When it comes to making and keeping a sharp edge on your knife, there are few things as important as the proper technique. Whether you’re a chef, an outdoorsy type or just like to use knives for everyday tasks, knowing how to hone and sharpen your blade can be a real lifesaver.
Holding the Knife Correctly
It might seem a bit obvious, but holding your knife correctly can make a difference when it comes to the quality of your cuts. The wrong grip can cause your hand to slip, or even tip your blade over and hurt you.
There are many different ways to hold a knife, but the main thing is to find one that feels good in your hands. It will allow you to control the knife with more dexterity and stability, which is essential for chopping, trimming, or slicing foods.
The most common grip used by novices is the handle grip. This involves wrapping all four fingers around the handle of the knife, like you would hold a phone or a water glass. While this may work for some, it’s difficult to balance the knife and it doesn’t give you the control needed to cut with precision.
Holding the Stone Correctly
When you first start sharpening with a stone, it can be a bit overwhelming. You want to make sure that you’re holding the blade correctly and that the angle is consistent throughout the entire process.
This can be difficult to figure out at first, so it’s important that you practice until you find the right angle for your knife. One way to do this is to take a piece of paper and fold it in thirds until you get 30 degrees.
Once you’ve determined the angle, make sweeping strokes on both sides of the edge. Don’t let the knife tip slide off of the stone, which can cause chipping or rounding.
After the first pass, stop and check if there’s a burr. When there is, it means that the material has been removed to the point where a new bevel can be created.
Holding the Paper Correctly
Keeping your hand and wrist still while sharpening a knife is key to getting a smooth edge. This includes not slamming the blade on a tabletop or bending it backwards, which can cause you to lose your grip. It’s also important to not twist or roll the knife at the end of a pass, which can change the angle and prevent you from getting a good edge.
Holding the paper correctly will be a challenge, but it’s also the most important factor when it comes to making a new edge on your knife. This is a skill that should be practiced slowly and with plenty of time to soak it up. The best way to do this is with an inexpensive, reputable edge sharpener such as a high-quality diamond hone.
Holding the Leather Correctly
Holding the leather correctly is vital to making a new edge on your knife. If you don’t know how to handle the leather, it’s likely to slip and cause damage to your work or worst case, injury.
Gluing leather together is another important step in the process, so it’s important to get it right. Using a metal roller can help ensure that glue is applied evenly, with no air bubbles or gaps between the leather layers. This will result in a strong, tight bond.
Glue can be applied by hand, but if you’re joining a large amount of leather together, it may be easier to use a glue gun. It’s also usually recommended that you have a large, flat work surface. A table or workbench is best. Lint-free paper can be placed on the work surface to help wick up any glue that might drip. This will protect your work surface and keep it clean for other projects.