Why You Need to Sharpen Knives
- Efficiency: A sharp knife cuts better and faster.
- Ease of Use: A sharp knife takes less pressure and effort to cut and slice.
- Safety: Better cutting as well as less pressure and effort means a knife is less likely to slip.
- Blade Life: You’ll get a longer use life, meaning you won’t need to replace your knives as often.
Sharpening Knives Safely
Safety is critical when sharpening a knife. Follow safety instructions from the knife and sharpener manufacturer. In general:
- Never run your hand or finger along the blade edge.
- Make sure your sharpener is suitable for your knife.
- Keep knives and sharpening tools away from children.
- Keep others away when sharpening a knife.
- Consider wearing cut-resistant gloves.
- Sharpen a knife on a stable surface.
- Sharpen a knife with smooth, slow and steady motions.
- Never force a knife through a mechanical sharpener if there’s a lot of resistance.
Sharpening Knives vs. Honing Knives
Sharpening removes ultra-thin layers of metal from the cutting edge of a knife to refurbish a dull blade. Proper sharpening creates a continuous burr, or thin raised line of metal along the length of the opposite side. Consider sharpening blades you regularly use about once every six months.
Honing evens the cutting edge after regular use and after sharpening. Honing a blade each time you use it is a quick way to refresh the cutting edge.
How to Use a Knife Sharpener
How you sharpen a blade depends on several factors:
- Different sharpeners work differently.
- Different knives and blade designs require different methods.
We’ve got general tips for using two types of knife sharpeners to sharpen dual-bevel blades, serrated knives and utility knives, but knives and knife sharpeners come with specific instructions. Sharpening incorrectly damages a blade, so follow the instructions for your knife and your sharpener precisely.
When sharpening single-bevel knives, you’re
sharpening only one side. Sharpeners might have specific slots or setups for
single-bevel knives. Make sure to match the correct side of the blade to the
sharpening device. Some single-bevel knives require specialized techniques, so
check your instructions.
How to Sharpen Knives With a Pull-Through Sharpener
Powered pull-through sharpeners often have a sharpening slot and a honing slot for each side of a dual-bevel blade. Some have stropping/polishing slots as well. Manual pull-through sharpeners are similar.
Sharpen a Blade With a Powered Pull-Through Sharpener
1. Place the sharpener on a firm, level surface and turn it on.
2. Orient the blade to the correct slots for each side.
3. Pull the blade through the first sharpening slot, then through the second slot. Move the blade steadily and firmly across the sharpening surfaces, lifting the handle as necessary for a curved blade. Keep the blade at a 90-degree angle to the sharpening surface. Continue alternating pulls until a burr develops.
4. Move the blade to one of the honing slots. Pull it back across the honing surface and then move to the next honing slot. Make a couple of pairs of pulls, alternating each stroke.
5. Move the blade to a stropping slot, if equipped, and pull it across the polishing surface. Pull it through the second slot. Repeat with alternating pulls according to the instructions.
How to Sharpen a Serrated Blade
Use only the stropping/polishing slots to sharpen serrated blades with a powered pull-through sharpener. Run the blade through the polishing slots with five to ten alternating passes.
How to Sharpen a Utility Knife Blade
While utility knife blades are inexpensive and easy to replace, sharpening a standard, solid utility knife balde is quick and relatively simple with a small, manual pull-through sharpener. Extend the blade and ensure it’s clean. Follow the sharpener manufacturer’s instructions. It should take just two or three pulls to create a sharp edge. Don’t sharpen a snap-off blade.
How to Sharpen Knives With a Whetstone
Using a whetstone is one of the most precise and effective methods for sharpening a knife, but getting good results takes time and practice. You also need a stone that works with the size of your knife. A larger knife needs a larger stone. Whetstones are often available with two grits, for example a 1000-grit coarse stone to sharpen the blade and a 6000-grit fine stone to hone it. They include specific instructions for sharpening different styles of knives.
Sharpen a Knife With a Whetstone
1. Clean and prepare the stone for use according to the instructions. Thoroughly soak a water stone in water before use. Lightly coat an oil stone with mineral oil. Your stone might have instructions for additional preparation.
2. Set the stone on a sturdy, level surface where it won’t slide.
3. A 1000-grit stone is good for general sharpening. Hold the blade at the desired angle. Sharpening stones often include guides to help position the blade correctly.
4. Draw the blade backward over the stone with light pressure, from the heel or back of the blade to the tip, as you move the blade down the length of the stone. Gently press the blade to the stone with your other hand but keep away from the edge. Run the blade over the stone 10 to 15 times or until a burr forms on the top side. Rewet the stone as necessary to maintain a mix of liquid and residue on the surface.
5. Repeat the process on the other side of the blade.
6. Now hone the blade. A 6000-grit stone is good for this. Set up the stone as you did the coarse stone.
7. Run the blade over the honing stone as in Step 4, until a burr forms. With fine grit, this could take 30 to 50 strokes. Flip the blade over and hone the other edge.
8. Rinse and dry the blade. Finish with a honing rod.
How to Sharpen a Serrated Knife
Sharpening a serrated knife with a whetstone is possible, but you also need a honing rod that fits the serrations of the blade. Push the rod down through each gullet on the blade, being careful to maintain the original angle and keep the rod at a 90-degree angle to the blade. Run the flat side of the blade over the whetstone for a few passes to remove the burr the rod creates.
How to Sharpen a Utility Knife Blade
While you can swap out a dull utility knife blade easily, if you want to sharpen a standard, solid utility knife blade, a whetstone works for this as well. Extend the blade and ensure it's clean. Make two or three alternating passes with each side of the blade as you maintain the blade angle. Don't sharpen a snap-off blade.
Clean Your Knife and Sharpening Tools
Once you’ve got your knife sharp, clean it and thoroughly dry it. Now take care of your sharpener or whetstone. Your sharpening tool should have instructions for cleaning and making sure the abrasive material is ready for the next use. Follow any maintenance and storage steps.
Tips for Keeping Knives Sharp
- Sharpen knives properly twice a year or when you notice nicks or dull edges.
- Hone knives each time you use them.
- Hand wash your knives only and dry them thoroughly. Never store a wet knife.
- Store knives away from children and keep them separate from any items that could damage the edge. A knife block or drawer insert is a good option.
How to Sharpen a Knife: Key Points
Sharpening a knife is relatively simple. It takes time and practice, but if you regularly use knives, it’s worth the effort to keep them cutting safely and well and to extend blade life.
- Follow all knife and sharpener safety instructions.
- Be familiar with the designs of your knives.
- Sharpen twice a year or as needed.
- Hone the blade to even out the edge after sharpening and every time you use the knife.
- Clean and maintain your knives and tools according to the instructions.
Shop Lowes.com to see the different types of sharpeners available and find one that suits your knives and available time. You might even want to start fresh with a new set of knives. Stop by your local Lowe’s to get a closer look at our sharpeners and talk to a Red Vest associate for tips on choosing the best one for your knives.