What is the best knife sharpening tool?

Different tools for sharpening knives

The sharpening steel

The different material of sharpening steel

There are three main types of sharpening rods:

• Steel rod : The most traditional; it is made of hard steel with ridges that straighten and maintain the knife’s edge. It does not remove material, but realigns the edge. It is ideal for daily maintenance of the cutting edge.
• Ceramic rod: This offers light abrasion, removing a little metal to sharpen the knife while smoothing out the micro-serrations on the cutting edge. It is more fragile than steel.
• Diamond rifle: Coated with diamond particles, it combines the function of the steel rod with the abrasion of the ceramic rod, enabling faster, more effective sharpening. It is also more aggressive on metal.

The different shapes of sharpening steel

• Round: Easy to handle for beginners.
• Oval: More effective for experienced users.
• Plate: For fast sharpening, but requires a good level of skill.
• Square: Two levels of finish, for experts.

Description and use of sharpening steels

The sharpening steel is the tool most commonly used to maintain knives. It allows knives to be sharpened quickly and without prior preparation, making it ideal for everyday use. To use it effectively:

1. Hold the tip of the rod on a stable surface.
2. Slide the knife blade along thesteel rod at an angle of 20 to 30 degrees.
3. Alternate the sides of the blade for balanced sharpening.

The sharpening stone

The different sharpening stone types

Knife sharpening stones come in three main types:

1. Water stones: Used with water, they provide fine, uniform abrasion, ideal for precise sharpening. They need to be soaked before use.
2. Oil stones: Used with oil, they are harder and more durable, but offer slower abrasion. They are less messy than water-based stones.
3. Diamond stones: Recovered diamond particles, they are highly effective and quick to sharpen. They can be used dry or with a lubricant.

Sharpening stone grains

Each grit corresponds to a sharpening action.

It is important to choose the grit that corresponds to the condition of your cutting edge so as not to damage it.

• Coarse grit (200/400): To restore the edge.
• Medium grit (1000/3000): Versatile for regular sharpening.
• Fine grit (5000 and over): For high-quality blades.

Description and use of sharpening stones

A whetstone is ideal for complete, long-lasting sharpening. However, it does require a certain amount of practice and mastery of the technique:

1. Soak the stone in water before use (except ceramic stones).
2. Use coarse grit (200/400) to repair and sharpen the blade.
3. Switch to fine grit (2000 and above) to sharpen and hone.

Manual or electric sharpeners

Description and use

Manual or electric sharpeners are easy to use and require no training:

• Simply pass the blade through the sharpener’s slots.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results.

Sharpeners are generally very abrasive and wear down blades quickly.

Some are also not precise enough to respond to the cutting edge of each knife and damage the grinding and the cutting edge. This is why this tool is generally less suitable, or even inadvisable, for high-quality knives or Japanese knives.

If you wish to offer a manual or electric knife sharpener, make sure it is adjustable and learn how to adjust it before you use it.