Instead of making a show of holding the steel in the air and dramatically sliding the knife against it, hold a honing steel vertically, with the tip resting on a work surface and the handle gripped firmly in one hand. Follow through to the tip of the blade. Keeping the knife in the same hand, repeat the motion on the other side of the steel, reversing the angle of the blade against the honing steel.
Once you've gone through the trouble to sharpen and hone your knives, make sure you store them so that they stay pristine for longer. We've got lots of ideas for storage , from knife blocks to wall strips and drawer docks, to ensure your sharpening efforts aren't for naught. Photo by Chelsea Kyle. Why Hone? Part One. You can't see it—you'd need a microscope—but every time you use a knife, the edge gets bent out of shape.
And because a dull knife is imprecise, slow, and a one-way road to injury yes, more dangerous than sharp knives , you want to get the blade back in shape. To do that, you need to hone. These angels typically vary between degrees. A 10 degree angle is a very fine edge think of a straight razor. A much wider angle, like 35 degrees, is what you will find on a thick blade, like a machete. The wider the angle the more durability the edge has, which means it can withstand tougher cutting material and is a great workhorse.
The finer the angle, the more refined and precise the cut is going to create. Both angles will withstand and uphold sharp when using them for their proper cutting purposes. Manufacturers will grind the recommended angle on a knife or tool when it is first made. Looking at the recommendations of the manufacturer is an easy place to start when deciding what angle you want on your knife.
A good rule of thumb to go by is degrees for Kitchen knives and degrees for outdoor knives. Outdoor tools will land more in the higher range of degrees. Steels vary from very soft to much harder and brittle. Understanding steel will benefit you as you sharpen. Check out this article from Gear Junkie for an easy-to-follow breakdown of steel types and what to expect when sharpening them.
Depending on the shape of your blade will alter the way you sharpen. If you have a typical straight edge think of a drop point , you will follow the curve of the blade as you sharpen. A blade like a tanto edge can appear to be a challenge to sharpen when actually, it is very easy! Simply treat both edges of a tanto blade as their own. It takes less time and effort to sharpen your knives than the other manual methods require.
Some brands are meant for specific kinds of knives, and some include extra features, like a lifetime warranty. Buy a pull-through or handheld sharpener for a nice at-home option. Lots of cooks enjoy the physicality of taking care of their knives and you do get more control over your movements with a manual sharpener than you would with an electric sharpener. Opt for a whetstone for a gentle, temperature-controlled sharpener.
Always soak it in water for at least 5 to 10 minutes before you use it. Hold the knife at a degree angle and slide it forward down the whetstone, with the blade touching the stone. Repeat the movement 5 to 10 times to sharpen your knife. Do double-check the instructions before wetting your whetstone. Use a honing rod to quickly realign the edges of the blade. A honing rod is also often called a sharpening steel, and they often come along with a block-knife set.
It can bend the edge over time, making it hazardous to use. Some knife brands offer free sharpening for life, so that might be something you could take advantage of, too. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. In a pinch, you could even sharpen the blade of a knife on the bottom of an old ceramic mug.
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. While knife sharpeners typically work best for kitchen knives, many can also be used for other blades, including pocket knives and field knives used by hunters and fishermen. For these blades, however, manual knife sharpeners are typically easier to carry and more effective than electric versions.
Related wikiHows How to. How to. Expert Interview. More References 7. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Ollie George Cigliano. Co-authors: Updated: October 21,
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