How to properly sharpen knives at home from different materials
Knife sharpening technique depends on its type and purpose. By knowing how to sharpen knives properly, you can easily keep them sharp.
The main types of knives
A large number of varieties of knives can be divided into several categories. To perform sharpening, you need to know the material of manufacture and the purpose.
By material
Knives are made from various materials that differ in density, structure and other characteristics. Before sharpening, you need to know the material of manufacture in order to achieve the greatest efficiency.
Carbon steel
Sharpening carbon steel blades is a complex process that requires special tools. Always wipe the instrument dry to maintain its sharpness.
Low carbon stainless steel
This type of knives are inferior in hardness to standard carbon steel, so regular sharpening is necessary when using them. The advantage is resistance to rust formation.
High carbon stainless steel
High carbon stainless steel knives are durable and made from high quality metal alloy. This eliminates the need for frequent treatments.
Damascus
Damascus steel blades are often used as edged weapons, but there are domestic varieties. Damascus steel is an alloy of several metals.
Ceramic
Ceramic knives are appreciated for their property of not tarnishing over time. The downside is the fragility of the material.
Plastic
Plastic knives are used to work the dough. Due to the nature of the material, this variety cannot be sharpened.
On appointment
Most varieties are used for culinary purposes. Sharpening functions depend on the specific type.
Povarskoy
Chef's knives can be sharpened in different ways. Kitchen models have standard size blades made of durable materials.
Chop
The universal cutting tool is used to cut a large number of products. Typical details include:
- oblong straight blade;
- smooth cutting edge.
Hatchet Knife (Chopper)
The grinder is intended for cutting meat. When cutting dense pieces of meat, frequent sharpening will be required, since the blade becomes very dull during the working process, especially when it comes into contact with the meat bones .
To clean the vegetables
The compact vegetable peeler has a short, straight blade. The tool is suitable not only for cleaning but also for decorative cutting.
For the bread
The bread slice is elongated. The blade has a slight upward curvature and a sharp serrated edge.
For the oil
The butter knife has a rounded shape. Slicing and spreading the butter requires retaining a slight spiciness.
Oyster
The purpose of the oyster blade is to open the shells and cut the clam. Due to the dense flaps of the shell, frequent processing of the instrument is necessary.
Sharpening tools
You can sharpen knives with various devices. To select the right tool, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the available options.
Touchstone (honing stone)
Whetstones are made with different abrasive grain contents. To restore maximum sharpness and final grinding, whetstones with maximum and low abrasive content, respectively, are used.
natural origin
Natural whetstones come in the shape of an oval or rectangular bar. A piece of quartz or crystalline silica is usually used as a natural stone.
Ceramic
Ceramic stones combine high finish and high wear resistance. The downside is the lengthy sharpening process.
diamond
Diamond stones differ from other varieties in having sharper edges. With long-term use, diamond stones retain their original shape.
japanese water stone
Japanese stones are designed for water-based finishing. This type of stone is suitable for processing daggers.
Mechanical sharpener
Mechanical sharpeners are often used to process kitchen knives. Thanks to this equipment, it is possible to quickly sharpen various blades.
Electronic sharpener
Modern electric sharpeners automatically calculate the angle of inclination, which contributes to good processing quality. The electric sharpener is suitable for home and industrial use.
Musat
Musat is used to keep knives sharp. Externally, the tool looks like a rounded file with a small handle.
Lansky
The Lansky sharpener sharpens compact and medium-sized knives. The design allows treatment from different angles.
Sharpeners and grinders
Special machines are usually used for production purposes. The equipment allows high precision sharpening.
roller knife
The roller sharpener is equipped with abrasive burrs. As the knife moves, the built-in ceramic or diamond coated rollers rotate and sharpen the blade.
Sandpaper
Sandpaper is a flexible material with a rough finish. To sharpen different knives, you need to choose paper with the right amount of abrasive grains.
DIY blade sharpening at home
In domestic conditions, it is allowed to sharpen any knives with the help of special devices. The method of performing the procedure depends on the instrument used.
With a touchstone
The block should be fixed on a flat surface and start moving with the edge facing forward. When moving the blade, it is important that it touches the entire plane of the stone.
Sharpening should be done on both sides, after which the edge should be sanded.
How to Sharpen a Hunting Knife Properly with Lansky
To handle a hunting knife, put it in the clamps of the sharpener, install a fine-grained block and determine the angle of inclination between 20 and 30 degrees. The device is treated with oil and makes a movement along the blade, from the handle to the tip. The blade is sharpened on each side and polished at the end.
Proper sharpening of scissors
Scissors must be sharpened on a specialized machine. It is important to respect the following rules:
- processing is carried out immediately along the entire edge;
- when choosing the angle of inclination, you need to take into account the original edge;
- the movement of the scissors is carried out from the screw to the ends.
