Rotating magnetic knife block
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Rotating magnetic knife block
Recently I have found myself on a quest to find a knife block that met some unique criteria. The knife block needs to hold knives securely and also display them prominently. It also needs to be highly functional and easy to use in the kitchen. It should hold 6-8 knives and lastly it should accommodate longer blades in the 240-270mm range.
I envisioned a knife block with the following features
-magnetic strong and secure but easy to free knives
-rotating with smooth operation and feel
-stable (it can’t be prone to tipping!)
-mass, it should have a fairly hefty weight. This would aid in both stability and smooth rotation
-hexagonal or octagonal (I prefer octagonal)
-aesthetically pleasing (after all its also a display)
-tall, it needs to be tall enough to fully support 240-270mm blades
-footprint, it should have a fairly small footprint on the countertop.
After months of serious internet searching, I have not found a product that meets all of these criteria. I have found two products that come close. The price point between the two is huge. They both meet the majority of the criteria in varying degrees. However they both fall short (pun intended) in one critical aspect. Height! Neither one will accommodate 240mm blades properly. They will leave either tips or heels of blades exposed. I find either to be an accident waiting to happen. A no go in my book.
I started this thread for a several reasons.
Firstly so this discussion would not continue to derail the awesome “how do you store your stones” thread.
Secondly, to bring awareness to this type of knife block to anyone interested but has not seen them before.
Thirdly, to see if anyone has found an existing available product that meets all the criteria.
And last, but not least, to gauge interest in product like this. To discuss the critical criteria, share and refine ideas. If possible to come up with a design that can be presented to or collaborated with a wood worker to build a batch of the proposed knife blocks.
I can’t be the only one lusting after such a contraption? Can I?
For reference, here are the two products that I have found.
Knife block 360
By design trifecta
https://360knifeblock.com
This product appears to be of good quality. Although the price tag is pretty steep for a product that uses veneer instead of solid wood. A YouTube search will bring a host of videos for perusal.
Kamlif rotating knife block
I did purchase this knife block. I will go into a bit of a detailed review and post some pictures of it later tonight.
I will say it’s a solid product at an affordable price! But it is height limited to a 220-225mm blade.
To be continued...
I envisioned a knife block with the following features
-magnetic strong and secure but easy to free knives
-rotating with smooth operation and feel
-stable (it can’t be prone to tipping!)
-mass, it should have a fairly hefty weight. This would aid in both stability and smooth rotation
-hexagonal or octagonal (I prefer octagonal)
-aesthetically pleasing (after all its also a display)
-tall, it needs to be tall enough to fully support 240-270mm blades
-footprint, it should have a fairly small footprint on the countertop.
After months of serious internet searching, I have not found a product that meets all of these criteria. I have found two products that come close. The price point between the two is huge. They both meet the majority of the criteria in varying degrees. However they both fall short (pun intended) in one critical aspect. Height! Neither one will accommodate 240mm blades properly. They will leave either tips or heels of blades exposed. I find either to be an accident waiting to happen. A no go in my book.
I started this thread for a several reasons.
Firstly so this discussion would not continue to derail the awesome “how do you store your stones” thread.
Secondly, to bring awareness to this type of knife block to anyone interested but has not seen them before.
Thirdly, to see if anyone has found an existing available product that meets all the criteria.
And last, but not least, to gauge interest in product like this. To discuss the critical criteria, share and refine ideas. If possible to come up with a design that can be presented to or collaborated with a wood worker to build a batch of the proposed knife blocks.
I can’t be the only one lusting after such a contraption? Can I?
For reference, here are the two products that I have found.
Knife block 360
By design trifecta
https://360knifeblock.com
This product appears to be of good quality. Although the price tag is pretty steep for a product that uses veneer instead of solid wood. A YouTube search will bring a host of videos for perusal.
Kamlif rotating knife block
I did purchase this knife block. I will go into a bit of a detailed review and post some pictures of it later tonight.
I will say it’s a solid product at an affordable price! But it is height limited to a 220-225mm blade.
To be continued...
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Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
If the individual risers, or faces, are wide enough for small cleavers or tall Nakiris (etc), then it could allow for knives on either side of the faces
(Though, it would increase the holder's footprint.)
