where is this cooktop manufactured? i’ve read that bosch is a superior brand if manufactured in germany, acceptable if made in u.s., and to be avoided if made china. null
hi glennr. thank you for your question. the 800 series cooktop is manufactured in germany.
here you go with some options:

http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-200524.html (just a skosh over 6") grip is made from micarta which is more durable than rubber and better than plastic in a number of ways.

http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-318180.html (closer to 7") grip is made from rubber. i don't like it as well as the schrade, but it's certainly a good knife for the money.

http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-399369.html (blade is a bit less than 6") i like the feel of the rubberized aluminum grips, but have never particularly liked this look. still a solid knife.

i've pretty much stayed with mainstream brands. you can get into some of the chinese made stuff from m-tech or rigid which can be much cheaper, and generally have poor edge grinds that you can take to someplace that does sharpening and have fixed for $10 or so. however, the ones i've listed are all solid product. of the three my pick would be the schrade. it's a tough price point for the features you are asking about.

good luck,

thinkingblade tap water if anything. i live in a place where our water comes from a clean glacier lake in the rockies so it's fine (ab, canada).

a lot of bottled water is made from the exact same resevoirs as tap water anyway, pepsi/coke/etc have copped up to that. i think the bottled water tastes worse than our tap water though, must be made out east (ontario) or in the usa. why should i pay so much for the exact same water i get for free? **gold is gold** and the same price everywhere-very expensive right now-but the low cost of labour here makes it a good buy,plus the amazing designs available. all gold is hall marked. Best is to contact customer support. chat at stoneworld we recommend sealing a granite kitchen worktop every 3 months depending on how much cooking you do in the kitchen.



was your new granite worktop sealed when it was installed?



most good granite worktop fabricators will have sealed your worktop before it is installed. this will offer you immediate protection against the normal spills and smudges that are going to occur in the kitchen.



however, the silicon sealants generally used by most worktop fabricators are flawed from the outset, and will fail in a relatively short period of time.



the general method used for applying granite sealer to kitchen worktops is to paint it on the surface and leave it overnight in the factory.  the surface is then buffed the next morning before installation.



although there’s nothing wrong with the method being used for this type of product, it’s the chemical structure of the sealant that is going to cause the sealant to fail.



why silicon based granite sealants fail



reason being, the silicone sealants generally used to seal granite worktops have large molecules which are too big to penetrate the surface pores of granite and get into the stone.  granite has a tight molecular structure with tiny pores. the result of this mismatch is that the silicone sealant fails to penetrate the stone surface and instead sits atop the surface, becoming a surface coating.



as soon as the granite worktop begins to be used, and subsequently cleaned with everyday household cleaners, the surface coating of the sealant begins to break down and fail. the result will be darkening of the granite when wet, difficult stains to remove & it will be generally harder to keep the worktop clean. greasy marks will be visible as residual grease will remain on the surface.



nb.  it is important that acidic substances such as vinegar, wine, lemon juice etc. are wiped up straight away, within seconds of the spill. if you do not take action to protect the surface quickly, acidic scorching will happen with or without a sealant in place. acidic scorching will ruin the polished surface of your granite, marble or quartz worktop.



why do granite worktops need sealing?



stone is hard, and is a natural element of our world, but before we install it in our homes it is polished to bring out the hidden beauty that lies within the raw hewn rock.



in order to maintain the polished surface of granite and keep it looking as good as it is on the first day you admire it in your home, some care and maintenance is required.



granite worktops can be spoiled accidentally if new owners are not pre warned in advance of a few care requirements of the stone.



at stoneworld you can imagine that we are a bit precious about stone, please excuse our passion!



things to avoid doing to your granite worktop



we do not recommend:



cutting directly on the polished surface- cutting directly on the surface can leave scratch marks.putting hot pans straight from the hob onto the polished surface – hot pans can leave marks in the polished surface.leaving acidic spillages (lemon juice, vinegar, wine) for prolonged periods on the polished surface – acidic substances can spoil and mark the polished surface.we do not recommend most everyday cleaning products for maintaining the surface of a granite worktop – many are either too harsh, and as discussed will break down any sealant applied to the surface. many contain surfactants which cause greasy build up on the surface, meaning you will never achieve that sparkle that first attracted you to owning a granite worktop in the first place.



our advice for the best care and maintenance of granite worktops is:



initially, use the right product to seal your new granite worktop before the surface is used.for daily cleaning we recommend a non-greasy cleaner.



at stoneworld we recommend using rob parkers best granite sealer to protect all granite, quartz and marble kitchen worktops and surfaces. scientifically developed with nano technology, the molecules are smaller than the pores in the stone, so it will seal your granite worktop by getting right into the surface structure of your worktop.



the method of application is also simpler:



spray on using neat product, covering surface evenly



leave 30-40 seconds



buff with a fresh dry clean cotton cloth



there’s no need to wait for the product to cure.  the sealer penetrates the pores and is delivered to the right place immediately.



rob parkers best granite sealer can offer up to 3 months protection before requiring reapplying.  it works because it has tiny molecules which can penetrate the polished granite surface.  it will last longer and give better protection because daily household cleaners cannot immediately break down the structure of the sealer as it sits within the stone.



buy rob parkers best granite sealer now>>



whilst rob parkers best granite sealer will assist in the protection of your worktop, it is essential you still wipe up spills immediately.  furthermore we never recommend cutting, or placing hot pans directly on the surface if you wish to keep the finish perfect.



daily care of granite worktops



for daily cleaning of granite kitchen worktops, which will give excellent shine with no smears, we recommend rob parkers best quartz and granite cleaner.  this product has also been specifically developed to addresses an issue constantly asked about.  namely, how do you keep granite worktops shiny?



find out why rob parkers best quartz and granite cleaner works better than others  here>>



we hope this article has helped you understand why it is advisable to seal your granite worktop.



please contact us for further advice on suitable treatments and remedies for all your stone surfaces. there are lots of places along the california coast that are just as nice, and not quite as expensive. santa barbara, san luis obispo, san juan capistrano, san diego, santa rosa, etc.

san jose has what's called a "mediterranean" climate. so if your tastes run to europe, you could live in spain, italy, greece, etc. spain and greece are relatively inexpensive.

of course, the trick is finding a nice place, where you can also make a living. build quality is very bad for activa but sold as indians are crazy abt foreign brand ..tvs is any time best on the whole, it's not too different - but europe / uk have better healthcare and social systems in place, and better working conditions / employment laws hdavid57: 
the ugly truth is that we are not the same. the goal should be to better accept and appreciate our differences instead of trying to make everyone else into carbon copies of ourselves.
yes, and these differences are called culture. when i lived in spain, i often wondered how countries like germany and austria entered into a political and economic union with countries like spain and greece. they are simply too different.
i think the fact that american's are able to celebrate differences is one of the reasons why our country is so successful. while cooking, if the bottom of the cooking utensil is getting blackened on the outside, it means that the fuel is not burning completely.