How to Sharpen a Large Knife on a Whetstone
The best way to sharpen a large knife is with a whetstone. Other types of sharpening tools tend to grind down too much of your knife's blade, which will significantly shorten its lifespan. Knowing how to sharpen a large knife on a whetstone will enable you to keep your blades sharper, allowing for easier cutting and fewer blade replacements. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Place the whetstone on top of a wet paper towel on your countertop to prevent it from sliding during sharpening. The coarse grit should be facing up.
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2
Hold the whetstone in one hand while you use your free hand to grasp the large knife by the handle.
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3
Lay the edge of the blade against the whetstone. The cutting edge should meet the whetstone at an angle of 22 degrees.
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4
Pull the large blade along the whetstone, using moderate pressure. While keeping the blade flush against the whetstone, slide the knife forward, across the whetstone. Repeat this step eight to 10 times.
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5
Flip the knife over and repeat Step 4. It is important to sharpen both sides in the same direction, whether you pull the blade from front to back or from back to front.
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6
Alternate sides until your knife blade is as sharp as needed. Be very careful not to over-sharpen the blade, as this can cause it to become worn and brittle.
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7
Thoroughly wash the whetstone with warm water and dishwashing soap to remove any tiny metal fragments.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your whetstone dry. Contrary to what many people believe, using water or oil on a whetstone is not a good idea, as the liquid traps metal fragments. This can result in a ragged blade.