(Though, it would increase the holder's footprint.)
Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
Would definitely be a buyer if there were something that can handle 240mm and is, say, under $200.
Actually I am not even totally wed to magnetic. I would also be happy with something like this, i.e. all big slots to support tall nigiris but can handle 240mm length... in a compact geometry to fit on counter top.
Actually I am not even totally wed to magnetic. I would also be happy with something like this, i.e. all big slots to support tall nigiris but can handle 240mm length... in a compact geometry to fit on counter top.
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Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
Here are a couple of photos of the kamlif knife block with various sized knives on them for reference.
The knife on the left side in this pic is 215mm, there is probably another 10-12mm of room vertically for a slightly longer blade. 225mm being max blade length, maybe slightly less if it had a longer neck.
The nakiri in the center has a 53mm height with about 12mm extra room in the slot. This block would fit knives with a 65mm height at the widest point. Mini cleavers and the really tall nakiris will be a no-go.
I have been using this knife block for about 2 months now and I have to say I love it for several reasons.
First, it’s extremely handy for quickly grabbing the appropriate knife for the task at hand. Or switching between knives when prepping various parts of a meal. Like say prepping veggies with a nakiri, then switching to grab a honisuke to bone out some chicken breast or thighs. Then grabbing a Gyuto to thin slice the chicken for a stir fry. Could one just use the Gyuto to do it all? Sure. But half the fun of cooking is enjoying the prep. For me enjoying the prep is using and appreciating various knives in their prime element. This style knife block just makes it so easy and enjoyable.
Secondly it does a wonderful job of prominently displaying the full knife. Handle and blade! I always enjoy seeing the steel, the profile, the finish on knives. It makes me happy. I much prefer this method than magnetic knife bars. I like that the blade is fully supported and no razor sharp edges are left exposed. This style is also very handy for kitchens with limited wall space to mount the magnetic knife bars. The foot print is also very small, it takes up the same amount of space as my paper towel holder.
Lastly it has proven to be quite a conversation starter and peeked the interest of friends who before had shown very little interest in knives. Now a few of them are asking questions and wanting to know more about some of the knives. Talking knives is always good!
Those are some of the broad generalizations as to why I have become such a big fan of this knife block. Now for a few specifics.
Retention is good. The knives stay in place, snap on and off easily yet you have no worry of one falling off and hitting the counter. They stay put as they should.
Stability is good. It’s not going to fall over if bumped and has absolutely no tippiness to it if pushed from the top.
It doesn’t slide easily on my granite counter top either. You have to deliberately want to move it to get the thing to slide at all.
Rotation is smoothe and quiet.
I would rate this product a great value for the price. Fit and finish are nice.
The biggest drawback for me is that it’s to short to fit a 240mm blade. Even that is not a deal breaker for me, as I use quite a variety of knives. The one other thing that would really make this product stand out would be if it were made from a nice hardwood like cherry instead of bamboo. To me that would be worth an added cost.
To my knowledge, there is not a product on the market that meets the height requirements for 240mm and longer blades. But in my opinion there needs to be!
The knife on the left side in this pic is 215mm, there is probably another 10-12mm of room vertically for a slightly longer blade. 225mm being max blade length, maybe slightly less if it had a longer neck.
The nakiri in the center has a 53mm height with about 12mm extra room in the slot. This block would fit knives with a 65mm height at the widest point. Mini cleavers and the really tall nakiris will be a no-go.
I have been using this knife block for about 2 months now and I have to say I love it for several reasons.
First, it’s extremely handy for quickly grabbing the appropriate knife for the task at hand. Or switching between knives when prepping various parts of a meal. Like say prepping veggies with a nakiri, then switching to grab a honisuke to bone out some chicken breast or thighs. Then grabbing a Gyuto to thin slice the chicken for a stir fry. Could one just use the Gyuto to do it all? Sure. But half the fun of cooking is enjoying the prep. For me enjoying the prep is using and appreciating various knives in their prime element. This style knife block just makes it so easy and enjoyable.
