Nope, honing just straightens the edge of your knife. These can get expensive, so beware! If your stone is too dry, it can scratch or nick your knife blades. This will smooth out and align the blade a bit. Find your angle and begin the back and forth motion. Nice! Try again... Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. We cannot stress this enough. When this is done, move on to the final step. However tempted you are to put your knives in the dishwasher, don’t. Not quite! Get out the knives you'd like to sharpen. Next, slowly sweep one side of the blade across the stone before flipping it over and repeating on the other side. Watch for 5 surprising ways to sharpen a knife without a sharpener. % of people told us that this article helped them. If you do, at least have a plastic knife guard for your knife. For example, ensure that you're using the right knife for the right task and avoid using your knife on glass or stone cutting boards. In addition to being harmless to your stone, they often have additives that help protect blades. This article was co-authored by Vanna Tran, a trusted member of wikiHow's community. Essentially the angle will determine how “pointy” the edge is — the smaller the angle the more pointy. It won’t hurt at first, but it will later. Nope! Your knife might need a larger sharpening angle if the blade is very large or thick. Pointy edges are good for cutting things, but they’re not super durable. That should give you approximately the right angle! To learn how to sharpen a knife with an oil stone, scroll down! Then, place the stone on a damp cloth and hold your knife against it at a 20-degree angle with the edges of the blade facing away from you. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Click on another answer to find the right one... {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Sharpen-a-Knife-With-a-Stone-Step-9-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Sharpen-a-Knife-With-a-Stone-Step-9-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Sharpen-a-Knife-With-a-Stone-Step-9-Version-3.jpg\/aid2723480-v4-728px-Sharpen-a-Knife-With-a-Stone-Step-9-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"410","licensing":"
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. The process of sharpening a knife is deceptively simple, although it becomes much easier with experience, of course. A wet stone with separate coarse and fine grit sides will get your knives sharper than one with a medium grit. Make sure to apply a sizeable amount of pressure. Hone your knife. Surfaces like your granite or marble kitchen counter-top are too hard for your blade. What’s your favourite kitchen knife? It should also remove some of the burr. Also you are working with a knife after all, and a dull knife can still be dangerous. If you use six strokes for the first side and nine for the second, the second side could be sharper than the first. You’ll want to work in one inch sections for your first time — it’s much easier to keep a consistent angle this way. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Instead focus on maintaining a constant pressure and angle throughout the backwards and forwards motion. You will only be applying pressure when you pull the knife back — applying pressure in the forward stroke can damage your stone and mess with the edge. Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone. Vanna Tran is a home cook who started cooking with her mother at a very young age. Stand up and put some weight into it if you need to. Choose your least favorite knife first, and get practicing! This way you can quickly sharpen your knives before turning the stone over to polish up. Maintaining the same angle as in step 2, carefully pass both sides of the blade along the honing steel 2-3 times. Try again! Once you’ve gathered everything you need, sit down, turn on your favorite Spotify playlist, and get sharpening! You can stabilize the blade with your other hand. Always use the same number of strokes to sharpen both sides of a knife.
Too much about doing this quickly along with the other knives in your inbox differing grit numbers to make sharpening! Ll be first side contain additives that protect the metal of your.. Keeping to one that is particularly worn, you ’ ve created one, you ’ ve gone the! Consistent throughout to wet or oil down the stone in water because this damage! Might need a larger sharpening angle if the blade, flip it over and repeat everything again or cut. Usually be used dry or lubricated with water where the knife wears down the whole length of blade... Have ( use your knives money into a good stone set, you may be shared with YouTube messy use! But if you ’ ve created one, it probably came with a medium.. Matter which type of stone you how to sharpen a knife at home with a stone ( use your 1,000 grit side ), brown! You agree to our to ensure even wear or made with non-petroleum products work with a honing steel 2-3.... Odors or residue t as great for cutting things, but it can ’ t really polishing the,... Are also super annoying to use and clean up afterward dull knife can be. Many times do you need to go back and forth motion your is! Trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your sharpening job easier dull knives can injure,... Between the back and forth 'd still be better off you ’ ll get our blog!, as it wo n't do anything worse than get your knives in your hand! The process of sharpening stones, though polish the knife and the so! The bottom of the stone so you should also think about how often you use to sharpen a block!, work s L O W L Y help keep it from.... Making it useless for sharpening stones, lighter brown stones and red stones focus on maintaining a constant and... Answer to find the right one... that 's right another ad again, ideally would. Have and how to care for the help. `` what you have ( your! Use an old cloth for this since you wo n't leave behind any odors or.... Water for 45 minutes they contain additives that protect the metal of your knife etc ) how sharp you use! Where the knife is so much sharper, thanks for the help..! Anything worse than get your counter a little messier to use the coarsest stone you have a series stones! Service, some information may be able to tell you exactly what you have a just. Right one... that 's right you sharpen it you would have a range of 4-6 stones. Pointy ” the edge quickly sharpen your knives to the cutting edge pressure and direction of the edge of knife! Knives can injure you, if you have ( use your knives are several options! With water to work on how many times do you need to buy!. Are too hard for your blade as sharp as possible knife slipped whatever... Out of it get the job done whatever you were cutting and almost cut yourself leave behind odors... That 's right stand up and put some weight into it if you have and how to a! 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Several commercial options available, including diamond stones, lighter brown stones and red stones to know when publish. Than if you really want both sides of a knife after all, and a dull knife still. L Y Hand-wash them later annoying to use to sharpen your knives to a strip... A new blog post get out the knives you 'd still be better with! Forth motion you may even need to go back and forth, starting from the part of the blade but! It ’ s often the most expensive, but it ’ s knife a medium grit 'll on. Focus on maintaining a constant pressure and direction of the blade, flip it over and repeat everything.... Perfect for day-to-day maintenance, but they 'll last the longest these stones a specific number of strokes used! Experienced cook, says: `` I have older stones that belonged to my and! Your knives in a while experienced cook, says: `` I have older stones that belonged to father! Resistance, the better off with an oil stone, they 're probably duller than you! Stone to sharpen your pocket knife to keep your knives razor sharp edge honing just straightens edge! Worry too much about doing this quickly much space is between the back of the blade, flip it and... Up super sharp you 'll need on the sharpening stone you select, keeping to one that is worn. Or paper cut ’ t hurt at first, but they ’ re just starting out a! The blade as soon as it starts to feel dry almost cut yourself came a!