How to Sharpen a Sword

Sharpening sword blades should only be done on newer swords or blunt swords that previously did not have an edge. You'll need patience when doing sword sharpening. Before sharpening a particular sword be certain that doing so will not void any warranty for the sword.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Metal file
• Whetstone
• Whetstone oil
• 400-grit emery paper
• Paper or towel
• Block of wood

1. Lay your sword on a table with one side propped up on the block of wood. Be sure there is enough lighting to see the sword edge clearly.

2. Place the file at a 30-degree angle. Carefully use measured downward strokes on the sword blade to roughly sharpen it.

3. Apply oil to the whetstone. Place the sword blade across the stone at a 30-degree angle in a slow and measured stroke. You are polishing the blade here so this is a back and forth motion, not a circular one.

4. Dampen a small piece of 400-grit sandpaper with water. Glide the paper down the blade at a 30-degree angle. This must be done very gently because your fingers can easily slip and you can cut yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't use a good sword the first time you sharpen a blade.
• Turn the blade over multiple times as you begin to sharpen it with the file so one edge isn't thinner than the other.
• Avoid any distractions while sharpening the sword or you could cut yourself.
• Don't sharpen an antique sword yourself since you can damage the blade.
• Don't try to make the process go faster by using power tools. They heat up the blade and can warp it.

Resources

• Sword-sharpening kit