Secondly it does a wonderful job of prominently displaying the full knife. Handle and blade! I always enjoy seeing the steel, the profile, the finish on knives. It makes me happy. I much prefer this method than magnetic knife bars. I like that the blade is fully supported and no razor sharp edges are left exposed. This style is also very handy for kitchens with limited wall space to mount the magnetic knife bars. The foot print is also very small, it takes up the same amount of space as my paper towel holder.
Lastly it has proven to be quite a conversation starter and peeked the interest of friends who before had shown very little interest in knives. Now a few of them are asking questions and wanting to know more about some of the knives. Talking knives is always good!
Those are some of the broad generalizations as to why I have become such a big fan of this knife block. Now for a few specifics.
Retention is good. The knives stay in place, snap on and off easily yet you have no worry of one falling off and hitting the counter. They stay put as they should.
Stability is good. It’s not going to fall over if bumped and has absolutely no tippiness to it if pushed from the top.
It doesn’t slide easily on my granite counter top either. You have to deliberately want to move it to get the thing to slide at all.
Rotation is smoothe and quiet.
I would rate this product a great value for the price. Fit and finish are nice.
The biggest drawback for me is that it’s to short to fit a 240mm blade. Even that is not a deal breaker for me, as I use quite a variety of knives. The one other thing that would really make this product stand out would be if it were made from a nice hardwood like cherry instead of bamboo. To me that would be worth an added cost.
To my knowledge, there is not a product on the market that meets the height requirements for 240mm and longer blades. But in my opinion there needs to be!
Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
I bought one similar to the Kamlif several years ago, but it had one distinct advantage...there were slots in the very top also to hold 4 steak knives and 4 additional petty knives. The last time I checked, which was 6 months ago, I could not find them again. I think the company quit making them. I will check again.
Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
You've just given me my next project: an octagonal, 250mm, rotating magnetic knife block. Time to draw up some plans!
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Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
Finding a suitable knife rack is the Holy Grail of knife lovers like us. I'd like a magnetic rack like the one above, but a rack that could hold 240s and preferably more knives. But based on my experience, the Grail shall not be found.
Jeffry B
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Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
Agreed...don’t sell yourself short. I had a custom block made back when I swore that I was a 210/240 guy. Sure enough, most of what I have now are longer than 240 and don’t fit as well on my block
--- Steve
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Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
I have the 360 knife block. It's expensive, but it weighs a ton and the fit/finish are very good. It feels like a premium product, which it should for the price. The people running the company are really quite nice and great to deal with.
That said, I'd really like for it to be taller. And they need to put more magnets on each face of the block so that you can store more than one knife per side. As it is, there are four magnets per side -- three spaced along the top of the block and an additional one under the center row. All knifes will want to be a part of that center magnet. It makes them pull toward the middle of the block, which, frankly, kind of sucks. Here's an illustration of the problem:
I have also tried non-rotating magnetic blocks from Artelegno (from Amazon). These were long enough but the wood wasn't properly sealed and started to discolor almost immediately. There just aren't any good block solutions, rotating or non-rotating, available to my knowledge.
That said, I'd really like for it to be taller. And they need to put more magnets on each face of the block so that you can store more than one knife per side. As it is, there are four magnets per side -- three spaced along the top of the block and an additional one under the center row. All knifes will want to be a part of that center magnet. It makes them pull toward the middle of the block, which, frankly, kind of sucks. Here's an illustration of the problem:
I have also tried non-rotating magnetic blocks from Artelegno (from Amazon). These were long enough but the wood wasn't properly sealed and started to discolor almost immediately. There just aren't any good block solutions, rotating or non-rotating, available to my knowledge.
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Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
Thanks for adding some first hand info and pic of the knifeblock 360 btbyrd.
Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
So if one were to polyurethane the artelegno.... worth a try or are there other reservations?
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Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
I don't know how you'd apply the seal evenly on the ones I tried, just in virtue of how those blocks were designed. They're also already sealed, though somewhat unevenly (which is part of the problem). There were some minor issues with fit and finish as well. I wrote a really long Amazon review that includes some photos if you're curious.
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Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
I prefer mineral oil on anything that will get metal/wood friction. Poly scratches and then looks ugly. A mineral oiled wood surface is more of a living /self healing as far as friction rubs are concerned.
