Q&A for How to Sharpen a Knife

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  • Question
    What is the proper maintenance of knives?
    Ollie George Cigliano
    Private Chef & Food Educator
    Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University.
    Private Chef & Food Educator
    Expert Answer
    Do not wash your knives in the dishwasher. Wash them with hot soapy water and dry by hand. Store knives safely in a knife roll, designated drawer, or magnetic wall knife holder.
  • Question
    Are electric knife sharpeners any good?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Electric knife sharpeners vary by brand, and some work really well. But sharpening by hand gives you total control over your blade, whereas electric sharpeners can grind inconsistently or leave you with a steeper or duller edge than you'd like. Keep in mind, too, that many electric sharpeners are designed to accommodate cheaper blades, which tend to be softer than higher-quality blades, so if you've got quality knives, your best bet is probably to sharpen them yourself.
  • Question
    How do I know if my whetstone is an oil stone? I just used mine with water as advised by someone on YouTube and am afraid I broke it.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    It can be challenging to tell the difference between water stones and oil stones, but generally, water stones will be slightly coarser and more porous than oil stones. Some whetstones can be left in water, but some commercially manufactured stones can soften and break down (if this is what's happened to your stone, we're sorry to be the bearer of bad news!). To be on the safe side, always follow the manufacturer's guidelines when using your whetstone.
  • Question
    Can a honing rod wear out?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, but it'll take a while—potentially decades. Even with regular use, you can expect a metal honing rod to last a long time.
  • Question
    How do I sharpen the blade of a curved knife?
    Community Answer
    Do it the same way as a normal knife, just move with the curve of the blade.
  • Question
    Can a bench grinder be used for sharpening?
    Community Answer
    It can be. Just dip it in water occasionally to make sure that the knife doesn't overheat and lose the factory temper.
  • Question
    Is using a ceramic mug the same as using a diamond stone or wet stone? Or is it more temporary like a honing rod?
    Community Answer
    It's more of a quick fix with less precise and sharp results, and you may go through several mugs in the process.
  • Question
    What's the difference between 30 degrees and 60 degrees? Which one is sharper, and which one lasts longer?
    Community Answer
    30 degrees will allow for a sharper, thinner edge to develop. 60 degrees is pretty thick for an edge.
  • Question
    Can I sharpen a chef's knife using a honing rod?
    phillip smith
    Community Answer
    Honing rods keep knives' edges sharp. If dull already, they will need sharpening first.
  • Question
    How can I determine the angle?
    Community Answer
    Use a protractor, the same way you use it in geometry lessons. Over time, you should develop a sense for it.
  • Question
    Do I need to sharpen a pocket knife?
    Community Answer
    It's always good to sharpen pocket knives, since using a dull knife can be dangerous. It's also more efficient to use a sharpened blade.
  • Question
    Would WD-40 work with/on an oil-stone?
    Community Answer
    No. WD-40 is not lubricant. It actually takes away moisture from surfaces.
  • Question
    Has anyone tried using a belt sander to sharpen a knife? I have seen it used in conjunction with a steel at a commercial fish processing plant.
    Community Answer
    My son and I use one all the time. Same goes with the bench grinder, keep the blade cool.
  • Question
    How do I sharpen a knife with a serrated blade?
    Eva Bayer
    Community Answer
    Honestly, the best way is to purchase a serrated knife sharpening tool and follow its directions.
  • Question
    Should I use a honing rod on a serrated knife?
    Community Answer
    Absolutely not. You should have serrated knives sharpened professionally. Straight blades are easier to maintain.
  • Question
    Can I sharpen my throwing knives?
    Community Answer
    Yes, just follow the instructions above and make sure you don't cut yourself while sharpening your throwing knife.
  • Question
    Can I use a handheld angle grinder to sharpen a knife? If yes, how?
    Community Answer
    You can, but you should not, since the blade will get too hot and the steel will lose its hardness, and thus the ability to hold an edge.
  • Question
    Could I sharpen a butterfly knife with a honing rod?
    Community Answer
    Yes - the balisong blade is a typical knife blade. The only difference is the opening and closing method.
  • Question
    Can I use sandpaper alone to sharpen a knife? If so, how coarse should the sandpaper be?
    Community Answer
    Yes you can, best way is to secure the sandpaper to a brick or something solid that won't move while you're using it to sharpen the knife. 800 and 1200 grit is best to use, wet and dry.
  • Question
    I don't have a honing rod. What now?
    My Username I forgot Help
    Community Answer
    If you have a sharpening stone, use that. If you don’t, use the ceramic coffee mug. But if you don’t even have that, then invest in a sharpening stone or a honing rock.
  • Question
    Wondering about the correct direction of sharpening. Some prefer the move against the blade like cutting a small slice of the grindstone while others advice just the opposite. Which is better and why?
    Joe Hunt
    Community Answer
    Moving forward - or pushing - the blade, is like "slicing" the surface of the stone. It draws the blade-metal back into the knife, and is better than having a burr being drawn off the blade edge.
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