I will be discussing the basics of sharpening knives In this article.

There are many different ways utilized when sharpening knives, but they all have one thing in common. Making the edge of your knife have a sharp enough angle to cut. Sharpening stones of different types are used for sharpening knives. Grinding wheels, special ceramic stones and rods can all be utilized.

First, we need to discuss the type of material your knife is made from. A knife made from stainless steel? A diamond or ceramic sharpener is best. Carbon steel knives benefit the most from Arkansas stones and other natural materials. Even a flat rock on a creek bank will work, it just matters how much time you want to sit and sharpen.

How will your knife be used? Cutting meat? A straight razor for shaving? Chopping wood and general camp chores? Different uses will determine the angle needed for sharpening knives. A knife used for cutting meat will usually have what is called a wire edge. This edge is razor sharp but will bend over if the knife contacts bone. Straightening the wire edge on a steel or ceramic rod will put your knife back into razor sharp condition.

Conversely, a knife used for camp chores (i.e. chopping wood or vines) will need a stronger angled edge to survive the abuse. Have you ever seen an axe with a thin concave edge? Why? Because an axe needs strength to chop.

For most uses the angle of the edge from the factory will be kept the same. Paying attention to the angle that the blade is held to the sharpener is one key to getting a good edge. Consistency of the angle will enable you to get a good edge with the least amount of work and with the least amount of steel removed from the blade. Starting with a soft stone and holding the blade at the desired angle, the blade will be pushed down the stone like you are trying to shave a thin slice off of the stone. Usually you can make three or four strokes on one side then make an equal amount of strokes on the other side. When the edge is smooth and even on both sides with the proper angle, move on to a hard stone and repeat the process. If the blade is of good quality steel, it is possible to get a wire edge with the soft stone. A wire edge can be seen in good light and can often be seen to move or bend by putting a thumbnail on the edge and applying a bit of pressure to the edge. After the edge is satisfactory to you, moving on to a hard stone will polish the edge and work off the wire edge. This will give a sharper and stronger edge to your blade. Heavy pressure is not required for either hard or soft stones. lighter pressure and more strokes will give a better result. The same process is also used with a diamond hone as is used with stones.

Lubrication while sharpening is a must. The type of stones you use will determine what to use for lubrication. Arkansas stones work best with a good grade of fine cutting oil. Japanese wet stones and some diamond hones work best with plain water. Spit can also be used in a pinch on most stones, just be sure to not be chewing tobacco when using spit as a lube. Trust me, it isn’t pretty!

Choosing The Right Stones

Choosing the right stones is important to achieve the desired edge on a knife. Avoid choosing stones that are very course. Course stones are fast but are hard to put a fine edge on a knife blade with. If the blade is of carbon steel, Arkansas stones are hard to beat. If a stainless blade is being sharpened, diamond hones may be a better choice because of the hardness of most stainless steel. The size of the stones is important also. A long blade can be sharpened on a small stone, but it is much easier to sharpen with a larger stone or hone. Stones such as the Lansky Knife sharpening set utilize a jig that clamps on the knife blade and stones of varying grits from course to fine. the stones are mounted on holders which fit into the jig and keep the angle constant to the blade. with this system, the stones are stroked along the blade instead of the blade being stroked on the stone. Quality stones have become harder to find since most towns no longer have local hardware stores and the like. Many if not most people no longer sharpen knives or even carry a knife. So, finding stones online may be your best option. If you live close to one of the big knife stores or are traveling through an area that has one, you may find decent stones at one of those stores.

Powered Knife Sharpeners

There are several types of powered knife sharpeners. They are quick and most are not difficult to use, but because of their size and the fact that they require electrical power they obviously aren’t something you can carry with you in the field or trail. The wheel and belt sharpeners can be used to produce a fine edge. As with using stones, the angle must be kept uniform with each stroke across the surface to produce a fine edge. When using powered sharpening tools, particular care must be used to not get the blade too hot. Too much pressure and not keeping the blade moving across the surface fast enough will cause the blade to become too hot, The kitchen type sharpeners with the motorized stones are generally not able to produce the kind of edge that is desired on a skinning knife or a working knife.

While learning to sharpen knives requires some practice to become really proficient, there is a good deal of satisfaction in being able to put a good edge on a knife. Keeping your knives sharp makes using them a pleasure.