Slicer blade: sharpen it or call a technician?
When sharpening the slicer blade is enough, when the blade must be replaced, and what to do if the machine stops. A guide for delis and restaurants.
2 min readby Vi.Da Affila
In a deli or a kitchen the slicer almost never stops. And when it stops, it is usually at the worst moment. Here is when sharpening is enough, when you need a technician, and what to do at once.
When sharpening is enough
If the slice tears, comes out uneven, or the machine works harder than usual, the blade has often lost its edge. Many slicers have a built-in sharpener: follow the manual of your machine. The sharpener stones wear too. Chefline manuals say to replace them when they lose their grip, so that they do not damage the blade.
When the blade must be replaced
At every sharpening the blade loses a little of its diameter. When it is too worn, it cannot be sharpened again: it must be replaced.
- Chefline manuals say to check that the diameter does not drop by more than 10 mm from the original, and to call the service centre for the replacement.
- The Berkel Home Line manual says not to use the machine when the gap between the blade edge and the blade guard ring is more than 5 mm.
The right value is in the manual of your slicer. If you cannot find it, ask the technician.
If the machine stops
- Switch it off and unplug it. Do not touch the blade and do not take it apart.
- Take a photo or a video of the problem and of the plate with make and model.
- Call the technician. With photos and the model, the technician arrives knowing what is needed.
Clean it every day
End-of-day cleaning is not a detail: EU Regulation 852/2004 asks that tools in contact with food are cleaned well and, where necessary, disinfected. Always clean with the machine switched off and unplugged.
A Sunday at 6 a.m.
A restaurant owner broke his slicer on Saturday night, while cleaning. On Sunday morning he had a banquet. At 6:00 we brought him a replacement slicer. Sunday is our day off, but his work could not stop.
We service slicers and machines for food businesses, from Giugliano in Campania. Read the Technical service page or call us at +39 081 048 7619.