Most of us have polyurethaned hardwood floors and oiled cutting board. Which looks better after you rub metal on them.
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Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
Sean, all my thanks for starting this thread. Now and then the topic crops up again. I save a lot of links, and keep twiddling my thumbs.
My kitchen has many windows and little wall space. A magnetic strip would have to be about 8 inches. No good! Under-cabinet options would not work well either. I have one large block, but many of my favorites still live in drawers. Needless to say I am on the lookout.
I tend to love nice things and was enchanted by the Trifecta 360. I actually wrote the company asking if it would ever be possible to have one that could accommodate taller knives since the bulk of my collection are 240s.
Just wanted to add that I was thrilled with how quickly I received an answer--I got a warm answer within the hour from one of the founders. While it seems that a larger block would be nearly impossible for them to make, the answer was thoughtful. Thought I would post the response from Sara Leggett, one of the owners, with her permission...
"Thanks for reaching out to me personally about your 360 Knife Block. We spent 3 years and tens of thousands of dollars developing the best universal knife block and while we appreciate it’s not for every kitchen and every knife, we are proud of our unique product. There are several challenges with going taller, namely physics, the base would need to be bigger as well because taller would make the current load balance unstable.
Also a taller 360KB would need to be much bigger for the same balance and stability to apply. This means larger, heaver, and more expensive to make, ship, package and for a block that is already pricy making something even more expensive would probably invite more complaints of “how is this knife block $500” because that’s what a block that has a 12’ holding side sitting at 15” tall would likely cost to make.
Short answer, sorry but no we don’t have any plans to make its taller.
Bummer I know, but we did our best and this size is where we had to draw the line. Thanks again for asking, we are a small company, just Henry and me and our part time 360kb builder so we do the best we can to make something awesome. Cheers"
Hope this adds to the rotating knife holder discussion!
My kitchen has many windows and little wall space. A magnetic strip would have to be about 8 inches. No good! Under-cabinet options would not work well either. I have one large block, but many of my favorites still live in drawers. Needless to say I am on the lookout.
I tend to love nice things and was enchanted by the Trifecta 360. I actually wrote the company asking if it would ever be possible to have one that could accommodate taller knives since the bulk of my collection are 240s.
Just wanted to add that I was thrilled with how quickly I received an answer--I got a warm answer within the hour from one of the founders. While it seems that a larger block would be nearly impossible for them to make, the answer was thoughtful. Thought I would post the response from Sara Leggett, one of the owners, with her permission...
"Thanks for reaching out to me personally about your 360 Knife Block. We spent 3 years and tens of thousands of dollars developing the best universal knife block and while we appreciate it’s not for every kitchen and every knife, we are proud of our unique product. There are several challenges with going taller, namely physics, the base would need to be bigger as well because taller would make the current load balance unstable.
Also a taller 360KB would need to be much bigger for the same balance and stability to apply. This means larger, heaver, and more expensive to make, ship, package and for a block that is already pricy making something even more expensive would probably invite more complaints of “how is this knife block $500” because that’s what a block that has a 12’ holding side sitting at 15” tall would likely cost to make.
Short answer, sorry but no we don’t have any plans to make its taller.
Bummer I know, but we did our best and this size is where we had to draw the line. Thanks again for asking, we are a small company, just Henry and me and our part time 360kb builder so we do the best we can to make something awesome. Cheers"
Hope this adds to the rotating knife holder discussion!
Re: Rotating magnetic knife block
I'm quite pleased with this as a prototype, not perfect (look closely from above and you'll see it's not a regular octagon .... need to improve those glueing skills), but definite proof of principle. The lazy susan turntable I used is a bit grindy.
It will take 270mm, room for 7 large and two petties on the outside, and a load on the inside. Inside the ring also have magnets, but the three central spaces are holes with braces to stop the knives banging around.
For those wondering, on the block are:
240 Yoshimune W2
240 Kurosaki SHIZUKU R2
210 Tojiro DP, and 150 petty
210 Kurosaki Syousin Chiku Migaki AS
210 Sukenari Ktip YXR-7
150 Shibata kotetsu petty
Tojiro 270m bread knife
metal ruler to show height
https://photos.app.goo.gl/J3eXaPhF6k5ETHDb8