How to Sharpen a Knife by Hand

Stones and Honing Oil

Sharpening a knife by hand is not difficult. Many people dread having to sharpen their knives--just look at all the kits and devices that are supposed to make knife sharpening easy. Putting a keen edge on your knife by hand is not magic; it just takes a little time. It's hard to beat the quality edge of a knife blade that has been sharpened by hand with sharpening stones. With a little practice and regular maintenance, your knife will stay sharp and will always be ready for use.

Things You'll Need

• Sharpening stones
• Sharpening steel rod
• Honing oil
• Rag
• Scrap paper

Instructions

1. 

   Determine the current condition of the knife's blade. If the blade is dull, start with the coarser stone. If the blade is somewhat sharp, start with the medium stone. Apply enough of the honing oil so that the stone's surface is covered with a light film of oil.

2. 

   Sharpen the blade at a 20- to 25-degree angle. This angle can be approximated by holding the blade at a 45-degree angle and then splitting that angle in half. With a little practice, you will be able to recognize the correct angle.

3. Draw the knife toward you while keeping the edge in contact with the stone. Push the knife away from you while keeping the edge in contact with the stone. Back and forth one time each is one stroke. Make four to five strokes, and then check the blade's edge for sharpness. Continue as needed.

4. Work your way through the different grits of the stones: coarse, medium and fine. Keep the stone clean and properly lubricated. Wipe the knife blade and stone clean if either gets overly dirty. Work to keep the blade angle constant on both sides of the blade while sharpening.

5. 

   Check the blade's sharpness by cutting down vertically through a piece of paper. The blade should cut the paper smoothly without catching. Use this method to evaluate the entire edge of the blade for sharpness. Once the knife is sharp, work it with the steel rod every now and then to keep the blade's edge sharp.

Tips & Warnings

• A dull edge may require a stronger downward force on the coarse stone.

• As the blade gets sharper, the downward force on the stone will lighten.

• The downward force on the blade should feel light and smooth when you finally get to the fine stone.

• Always clean the stones after sharpening.

• Use caution when working with knives.