Help needed: blunt mixing knife/blade

[jnstoel]

Hi,

I recently purchased a second hand TM21 (what an awesome peace of equipment, can't imagine how cool the TM31 is) and use it quite a lot (butter, sabayon, soup, custard, purees), but am not happy with the sharpness of the knife. I've read the TM31 manual and the forum and there is not much (maybe non at all) about the sharpness because the knife should never go blunt. I crushed a lot of ice, but the knife won't get sharp.

Is there a way to sharpen the knife? I read and was explained that the steel is comparable from that used in hospital equipment and not like kitchen knives, so a local sharpening store is not an option, or is it? Or should I buy a new knife, cause I saw one (new) on ebay? I'm a bit of a kitchen steel enthusiast, I sharpen my knives with waterstones, so any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[I Love Bimby!]

Hi,
I'm not really up to date with the specifications for the TM21, however the steel used in the TM31 is Soligen Steel, which means it has a thermatic memory and self sharpens when crushing ice.  The blades themselves are not sharp to touch.  It's the grinding (ie spices, grains) that you really need to be maintaining the blades for. A good quality domestic blender runs at about 800 RPM, and at top speed the TM31 runs at 10,000 RPM - so you really have the power behind the blades doing most of the work.
I would imagine that the TM21 blades are made of the same type of steel too.
I would suggest that you try grinding some spices or grains. If you're really not happy with the end result, then contact a consultant via your local Thermomix website or your local HQ and ask the question in regards to sharpening or get a second blade of e-bay. Hope that helps a bit 

[Thermomixer]

Since you don't know what happened to the TM21 before you bought it (somebody may have been blending sand like in TMB's video) - I'd buy new blades - especially if you can get them cheap off eBay.

[bron]

I agree, if they don't seem to be working, i.e, mincing frozen meat etc then just buy some new blades!

[cookie1]

Welcome back Bron. Missed your wise words.

[Thermomixer]

Here, here - second the motion. 

[bron]

Nice to be back guys!

All the kids seem to be finally settled back into school routine, however tonight have to take my eldest DD to optician for new glasses, so still running around, but not so frantically now!