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🔪 General Knife Sharpening Tips

1. Know Your Edge Angle

  • Most kitchen knives: 15–20° per side.

  • Japanese knives: typically 10–15°.

  • Outdoor/hunting knives: around 20–25°.

Maintaining a consistent angle is more important than hitting the “perfect” number.

2. Use the Right Grit Progression

  • Coarse (200–400 grit): Repair chips, reshape very dull edges.

  • Medium (800–1000 grit): Main sharpening stage.

  • Fine (3000–6000 grit): Honing, polishing.

  • Extra Fine (8000+): Mirror polish or razor finish (optional).

3. Soak Your Whetstones (If Needed)

  • Water stones should be soaked for 10–15 minutes (unless they’re splash-and-go).

  • Keep the surface wet while sharpening.

4. Sharpen Both Sides Evenly

  • Alternate sides every few strokes or use a consistent stroke count (e.g., 10 on each side).

  • Check for a burr on one side before flipping — it's a sign the edge is being formed.

5. Use Light Pressure

  • Start with moderate pressure on coarse grits.

  • Reduce pressure as you go finer — final polish should use almost no pressure.

6. Check Your Work

  • Use a sharpie on the edge to track where you're removing material.

  • Test sharpness with:

    • Paper slicing

    • Fingernail catch

    • Shaving arm hair

7. Finish with Honing (Optional but Helpful)

  • Use a ceramic rod or strop (leather with compound) to align and refine the edge.

  • Stropping removes micro-burrs and boosts sharpness.

8. Keep Your Stones Flat

  • Uneven stones = inconsistent sharpening.

  • Flatten with a diamond plate or flattening stone every few sessions.

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