Planer blades and scissors
The procedure for processing planer and chisel blades is carried out according to the general principle. It is necessary to put the tool on a whetstone and move it along its plane until a burr is formed. Then they proceed to grinding and check the sharpness.
use machine
Using the machine simplifies the sharpening process. All you have to do is perform the following steps in succession:
- Start the machine and wait for the disk to spin up to full speed.
- Grasp the blade firmly and press it slowly against the spinning disc.
- During the entire working process, observe the recommended angle of inclination so as not to damage the tool.
- Do not press too hard on the surface and briefly hold the blade on the disc, as this will lead to destruction due to the strong heating of the metal.
- During work, periodically wet the knife in liquid.
- Final sanding is best done by hand using sandpaper.
During the use of the machine, a large number of sparks and small elements fly out, therefore protective glasses should be used.To avoid injuring your hands on the rotating disc, it is sufficient to wear gloves.
Optimal sharpening angles
To make the blade as sharp as possible and not damage it, you must observe the recommended angles of inclination during the procedure. For convenience, you can find a table that shows the optimal angles for different variations of knives.
Table knives
The angle of inclination when processing tabletop varieties is 55-60 degrees. This is due to the exclusive use for cutting ready-to-eat foods.
Home cooking
Household kitchen knives are sharpened at an angle of 30-35 degrees. The workload on them is relatively small due to short-term operation.
Professional chefs and kitchens
Knives used in the professional kitchen are processed at an inclination of 25-30 degrees. The right spiciness greatly reduces the cook's stress.
Chop and Bone
The blades used for cutting and boning are sharpened at an inclination of 25-30 degrees. Sharp knives help you work with less effort.
For professional fish processing
The fish is cut with sharp blades at an angle of 25 degrees. Less sharp blades will squeeze rather than cut the fish.
For professional vegetable processing
Since vegetables have a dense structure, there are no special requirements for the sharpening angle. The optimal angle of inclination is 35 degrees.
Folding and hunting
The angle of inclination when sharpening these models of knives varies depending on the needs of the owner. Sharpening is done to maintain sharpness or increase resistance to dulling.
For the spices
If good sharpness is required, the angle is set in the range of 30-35 degrees.At the same time, the resistance of the cutting edge to external influences.
High resistance to dulling
To increase the stability of the cutting edge, an angle of 40-45 degrees is chosen. Processing at this angle allows you to maintain sharpness for a long time.
Tips for sharpening with improvised tools
In the absence of special equipment, you can use the available tools for sharpening. These methods are suitable for use in atypical conditions.
A rock
When picnicking or hiking, sharpen the blade with a possibly hard stone. It is enough to hold the blade along the plane of the pavement about 10 times.
second knife
Using two knives, you can sharpen the blades together. It will take 5-10 minutes to sharpen.
Glass objects
The blades can be sharpened against the edge of the glass product. In particular, an old glass jar with a not too smooth surface will do.
Leather belt
A leather belt is more suitable for finish sanding. It is necessary to tension the belt and pass the blade over it.
About the angle of the concrete step
Concrete treads are suitable for coarse sharpening. Simply hold the knife along the edge of the ledge applying force. It will take about 10 minutes of treatment to restore the sharpness of the instrument.
Myths
There are many myths associated with knife sharpening. Adhering to common myths, many make mistakes when using pencil sharpeners.
Due to errors, the efficiency of the sharpening procedure is reduced, and there is a risk of damage to the blade.
Laser sharpening
Modern technologies do not allow sharpening the blade using a laser.Laser systems have no abrasive properties and are intended only for marking and drawing on the surface of the blade. Typically, a laser machine is a marketing ploy by companies that lure customers by misleading them.
Self-sharpening steel
The most common myth is the assertion of a self-sharpening tool that does not dull with prolonged use and, on the contrary, only sharpens at work. The properties of steel do not always allow it to remain sharp, and under all circumstances the material gradually becomes dull.
What knives you should not sharpen yourself
When planning to sharpen dull blades, you should read the information about the blades that it is not recommended to process yourself. By studying the recommendations, you can reduce the risk of damage to the instruments.
Preferred and comfortable
Not having enough experience or not having performed the sharpening procedure for the first time, it is better not to use your favorite and most convenient knives. Deviation from the correct sharpening angle and other errors can lead to blade breakage. For this reason, it is better to train the skill on old blades, which, in case of damage, are not afraid to throw them away.
Ceramic
Due to the nature of the material, ceramic products can only be processed with diamond bars. In the absence of the necessary equipment, one should not try to sharpen with a standard bar, and it is better to entrust the work to professionals. Armed with specialized equipment, you can try to sharpen a ceramic blade following standard technology.
Knife in damascus steel and damascus steel
Unlike ceramic tools, it is forbidden to sharpen damascus and damascus steel knives with diamond stones.Devices with diamond grits damage the surface of such products and cause them to begin to crumble. Processing with a standard bar is not difficult, but it takes a long time, so it is better to take dull blades from Damascus steel and Damascus steel to a special workshop, where their condition will be quickly restored.