Ice Cream...er....Grinding Truck?
OK, the truck with the bell that sharpens your blades...WHAT's WITH THAT?
(here in PSlope)
Comments
The grinder is great!!! He sharpens blades and reminds me of old school Brooklyn not the new shiny kind.. Plus you can't beat people running out of their brownstones carrying large knifes.
Posted by: guest at December 31, 2007 2:18 PM
How do I get him to come down Stuyvesant Ave????
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 31, 2007 2:21 PM
Anybody out there ever have a Freihofer man deliver baked goods to your front porch when you were young???
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 31, 2007 2:22 PM
I seem to remember this question coming up before, either here or on one of the other Brooklyn sites I frequent. The overwhelming opinion, if remember correctly, was that the guy is more likely to ruin your cutting implements than sharpen them.
Posted by: johnife at December 31, 2007 2:34 PM
That's too bad that his sharpening skills aren't so great. Could have been useful.
Posted by: guest at December 31, 2007 3:28 PM
I just love seeing that truck. It's awesome.
Posted by: guest at December 31, 2007 3:33 PM
I don't get it--what are you complaining about? Are you in your 20s? Are you not aware that, if done right, this service is incredible and invaluable? I wish I had that where I lived.
Posted by: guest at December 31, 2007 3:50 PM
I told someone outside NYC about that truck and they thought it was the best thing they ever heard of and wanted one too.
As for it not sharpening your blades well enough, picky picky. Sharpen them yourself if what's good for most the population is not good enough for you. He does fine.
Posted by: guest at December 31, 2007 4:04 PM
Not complaining at all! It just seems like a freaky odd service to be purveying...
Posted by: BrooklynCouch at December 31, 2007 6:21 PM
Also, it seems charming, but econmomically quixotic. But I do love it in the same way I love the book Time and Again; as if if I just think of that bell, and nothing but that bell, street cars will suddenly appear on Fifth Ave...
Posted by: BrooklynCouch at December 31, 2007 6:41 PM
From the history books, this service is a holdout from the old days. Knife and scissor sharpeners used to come to you, via carts. That part is cool.
The issue, Guest 4:04, is not one of being "picky picky." You must not be much of a cook.
If you have high-quality knives, and you let just anybody put them against a grinding wheel, they can ruin them instantly. And, while I've never used this guy's service, it does say "grinding" on the side of his truck. So I'd be a little nervous to turn over my Shuns, Wusthoffs, etc.--maybe I'd start with a little old one from Chicago Cutlery, and see if he does a good job.
Posted by: Rehab at December 31, 2007 9:11 PM
get your own wet stone.
Posted by: armchairwarrior at December 31, 2007 9:42 PM
can anyone post more info about this person/service, like where do they park their truck and what are their hours? this is a service I'd like to toodle over from Clinton Hill for.
Posted by: guest at December 31, 2007 10:47 PM
I live on Garfield Place and the truck comes down pretty often. I don't use him for my fine knives - but he's invaluable for my old fashioned push lawn mower and garden tools. I have also used him for old scissors. He's great, and I really want to keep him in business.
Posted by: guest at December 31, 2007 11:35 PM
I can't wait to move to the Slope to use that guy. Moving soon...
Posted by: guest at January 1, 2008 12:29 AM
I've used the grinding truck for scissors & garden tools but not my good knives. He really doesn't have a schedule to speak of, I think it's pretty random. The guy in the truck is the son of the original "grinder" who used to do a better job. It seems that the grinding machine is way too harsh and overkill for good cutlery. I take my good knives to Cook's Companion on Atlantic Ave and was happy with the result. I do have a whet stone myself, but I'm not very proficient at using it...at least not yet.
Posted by: guest at January 2, 2008 4:16 PM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.