Slicer Sharpening

[Dave Lakes]

Hi All, I just got a second hand buffalo 10” slicer, and for the life of me I cannot get the blade to sharpen. The wheels on the sharpening mechanism seem to be at slightly the wrong angle for the blade, but I’ve tried doing it by hand (I know, dangerous) and I just cannot get any edge at all. Am I missing something?

 

[willie_gunn]

Not sure if the same applies for your model of slicer, but did you try the method Buffalo talk about here?



Here is a link to the PDF of the manual, which also explains the above:

https://media.nisbets.com/asset/au/media/user%20manual%20cd277-a%20cd278-a%20cd279-a.pdf

And for the slightly older model of Buffalo 250mm/10 inch slicer:

https://media.nisbets.com/asset/en/media/CD277_CD278_CD279_ML_A5_v3.pdf

 

[VSS]

Hi All, I just got a second hand buffalo 10” slicer, and for the life of me I cannot get the blade to sharpen. The wheels on the sharpening mechanism seem to be at slightly the wrong angle for the blade, but I’ve tried doing it by hand (I know, dangerous) and I just cannot get any edge at all. Am I missing something?

How does the sharpening mechanism work?
I'm not familiar with the Buffalo machine, but on mine I have to align the whole piece that houses the sharpening stones before pressing the appropriate buttons to start the sharpening process. After sharpening, the whole assembly is then moved back to its non-work position.
Is it possible that there's a step in the routine that you're inadvertently missing out?

 

[Dave Lakes]

Not sure if the same applies for your model of slicer, but did you try the method Buffalo talk about here?



Here is a link to the PDF of the manual, which also explains the above:

https://media.nisbets.com/asset/au/media/user%20manual%20cd277-a%20cd278-a%20cd279-a.pdf

And for the slightly older model of Buffalo 250mm/10 inch slicer:

https://media.nisbets.com/asset/en/media/CD277_CD278_CD279_ML_A5_v3.pdf

Yeah I’ve been doing that but the blade wasn’t getting any sharper. I drew some black marker on the blade to make sure the stone was making contact with the full cutting face, which it wasn’t, but even when I took the stone out and held it on manually it still wouldn’t sharpen. I’m stumped!

 

[Dave Lakes]

How does the sharpening mechanism work?
I'm not familiar with the Buffalo machine, but on mine I have to align the whole piece that houses the sharpening stones before pressing the appropriate buttons to start the sharpening process. After sharpening, the whole assembly is then moved back to its non-work position.
Is it possible that there's a step in the routine that you're inadvertently missing out?

This sounds similar, the video above shows the process. I’ve tried possible way, even taking the stone out and just holding it on. No idea what’s going on!

 

[willie_gunn]

Yeah I’ve been doing that but the blade wasn’t getting any sharper. I drew some black marker on the blade to make sure the stone was making contact with the full cutting face, which it wasn’t, but even when I took the stone out and held it on manually it still wouldn’t sharpen. I’m stumped!

From the instructions it sounds like there should be two stones - front and rear:

To sharpen the blade:
1. Unscrew the Sharpener release bolt and lift off the blade sharpener.
2. Rotate the sharpener 180° and insert it back into the appliance.
3. Tighten the Sharpener release bolt to secure the sharpener.
4. Start the appliance.
5. Press and hold down the rear sharpening stone button to sharpen the blade. Do not exceed one minute of constant sharpening.
6. Release the rear stone and press down the front sharpening stone button for a few seconds to smooth the edge of the blade.
7. Turn off the appliance and return the sharpener to its original position, ensuring it is securely tightened.

Perhaps also check the sharpening stone on your slicer against the spares for Buffalo that you can find on Nisbet's:

https://www.nisbets.co.uk/catering-appliances/spares-and-accessories/buffalo-spare-parts/buffalo-meat-slicer-parts/_/a33-4

If it's like this, are both stones complete and unworn/unchipped?

 

[Dave Lakes]

From the instructions it sounds like there should be two stones - front and rear:

To sharpen the blade:
1. Unscrew the Sharpener release bolt and lift off the blade sharpener.
2. Rotate the sharpener 180° and insert it back into the appliance.
3. Tighten the Sharpener release bolt to secure the sharpener.
4. Start the appliance.
5. Press and hold down the rear sharpening stone button to sharpen the blade. Do not exceed one minute of constant sharpening.
6. Release the rear stone and press down the front sharpening stone button for a few seconds to smooth the edge of the blade.
7. Turn off the appliance and return the sharpener to its original position, ensuring it is securely tightened.

Perhaps also check the sharpening stone on your slicer against the spares for Buffalo that you can find on Nisbet's:

https://www.nisbets.co.uk/catering-appliances/spares-and-accessories/buffalo-spare-parts/buffalo-meat-slicer-parts/_/a33-4

If it's like this, are both stones complete and unworn/unchipped?

View attachment 383426

Yes that’s what I’ve got, both look pretty much brand new (which might explain how blunt the disc is!) but they just will not sharpen. Losing my marbles trying to sort it!

 

[willie_gunn]

Yes that’s what I’ve got, both look pretty much brand new (which might explain how blunt the disc is!) but they just will not sharpen. Losing my marbles trying to sort it!

Do the stones compress the springs and move to make contact with the cutting plate when you press the respective buttons in?

