🔪 General Knife Sharpening Tips
1. Know Your Edge Angle
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Most kitchen knives: 15–20° per side.
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Japanese knives: typically 10–15°.
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Outdoor/hunting knives: around 20–25°.
Maintaining a consistent angle is more important than hitting the “perfect” number.
2. Use the Right Grit Progression
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Coarse (200–400 grit): Repair chips, reshape very dull edges.
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Medium (800–1000 grit): Main sharpening stage.
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Fine (3000–6000 grit): Honing, polishing.
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Extra Fine (8000+): Mirror polish or razor finish (optional).
3. Soak Your Whetstones (If Needed)
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Water stones should be soaked for 10–15 minutes (unless they’re splash-and-go).
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Keep the surface wet while sharpening.
4. Sharpen Both Sides Evenly
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Alternate sides every few strokes or use a consistent stroke count (e.g., 10 on each side).
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Check for a burr on one side before flipping — it's a sign the edge is being formed.
5. Use Light Pressure
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Start with moderate pressure on coarse grits.
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Reduce pressure as you go finer — final polish should use almost no pressure.
6. Check Your Work
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Use a sharpie on the edge to track where you're removing material.
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Test sharpness with:
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Paper slicing
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Fingernail catch
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Shaving arm hair
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7. Finish with Honing (Optional but Helpful)
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Use a ceramic rod or strop (leather with compound) to align and refine the edge.
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Stropping removes micro-burrs and boosts sharpness.
8. Keep Your Stones Flat
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Uneven stones = inconsistent sharpening.
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Flatten with a diamond plate or flattening stone every few sessions.