How to Sharpen a Knife: Complete Beginner Guide

A sharp knife is a safe knife. That’s the saying, right? Well, it turns out that it’s not just a saying, it’s the truth. A dull knife is more dangerous to use than a sharp one because you have to apply more pressure to make it work. This can cause the knife to slip and potentially injure you. In this guide, we will show you how to sharpen a knife so that it is safe and effective to use. We will also provide some tips on how to keep your knives in good condition and how to know when it’s time to sharpen them.

If your knife is dull, it can be difficult to cut through food or even slice paper. A sharp blade, on the other hand, will make easy work of both tasks. But how do you know when your blade is dull and needs to be sharpened?

There are a few ways to test the sharpness of your blade. One is to drag the blade across a piece of paper. If it cuts cleanly through the paper, then it’s still sharp. If it tears the paper or doesn’t cut all the way through, then it’s time to sharpen your knife.

Another way to test the sharpness of your blade is to try cutting through a ripe tomato. A sharp knife should be able to slice through the skin and flesh with ease. If your knife crushes the tomato or has trouble cutting through it, then it’s time for a sharpening.

If you’re new to knife sharpening, or just want to brush up on the basics, this section is for you. Here we’ll cover all the fundamentals of knife sharpening, from choosing the right sharpener to using the proper techniques.

✔️Choosing a Sharpener: When it comes to choosing a sharpener, you have two main options: a honing rod or a sharpening stone. Honing rods are great for maintaining an already sharp edge, but if your knife is dull, you’ll need a sharpening stone. Sharpening stones come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and each one is designed for a specific purpose. For instance, coarse stones are best for quickly restoring a very dull edge, while finer stones are better for polishing and refining an edge.

✔️Using a Sharpener: Once you’ve chosen your sharpener, it’s time to get to work! First things first: always sharpen your knife on a clean surface. A dirty surface can inhibit the sharpening process and even damage your knife.

✔️Second, be sure to use moderate pressure when sharpening – too much pressure will damage the blade, while not enough pressure will produce lackluster results.

✔️Finally, don’t forget to rinse off your knife when you’re done – any metal particles left on the blade can rust and cause damage over time.

Now that you know the basics of knife sharpening, you’re ready to get out there and start putting those newly-honed blades.

The Difference Between Sharpening and Honing

The difference between sharpening and honing is that sharpening is done with a coarser abrasive to remove metal from the blade, while honing is done with a finer abrasive to realign the edge.

Sharpening should be done when the blade is dull and needs to be brought back to a sharp edge. Honing can be done more frequently to maintain the edge and prevent the need for sharpening.

You use a honing rod to “sharpen” a knife. The steel rod doesn’t actually sharpen your knife, it just straightens out the cutting edge on the blade. That way, it allows for smoother, safer cuts. Sharpening your blade actually sharpens it—so you need to do both. Hone your knife weekly (every time you use it) and sharpen it every few months or at least yearly depending on how often you use it).

If you’re using a whetstone to sharpen your knife, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure that the whetstone is securely attached to a stable surface. You don’t want it slipping around while you’re trying to use it.

Second, choose the right grit for your needs. If you’re sharpening a very dull knife, you’ll want to start with coarse grit. If your knife is already fairly sharp, you can start with medium or fine grit.

To use the whetstone, hold the knife at a 20-degree angle and run it along the stone from heel to tip. Be sure to apply even pressure throughout the stroke. After a few strokes on one side, flip the knife over and repeat on the other side.

When you’re finished sharpening, rinse off the knife and stone with water and dry them both off completely.

Assuming you are starting with a relatively dull knife, you will want to use a coarse setting on your sharpener, to begin with. This will remove a lot of material quickly and set you up for the next stage of sharpening.

Once you have used the coarse setting, move on to a medium one. This will help to refine the edge of your blade and make it sharper. Finally, use a fine setting to hone in on the edge of your blade and give it a nice, sharp finish.

If you’re using a honing rod or steel, it’s important to maintain the correct angle. The angle you’re working at should be the same as the original edge. For most knives, that means a 17-20 degree angle.

To find the right angle, hold the honing rod or steel vertically and position the blade against it so that the cutting edge forms a 20-degree angle with the steel. (You can check your progress by sighting down the length of the blade: If you can see just a sliver of light between the blade and steel, you’re holding the knife at the correct angle.)

Once you’ve found the right angle, hold the honing rod or steel in your dominant hand and position the blade in your other hand so that the cutting edge is facing away from you. Apply gentle pressure to the blade as you move it back and forth along the honing rod or steel. Remember to maintain that 20-degree angle!

Do 10-15 strokes on each side of the blade before moving on to stropping (or see below for an alternative method).

Read More: Finding the Best Angle for Knife Sharpening: A Professional Guide

First, find a tabletop knife sharpener that suits your needs. Second, follow the instructions that come with your chosen sharpener. Third, if you don’t have a tabletop knife sharpener, you can use a honing rod or a whetstone to sharpen your knife. Fourth, once you’ve found the right angle for sharpening your blade, hold the blade against the table and sharpen it using smooth strokes. Fifth, remember to always keep your blades clean and dry to prevent rusting.

To sharpen a knife with a stone, you will need:

• A sharpening stone
• A honing rod or steel
• A base to hold the stone (a simple kitchen towel will work)
• A lubricant for the stone (water or oil)

If your knife is very dull, start with a coarse gritstone. If it’s only slightly dull, start with a medium gritstone. And if it’s already quite sharp, start with a fine gritstone. Honing rods and steels are only necessary for maintaining a razor-sharp edge; they won’t do much to sharpen a dull blade.

1. Soak the stone in water for 10 minutes, or lubricate it with oil.
2. Place the stone on your towel or other base, making sure it’s secure.
3. Hold the knife at a 20-degree angle to the stone and use long, even strokes to grind away at the metal.
4. Start with the heel of the blade and work your way up to the tip.
5. Sharpen both sides of the blade equally.
6. Rinse off your knife and inspect it for any burrs or unevenness that may have been created during sharpening; remove them with a few strokes on a honing rod or steel if necessary.