When you want your knives to sharpen, this step by step guide will help you. The skills and experience you have in sharpening only will find the best method. A guide is not needed when you have some experience in freehand sharpening. If you not comfortable in the skill, then you can go for the guide which is cheap and gives you a simple method to keep the angle steady.

If you have tried to sharpen your knife already but you do not get the sharp edge, then it is recommended for you to go through the sharpening guide.

Steps to get the proper edge:

  1. Pick the right rug for your sharp stone – The very first step in sharpening your knife is to select the proper coarseness for your sharpening stone. You cannot start with the coarsest stone for the entire knife, as a blunt one cannot only sharpen your finest stone. The conditions of your knife can only decide the coarseness of a stone. If your knife is dull as well as its blade is ragged, then you have to sharpen it with the coarsest stone. By doing this, you will be able to refine it at a faster rate and it should be followed by finer stone in order to refine your edge. If the knife is not duller or if it needs a slight refinement, then you have to use a fine stone.
  2. Find out the perfect angle – The next step in sharpening is to select the right sharpening angle. It is a must to determine an angle no matter of the method that you are using. This angle does not have to be accurate, but it is a good idea to follow some general guidelines. Most manufacturers recommend an angle of about 20 degrees. Based on the usage of your knife, you can adjust from that angle.
  3. Application of water or oil to sharpening stone block – Several stones requires oil or water, in order to remove the floating waste chips or shavings. All you have to do is to add a drop of any of this liquid to the stone. Based on the kind of stone you are using, you can determine the lubricant you are going to use.
  4. Sharpen the knife – This is the final step in knife sharpening. Begin with the coarse stone you need for your knife and progress through each fine stone until you reach the desired sharpness level. Bring the length of the knife to a piece of shredder across the stone, starting with the knife’s heel on the stone with one movement and ending with the point of the knife. Repeat this process on the other side and continue till you get a sharp edge.