How do you sharpen knives?

Sharpening knives requires the use of a sharpening stone or a whetstone. Here are the general steps on how to sharpen a knife using a whetstone:

1. Prepare your sharpening stone:

- Soak your whetstone in water for a few minutes to lubricate it.

- If your whetstone has multiple grits (different levels of coarseness), start with the coarsest grit side.

2. Position the knife:

- Hold the knife in one hand with the cutting edge facing away from you.

- Place the knife on the whetstone with the cutting edge perpendicular to the stone.

- Ensure that the entire length of the cutting edge is in contact with the stone.

3. Start sharpening:

- Using light pressure, move the knife back and forth across the whetstone.

- Maintain a consistent angle of about 15-20 degrees between the cutting edge and the whetstone.

- Continue this back-and-forth motion for several strokes.

4. Switch to a finer grit:

- Once you've established a burr (a thin metal ridge) on the knife's edge, switch to a finer grit whetstone (if available).

- Repeat the sharpening process using the finer grit to further refine the edge.

5. Flip and repeat:

- Flip the knife over so the other side of the cutting edge is facing up.

- Repeat the sharpening process on this side using the same technique.

6. Remove the burr:

- After sharpening both sides, you should feel the burr on the knife's edge when running your finger along it.

- To remove the burr, lightly drag the knife's edge flat against a hard, flat surface, like a wooden cutting board.

7. Check the sharpness:

- Test the sharpness of the knife by cutting through a piece of paper.

- If the knife cuts cleanly without tearing the paper, it is sharp.

Remember, sharpening knives requires patience and practice to develop the right technique. Always be cautious when handling sharp knives and place safety as your top priority. If you're not confident in sharpening your knives, you can take them to a professional knife sharpening service for assistance.