Sharpening a Knife with a Stone - A Brief Guide
Posted by sharpimport on 1/29/2020
How to sharpen a knife? It is a question we often come across. So, we have decided to answer this important question and assist the users who are looking to sharpen their cool knives efficiently.
There are many ways to sharpen your knives. You can use several different things to sharpen your knives, such as sharpening stones, electric sharpening machines, and sharpening steels etc. However, not all these things work effectively.
In this article, we are expressing the way you can sharpen your knives easily and perfectly. So, let’s begin the guide:
Get a Whetstone
Though there are plenty of things to sharpen your knives, but whetstone is the most effective, and spectacular sharpening stone. So, to start, you require a two sided whetstone.
The whetstone must have a fine grit on one side and a coarse grit on the other side. Different knives require different angles at which the edge of the knives are applied on the stone. Generally, it depends on the specifications of the knife.
However, a general rule suggests that the sharpening angle must be around 22 degrees.
In order to determine the angle, picture 90 degrees which is generally straight down and up. Now, take half of that which would be 45 degrees. Then, take another half of that which would be around 22 degrees.
So, this is the angle you require for sharpening your knife.
However, before you determine the final angle, make sure to consult the information that came with your knife. Also, you can talk to the manufacturer of your knife to identify the best sharpening angle.
Keep it Dry
Water stone is one popular thing, and another is a whetstone. A water-stone is established to work under water. However, a whetstone is the one that is needed to be kept dry.
Using water or oil on this whetstone may trap little metal particles in the liquid. As a result, it will develop a more ragged edge rather than using a dry stone.
The main distinction between whetstone and water-stone is that water stone is a natural thing. When you wet it, it is dissolved and produces a gritty mud which assists in grinding away steel.
A whetstone, on the other hand, is a different sort of stone. It is sometimes synthetic, and sometimes natural.
You can wet this stone at times, but sometimes you can’t. Soaking a synthetic whetstone may shorten the lifespan significantly.
Furthermore, it is important to consult the tips and instructions given by the manufacturer of the stone before sharpening your knife on a stone.
Steps to Follow
Follow these steps to sharpen your knife perfectly:
- First of all, place the whetstone on the counter top or cutting board. Make sure the coarse grit is facing upwards.
- Place a small wet towel underneath the stone to prevent it from sliding.
- Grasp the knife with one hand by the handle and hold the knife’s edge against the whetstone. The edge must be meeting the stone at an angle of 22 degrees. Use the other hand to stabilize the blade.
- Under medium pressure, slide the knife’s blade forward while keeping the blade flush against the stone at an angle of 22 degrees.
- Repeat the process for ten times.
- Flip the knife over and give ten strokes to the other side of the blade on the whetstone.
- Again, flip the whetstone over to the side of fine grit and give ten strokes to each side of the blade.
- End the process by using a sharpening steel for honing the blade.
- Rinse the blade and then wipe it to dry and make sure to remove all the metal particles.
Important Tips & Instructions
Follow these significant tips and instructions while sharpening your knife:
- Make sure to sharpen your knife in a similar direction without considering it is back to front or front to back.
- Never believe that you don’t need to sharpen your pocket knives. You do need to sharpen it time after time. When you cut different things with it, it causes an increase in friction. This friction causes a loss of sharpness on the blade.
- Keep in mind that sharpening stone is the whetstone, not a wet stone. Also, don’t try to sharpen ceramic knives because they are vulnerable to breaking.
- Keep in mind that the most appropriate and professional way of sharpening your knife is to use professional sharpeners. It will save your time and money. You can search for knife sharpener and sharpening stones online.
So, these are some significant instructions and tips to follow before you sharpen your knives!