From the documentation it seems like it should be a pretty simple operation, with only two moving parts (the two stones). So long as you have reversed the sharpener through 180% and its locked so that the stones make contact with the blade when pushed in, I can't think what else to suggest either

Not sure that posting a photo of the sharpener and blades would actually help at all, but it might prompt some suggestions from others.

 

[Dave Lakes]

Do the stones compress the springs and move to make contact with the cutting plate when you press the respective buttons in?

From the documentation it seems like it should be a pretty simple operation, with only two moving parts (the two stones). So long as you have reversed the sharpener through 180% and its locked so that the stones make contact with the blade when pushed in, I can't think what else to suggest either

Not sure that posting a photo of the sharpener and blades would actually help at all, but it might prompt some suggestions from others.

The stones weren’t lining up particularly well, but I took them off the mechanism and tried by hand and the blade still won’t sharpen!

 

[jb1]

Is the blade worn ? are the stones on the correct way round, its been a few decades since i used a slicer albeit allot bigger than the Buffalo but it was either of the reasons mentioned that may be the reason, failing that do it by hand using a stone, risky but whats life without risk ? and the odd finger

Pictures of the stones in the sharpening position on the blade would help

 

[Dave Lakes]

Is the blade worn ? are the stones on the correct way round, its been a few decades since i used a slicer albeit allot bigger than the Buffalo but it was either of the reasons mentioned that may be the reason, failing that do it by hand using a stone, risky but whats life without risk ? and the odd finger

Pictures of the stones in the sharpening position on the blade would help

How would I tell if the blade is worn? Here are some photos. If I drop the sharpening wheel all the way down it fouls on the guard which seems odd.

 

[VSS]

How would I tell if the blade is worn? Here are some photos. If I drop the sharpening wheel all the way down it fouls on the guard which seems odd.

View attachment 383516View attachment 383517View attachment 383518

Comparing those photos to mine (which admittedly isn't a buffalo), I reckon the two stones have been swapped over. On mine, the orange stone does the back of the blade and the grey stone does the front.
(Photo with guard removed and grinding mechanism in work position):

 

[Dave Lakes]

Comparing those photos to mine (which admittedly isn't a buffalo), I reckon the two stones have been swapped over. On mine, the orange stone does the back of the blade and the grey stone does the front.
(Photo with guard removed and grinding mechanism in work position):
View attachment 383519

Ah I wonder. One of my stones is quite rough and the other feels smooth to the touch. Do you know which would be which?

 

[VSS]

Ah I wonder. One of my stones is quite rough and the other feels smooth to the touch. Do you know which would be which?

I'll have a look after lunch.

 

[VSS]

Ah I wonder. One of my stones is quite rough and the other feels smooth to the touch. Do you know which would be which?

The coarse one (orange on mine) does the back of the blade, and the fine one (grey on mine) does the front of the blade.

I have another slicer, which looks the same as yours, but it's all in bits in the shed. If I can find the sharpening mechanism off that I'll have a look at that too, and report back.

(Edit: I just checked my other machine, which looks to be the same as yours. That too is coarse stone for back of blade, fine for front).

 

[Idlemusket]

Back when I was a Butcher we had an old Berkel with similar. it should be noted the stones don't really sharpen as such, when used normally at the end of the day when washing up its just like using a steel on a knife. Berkel used to exchange the blade for sharpening each month.... Could it be your blade has gone too far for the honeing wheels?

 

[Dave Lakes]

The coarse one (orange on mine) does the back of the blade, and the fine one (grey on mine) does the front of the blade.

I have another slicer, which looks the same as yours, but it's all in bits in the shed. If I can find the sharpening mechanism off that I'll have a look at that too, and report back.

(Edit: I just checked my other machine, which looks to be the same as yours. That too is coarse stone for back of blade, fine for front).

Thanks for checking. Seeing as you have the same model, I don’t suppose you know what the 3 large bolts are behind the blade on the main body of the machine? They don’t appear to do anything except collect grime! I’ve circled 2 of them in this picture-

 

[Dave Lakes]

Back when I was a Butcher we had an old Berkel with similar. it should be noted the stones don't really sharpen as such, when used normally at the end of the day when washing up its just like using a steel on a knife. Berkel used to exchange the blade for sharpening each month.... Could it be your blade has gone too far for the honeing wheels?

Yeah I’m wondering if the previous owner just ran the blade into the ground. Is it possible to recover it somehow, or just time for a new blade?

 

[VSS]

Thanks for checking. Seeing as you have the same model, I don’t suppose you know what the 3 large bolts are behind the blade on the main body of the machine? They don’t appear to do anything except collect grime! I’ve circled 2 of them in this picture-
View attachment 383584

I'm not sure it's the same model. I think it's just a generic unbranded one that happens to look the same as yours! As I said, it's not the one that I actually use, but I'll have a look and see if I can identify the parts you're talking about.

The machine I actually use is this old beauty:

 

[Idlemusket]

Yeah I’m wondering if the previous owner just ran the blade into the ground. Is it possible to recover it somehow, or just time for a new blade?

Back then and I am talking about the mid 70's blades were an exchange item which I guess were reground on a jig. these days I expect the blade would not be exchanged it would be a throw away item if you could even get a replacement