How To Sharpen a Knife

There are a number of ways to sharpen a knife. This article gives you some techniques that are very common.

To sharpen a knife at home, you can apply the following methods.

Using a Sharpening Steel

1. Sharpening steel is a metal rod intended for sharpening knives. Hold the steel in one hand.

2. Hold the knife by its handle with the other hand.

3. With the knife handle touching the bottom of the steel handle, place the knife just under the handle of the steel.

4. Hold the steel rod steady with the knife at a 10 to 25 degree angle to the steel. Draw the knife blade down the steel.

5. Repeat the process many times until the whole cutting surface of the knife has been drawn across the steel on both sides of the blade.

Drawing knives across a flat sharpening stone.

1. Make use of a dry or wet sharpening stone.

2. On a stable surface, place the stone flat.

3. By holding the knife by its handle, put the blade at a 10 to 25 degree angle to the stone.

4. Draw the knife toward you and across the stone.

5. Repeat process on the other side of the blade.

Using a Commercial Knife Sharpener

1. Carefully read the instruction booklet that came with sharpener.

2. Usually the process involves drawing the knife blade through the mechanism toward you until the knife is sharpened. This method is not recommended for fine knives.

Sharpening stones work best with a lubricant as this help keep the stone free of particles. Use a water stone with water or an oilstone with neutral oil such as mineral oil. One time you begin using a stone with oil you cannot switch to water. Grinding wheels and electrically powered stones require to be used with great care.

Always be careful around newly sharpened knives. To see if it is sharp, don't drag your fingertip across the newly sharpened edge. A better test is to try to cut a single piece of newspaper while holding the paper freely between two fingers.