Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Choosing a sharpening stone
• Part 2 of 3: Preparing for sharpening
• Warnings
• Necessities

If knives have become dull and can no longer get the job done, or if you are concerned that the knives are too dangerous to work with, you will need to sharpen them. Sharpening stones, also called whetstones, are made of natural or synthetic materials and can be used dry, with oil or with water. Once you have chosen a stone, you can simply run the dull blades over the stone until they are sharp again. If you work with a steady hand, your knives will feel like new again!

To step

Part 1 of 3: Choosing a sharpening stone

1. Examine your knives. Prepare the knives you want to sharpen. Determine how dull the blades are, so you know what grit size you need on the sharpening stone. To test the blade, cut it through a tomato or piece of fruit. Feel the resistance you get when you cut with the knife. The more resistance, the duller your knives are.
   • Also wonder how often you use the knives. If you use them every day, they are likely to be more blunt than using them only occasionally.
2. Choose a specific type of whetstone. You should choose a natural or synthetic stone that can be used wet (soaked in water), with oil, or dry. There are also diamond stones (very small diamonds attached to a metal surface). Stones soaked in water are softer, so you can sharpen your knives quickly. Unfortunately, these stones will wear out faster than the other stones. Oil stones are the cheapest and are made of a harder material.
   • Oil stones are a bit messier to use and clean up, although the stone will last a long time.
   • Diamond stones are the most expensive, but last the longest.
3. Choose the grain of the stone. Sharpening stones are available in different grit sizes. For example, you can choose from fine, medium and coarse stones. Use a coarse stone followed by a fine grit if your knives are dull. If your knives have been sharpened recently or are not too blurry, you may want to consider using a medium grain. Try a grit size ranging from 325 (coarse) to 1200 (extra fine).
   • You may be able to find a whetstone that has different grit sizes on both sides.

Part 2 of 3: Preparing for sharpening

1. Follow the instructions that came with your sharpening stone. Because there is so much variation in the sharpening of stones, it is important to read the instructions for use that came with your stone. The manual tells you whether you should soak the stone in water or rub it with oil while sharpening.
   • Diamond stones can usually be used dry or moistened with water first.
2. Hold the knife against the stone. Use one hand to hold the knife so that the blade is at an angle of 20 degrees. The edge of the blade should face away from you. Place the fingertips of your other hand on the flat part of the blade near the sharp end.
   • Your fingertips on the blade can control the pressure and direction of the blade as you sharpen it.
3. Clean the blades and the sharpening stone. Once you have finished sharpening your knives, wash and dry the knives. You should also clean the stone according to the manufacturer's instructions. For example, if you have an oil rock, you should occasionally scrub it with a stiff fiber brush and soak it in oil. Wash off the remains of a whetstone and keep it in a dry cloth until you need it again.
   • To prevent your knives from getting blunt too quickly, you can store them in a knife block, on a magnetic strip or protect them with covers.

Warnings

• Always be careful when handling knives. Even dull knives can injure you if you handle them incorrectly.

Necessities

• Grinding stone
• Kitchen towel
• Water or grinding oil
• Spray bottle
• Paper
• Case, knife block or magnetic strip