Sharpening knives correctly - an overview of the different options
If you want to tackle this essential task yourself and don't want to have it sharpened by a service provider, we have summarized a comprehensive overview of the various sharpening options in the text below. This way you can be sure that you know all the strengths and special features in advance and that the steel of your knife will soon look brand new again. Say goodbye to blunt knives! With the following tips you can quickly get your blades back in shape.
What tools can be used to properly sharpen blunt knives?
There are not only many different types of knives on the market, but also many different ways to get them sharp again. The most effective and popular options include:
- grinding stones / whetstones
- grinding rods
- pull-through grinder / knife sharpener
- Electric grinders
- sharpening steels
Depending on your skill, knife type and taste, you as a knife owner can choose between different approaches. The knife sharpeners all have advantages and disadvantages, so you can use this to perfectly weigh up in advance which solution is the most suitable for you.
What makes a whetstone so special?
A grinding stone or whetstone is characterized above all by the fact that you can achieve a very sharp result at the end. Stones that have a very fine grain make this possible without any complications. In addition, this option is welcomed by many knife lovers, as it can extend the lifespan of a knife enormously. With a product of this type, you don't just sharpen it for a short time, but rather keep the knives sharp permanently. The thin grinding of the knives also works excellently.
The only disadvantage, when you look at it more closely, is not really a disadvantage. Using the whetstone requires a little skill, especially at the beginning. However, you learn the necessary skills very quickly, so that this initial hurdle can be overcome very quickly. A whetstone / sharpening stone is therefore also suitable for beginners. In our whetstone set with wooden box and our whetstone set with acacia wood base, for example, detailed grinding instructions are included, so that even as a beginner you can work your way forward step by step. The integrated angle holder also ensures that you can maintain the optimal angle.
What are the characteristics of a grinding rod?
The sharpening rod is, in direct comparison to the whetstone, the much simpler variant. Although the lifespan of the knife does not suffer from use with this option, it does retain its sharpness for a shorter period of time. The primary aim is to achieve a quick maintenance grind. Regardless of this, the result is good and can be achieved quickly.
However, knives that are already extremely blunt should not be treated with a sharpening rod. Thinning a knife is also not recommended. In this case, it is better to use a different knife sharpener to be able to sharpen the knife properly.
How do you properly sharpen a knife with a pull-through grinder?
A pull-through grinder is a very practical tool that even beginners can quickly master. As is the case with our 5 in 1 blade doctor, for example, users can use various functions, such as:
- ceramic grinding rod
- grinding slot made of tungsten steel
- ceramic grinding slot
- diamond grinding rod
You can work your way through the 4 stages step by step. At the end, the knife is perfectly sharpened without any effort or investment of time. The sharp blade cuts through everything again as if you were gliding through butter. Light, space-saving and always ready for use, knife fans can buy an excellent solution for on the go with which they can sharpen knives properly. In this video you can watch the exact steps in using the blade doctor again. The tool also has a practical bottle opener as a fifth function.
What exactly does an electric grinder do?
An electric grinder does exactly what was previously described for the pull-through grinder, only, as the name suggests, it is electrical. This means that you can achieve your goal more quickly when grinding and it is also easier to use for beginners.
However, the higher pressure sometimes means that more material is removed. This is probably the main reason why many people still opt for the variant described above. The electric variant is also not suitable for thin grinding.
Is a sharpening steel still recommendable?
When you think of a sharpening steel, you usually associate this product with the kitchen or a kitchen knife. However, this image is a misconception, as more effective methods have emerged in this area today. With whetstones, you can work with a much finer grain. The same applies to whetstone rods. Both types are better suited to direct duels these days if you want to sharpen your knives properly.
