Sharpening Stones

Author: Len Q.

There are so many kinds of knife sharpeners out there. It could be exciting just to select one. You could use an electric grinder but that’s pretty major. Only professional sharpeners should go there. Maybe you’d like an electric sharpener, the ones where all you’ve got to do is just swipe the blade through. Perhaps you’d like a sharpening guide system where you’ve got a sharpening stone and an angle guide combined. Ever thought of a sharpener on a key chain? Imagine that.

Most sharpeners are designed with speed and ease in mind. Most things are. A basic sharpening stone is not. Using a sharpening stone isn’t fast. But it isn’t very slow, either. Would you believe that it could be the fastest, the cheapest and the most dependable way to sharpen a knife’s edge?

So what are the “many” advantages of using sharpening stones over everything else? Let us count the ways:

It could be the fastest way to sharpen because you’ll do it right there where you are. You needn’t go anywhere or wait to have it done for you.

It could be the cheapest because you won’t have to pay for services rendered. No gas money spent dropping it off or picking it up.

They’re more reliable than electric sharpeners. You can take them practically anywhere and not be dependant on electric outlets. You needn’t worry about weakening your edges by accidentally overheating them. Best of all, you needn’t depend upon a machine to do it for you because you’ll be able to do it yourself.

Special note: There are high priced electric knife sharpeners out there that claim “never” to detemper you knife edges. I can’t speak on the reliability of such claims. Just be very cautious if you decide to use one.

Sharpening stones are more dependable than automatic sharpeners. You’ll be one skilled individual if you’re able to maintain the same sharpening angle for both sides of the edge each time you swipe the knife. Maintaining the right position from tip to heel isn’t so easy. If you haven’t mastered it, the edge may seem sharp initially, but you’ll need to swipe it again before you know it.

Many sharpening stones come in compact sizes. They could fit right in your hand. An axe stone, for example, looks like a really fat cookie. A very safe cookie. Some rectangular stones are like a little thin bar of chocolate that comes in a box (anybody hungry?). And most of us have seen tiny sharpening stones in a special pocket on a knife belt holster. Don’t forget the ones on a key chain. Talk about handy. Sure isn’t so easy with most other types of knife sharpeners.

And best of all, you can take sharpening stones practically anywhere you need to go, except maybe underwater or flying through the air. Really almost anywhere. (Outer space isn’t recommended.)

If you do decide to pick up a sharpening stone, you’ll have some choices. There are water stones, oil stones and diamond stones (don’t get any ideas). Each kind having its own varieties available and each with its own set of advantages. Whichever type you choose, sharpening stones usually come in two halves. One half has a coarse grade that’ll get your blade’s edge good and sharp. The other half has a much finer grade for refining that edge to razor-sharpness. This is real good for kitchen knives. Just one stone can easily take care of many, if not most, of your every day sharpening needs.

The most recent addition to sharpening stones is the ceramic sharpening stone. Many people aren’t even aware that they’re out there. They are only meant to sharpen steel knives. They are not meant to sharpen ceramic knives. Because they are much harder than steel, be sure to sharpen your steel knives carefully. Metal comes off the edge much faster than all other sharpening stones and so sharpening happens much faster.

Using a sharpening stone to sharpen a knife is still the most dependable and reliable way to sharpen your blade edge. It’s very simple. Very effective. It could be the fastest, the most inexpensive way to sharpen knives. When you know what you’re doing, you’ll save your knives, too. Be very careful.

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Len Q. is a master blade sharpener and an adventurer who strives to protect the natural world. If you would like to learn more about

Knife Sharpening: How to Sharpen Knives, Maintain and Store Them

Tests for Sharpness, Steeling, Stropping and more 

Sharpening Other Edges

(i.e. Chain Saws, Lawn Mower Blades, Gardening Tools, Axes)

Find it here at www.MakeKnivesSharp.com

About the Author:
Biologist and Environmental Consultant. Former high school science teacher. Medically retired at 26yo. Been that way over 13 years. The world waits. Changing my world.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Knife Sharpening Experts: Sharpening Stones

Electric Knife Sharpening

Author: Len Q.

