How to Sharpen a Knife

Sharpening a knife is a routine maintenance method for restoring a sharp edge. Whether it is a kitchen knife, scissors or any other cutting tool, the blade will become dull after a period of use, and only timely sharpening can ensure effortless chopping and neat cuts. Before sharpening, you need to prepare a whetstone; common types include a coarse stone and a fine stone. The coarse stone is used to repair chips and set the edge, while the fine stone is responsible for fine grinding and polishing; using the two together gives better results. Before sharpening, first soak the whetstone in water and wipe the blade clean.

When sharpening, first set the whetstone firmly; you can place a wet cloth underneath to prevent slipping. Hold the handle with your right hand and press the back of the blade with your left hand, keeping the edge at a relatively small angle to the whetstone, generally around ten-odd degrees to about 20 degrees. When sharpening, push and pull steadily along the surface of the stone, sharpen one side first and then turn it over; the number of strokes on both sides should be roughly the same, so that the edge will not be biased to one side.

During the sharpening process, you can rinse away the metal powder on the stone surface with water at any time to keep the stone surface clean. To judge whether the knife is sharpened well, you can lightly draw the edge across paper or tomato skin; if it cuts through smoothly, the sharpness is sufficient. After sharpening, rinse the blade with clean water and wipe off the moisture; if necessary, apply a thin layer of cooking oil to the edge to prevent rust.

The most common problems when sharpening are an unstable angle and using too much force. An angle that keeps changing will grind the edge into an arc, while using too much force can easily roll the edge instead. In daily use, avoid chopping hard objects with the knife and avoid soaking it in water right after cutting; sharpen it promptly when it becomes dull, and the knife will stay in good working condition for a long time.