What's the point of a knife so blunt that it can't cut anything? Pocket knives are practical, but because of their practical nature, pocket knives are used for all kinds of purposes. We often see people who use pocket knives to carve wood, open boxes, open food packages, even stab an unknown small animal, and then wipe the knife on his pants and put it back in his pocket. People continue to stick with dull knives for no reason - even though dull knives require more force when used. The knife only takes a few minutes to sharpen. Try the two methods below to sharpen your knife.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Sharpening Your Knives with a Stone
Step 1. Choose the type of whetstone you want to use to sharpen your pocket knife
Whatever type of stone you choose, look for stones that are at least 5x15 cm to make your work easier. Some choices of stones that you can buy include diamond stones, ceramic stones, and sharpening stones.
- Whetstone: This stone is generally considered the easiest stone to work with and is made of both fine and coarse grit stones. You should soak your whetstone in clean, cold water for ten minutes before you use it. Keep in mind that when a whetstone is used frequently, it often forms valleys or grooves where the blade is frequently rubbed.
- Ceramic stone: This stone should also be soaked in water before use, but only for three to five minutes. This stone is harder than a whetstone which means that it will sharpen your knife faster. Ceramic stones are usually more durable than whetstones but are a little more difficult to work with.
- Diamond stones: These stones are available in several types including hard, smooth, and very fine diamonds. Diamonds are very hard and very porous. In general, diamond stones are actually metal plates with small diamonds attached to the surface. This stone is the hardest sharpening stone and the fastest in sharpening your knife. Keep in mind, though, that diamonds are also the most expensive sharpening stones by far.
Step 2. Lubricate your whetstone
If you're using a regular whetstone or ceramic stone, you'll need to soak the stone in the water for the recommended amount of time. Knife sharpening experts also recommend using a lubricant such as mineral oil. You can buy this oil at your local hardware store. The purpose of the lubricant is to prevent the stone pores from being clogged by powders and grit. The lubricant also reduces the heat caused by friction when the blade is rubbed against the stone. Too high a heat can cause your knife to bend.
Machine oil or honing oil can be used on grindstones or ceramic stones, and diluted dish soap works well with diamond stones
Step 3. Identify the angle of inclination of the blade
This is also called the rough sharpening angle. The blade is sharpened at a certain angle according to the use of the knife. Most pocket knives have a 25 to 30 degree angle of inclination on the blade.
If you have doubts about sharpening your knife because you don't know the right angle, you can go to your local knife shop for help, or contact the knife manufacturer. You can also find the right angle for your knife online
Step 4. Position the knife on the rock at a right angle
Keep the blade in position with the blade facing away from you at a right angle to the stone as you sharpen it.
Holding the knife in the same position for long periods of time can be difficult. If this is your first time sharpening a knife, or you feel like your hand can't stay steady long enough, you should consider purchasing a sharpening guide. The sharpening guide is attached to the blade and keeps it at a stable angle. Note that sharpening guides are less reliable when used on curved blades
Step 5. Slide the knife along the stone
Sweep the knife down and from the tip of the whetstone. Repeat as many times as necessary to produce a sharp knife edge, usually about 12 times. As you refine your sharpening skills, your movements will be more like circular motions as the blade is brushed against the stone.
Blades that are curved or longer than your whetstone will need to be brushed in an up and down motion so that the entire blade is evenly sharp
Step 6. Sharpen the other side of the blade
Turn the knife over and slide the blade in an up and down motion against the whetstone, maintaining an angle. Do this 6-8 times or until the blade becomes sharp.
Step 7. Turn the whetstone so that the smooth side is facing up
Sweep your knife, at the right angle of inclination, along the smooth side of the stone. This is to remove lumps or 'bulges' that may have formed along the blade during the sharpening process.
In addition to using the finer side of the stone, you can also rub each side of the blade against the sharpening rod at an angle that is wider than the angle during the sharpening process. This will remove any unevenness in the blade and correct the sharpness of the blade. A sharpening rod is also a quick way to restore the blade between sharpening
Step 8. Test the sharpness of your pocket knife
Pick up a piece of paper, and try to slice it with your knife. A sharp knife will easily slide through the paper.
You can also test for any rounded edges on the blade or for any imperfections in the blade by holding your knife up to the light (you can also use the sun) and looking for bright reflections of light. Reflection only occurs when there is a rounded edge somewhere along your knife, or a part of the knife is no longer sharp
Method 2 of 2: Using a Sharpening Rod
Step 1. Recognize that a sharpening rod is better for 'sharpening' the blade
This bar is also known as sharpening steel. While this rod will, in a way, sharpen your knife, what this rod will really do is sharpen the blade - with the same results as sharpening a knife on stone.
There are several types of sharpening rods. The most common are sharpening steel bars, which are also known as sharpening steels. This is a very effective and reliable way to sharpen your knife. Sharpening rods can also be made of ceramic and diamond. These two materials are reliable because they are two of the toughest materials ever. Sharpening diamond bars are known for making the blade smoother, but both will sharpen the blade very quickly
Step 2. Hold the sharpening rod by the handle, so that the end of the rod is on the table
To be safe, place the tip on an old small towel on your cutting board or cutting board (so you don't leave streaks on your table.) The sharpening bar should be held straight up and down so that it's perfectly vertical.
Step 3. Find your tilt angle
You must again determine the angle of inclination of the blade when the blade is sharpened against the stem. Pocket knives should generally be held at an angle of 25 to 30 degrees.
Go to your local knife or hardware store and ask them to determine the angle of your knife if you have any doubts about the angle of your knife
Step 4. Slide the blade along the sharpening rod
You should swipe it slowly and use a light touch - don't press the knife against the stem firmly. Move the blade from base to tip as you slide it down along the sharpening rod.
Step 5. Switch sides so you are sharpening both sides of the knife
If your knife is rather sharp, you will only need to slide the knife along the sharpening rod a few times on each side. If your knife is very dull, you will need to rub the knife several times.
Tips
- If you are nervous about sharpening your own knife, you can ask a professional to sharpen it.
- Don't scratch the knife while sharpening it: don't be in a hurry and try to sharpen the part that is used for cutting frequently.
- Regular knife sharpening is very important because accidents tend to occur more often with dull knives due to the force you exert when cutting with a dull knife.
