My kitchen knives have got to the point where daily honing or stropping no longer gets them as sharp as I'd like. I can sharpen them myself on whetstones but don't have the free time to sort out a dozen or so knives.
Additionally I have a chef's knife that's absolutely buggered (it was my mothers, she tried to cut a frozen salmon with it, buckled the edge, chipped the edge, and then dropped it on the floor, in surprise, and bent the tip). It has little monetary value but huge sentimental value (she died during the COVID years and this was her favourite knife).
How have people found knife sharpening and repair services? Ideally UK based, with actual recommendations, but I'm open to experiences from further afield.
Many thanks, in advance!
Rather than the Apex, consider holding your nose and grabbing a Ruxin Pro instead which is a Chinese knockoff of the same, and works (in my experience) just as well. The Apex has a rather eye-watering retail price but you can get a Ruxin for around $40 and it's even compatible with the original stones if you're so inclined. If you decide it's not for you then you're not out any appreciable amount of cash, but even if you ham-fist your way through your first sharpening job you're already ahead versus sending away for a commercial service.
The Ruxin/Apex is basically idiot proof only with the caveat that you'll want to stick a piece of painters/masking tape on your blade where the clamp grabs it if you really want to be positive you won't leave any marks on the flat of your blade.
The coarse stones that came with mine can grind out and reprofile a damaged edge frighteningly quickly, especially on kitchen knives which are quite thin to begin with.