It might look sexy to thrash a knife about on a a steel to sharpen it, but the truth is you don’t have to work with any speed to sharpen a knife effectively. Not to mention that without a hell of a lot of practice it is incredibly unsafe.
There are a few tips to getting a good edge on a knife when you sharpen it and they are all very simple:
- Always put a damp cloth under your stone, this prevents the stone from slipping while you work.
- Start on the coarsest side of the stone.
- Lubricate the stone with oil not water.
- Run you knife along the stone at a 45 degree angle.
- Keep the knife stable by placing your other hand on the blade – keeping your fingers well away from the edge.
- Use long, slow movements.
- Continue the process for a couple of minutes each side, and
- Repeat the action on the smoother side of the stone.