If you’re a person who has many knives, many edges to sharpen at a fairly consistent pace, electric knife sharpening is for you. So much time and effort will be saved. But take heed. Using these devices without proper training and only a little experience could be a regrettable move.

Electric knife sharpeners are well known for producing great heat while sharpening. Friction from the metal edge against the sharpener over time will do that. You’ve got to know just how hot you’ll allow the metal edge to get. If your blade changes color on you, if you’re waiting for that to be the sign, you’ve blown it. If you see sparks, forget about it. Your blade edge has been overheated and has lost its temper. Yeah, you’ve got an angry knife on your hands! (Ha!) No. To lose temper on a blade means that you have weakened it. Made it brittle, even pliable. Just imagine using it now. That is a knife that you don’t want.

Even knowing that, electric knife sharpeners have improved a great deal over the last decade. Some of them are astonishing in what they claim they’re able to do. Many are quoted as saying that they “will never detemper” a knife’s edge. Wow. Wouldn’t that be something? To never, ever have to worry. Truly amazing.

What about the sharpening angle? This is the angle of the bevel that determines the functionality and durability of each knife. Some modern electric knife sharpeners have high precision knife guides that it is said will achieve the exact sharpening angle they want, precisely. You needn’t concern yourself over it. Some sharpeners actually claim that they will do as much as convert the existing sharpening angle of some knives to a different, more high performing sharpening angle. Another says that it’ll get the edge to a condition that is better than the factory edge. It’ll give it a sharpening angle that performs better than that given by the one’s who’ve made the knife. Truly awesome declarations, one and all.

Many of the latest electric knife sharpeners have improved to having several sharpening stages all in one. The first stage is meant to get the edge to sharpness. You could stop right there if you wanted. The second stage is usually a finer sharpening with smaller abrasive particles than is found in the first stage. It is meant to get the edge to razor-sharpness. The third stage is meant for stropping. How about that? An electric knife stopper to get your edge silky smooth. Absolutely extraordinarye.

Electric knife sharpening has truly come a very long way. If everything they claim is true, why would anyone want to know how to manually sharpen their knives? A very good question. Here’s your answer: It isn’t possible to take most kinds of electric knife sharpeners away from home and out into the field. Many of them are battery powered but they’re size or bulk doesn’t make transport very practical. It isn’t very wise to take an electric knife sharpener out camping or on a fishing trip. You really shouldn’t take it out on a boat or on a hunt. With electric knife sharpeners, you’ve got to be near an outlet or in a secure and safe location.

Many times then, it just isn’t sensible. Too many times you’ll need to sharpen your knife’s edge right where you are, where all you’ve got is yourself, maybe a pack and your own two hands. But most of all, more than all of this, sharpening on a sharpening stone will still get you the sharpest edge possible. It is still the most reliable way to sharpen your knives.

If you only need to sharpen your knives while you’re at home, an electric knife sharpener is probably all you’ll ever need. But if you’re an active individual who often needs to do some sharpening while you’re out in the world, you’ll want to learn how to sharpen knives with your own two hands. And don’t worry. You’ve got many choices to make that happen.

Knife sharpening isn’t difficult. It just takes a bit of practice. Once you’ve got it, you’ll have a very valuable skill that’ll last your lifetime. You can do it anywhere, anytime. Isn’t that something all by itself? And when you’re home, surrounded by the many advantages of modern living, your electric knife sharpener can get your knife sharpening done for you in two flashes. Truly incredible, to be able to manually and electrically sharpen your knives. There’d be no circumstance you couldn’t overcome.

About the Author:
Len Q. is a master blade sharpener. If you would like to learn more about ª Knife Sharpening: How to Sharpen Knives, Maintain and Store Them ª Sharpening Other Edges (i.e. Chain Saws, Lawn Mower Blades, Gardening Tools, Axes) Find it at http://www.MakeKnivesSharp.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Knife Sharpening Experts: Electric Knife Sharpening