What is the use of a knife with a dull blade? Especially when it comes to a folding knife, which should always be at hand. You yourself know that folding knives have many uses - they can carve wood, you can hide boxes, you can even cut cockroaches with them, and then just wipe the blade on your pants and put the knife back in your pocket! Alas, people are surprisingly tolerant of the dull blades of folding knives and continue to use them, even if they put more effort into making it easy and simple with a sharp blade. But sharpening the blade of a knife is a matter of five minutes! What are we telling you, read this article and see for yourself!
Steps
Method 1 of 2: sharpening a knife on a whetstone
Step 1. Choose a suitable sharpening block
Please note that the main thing in the sharpening bar is the size, which should be at least 5x15 centimeters. It will be inconvenient to sharpen on smaller blocks. There are novaculite, ceramic and diamond bars.
- Novaculite: the easiest to use, made from sandstone. These bars should be soaked in clean, cold water for ten minutes before use. Also, Novaculite bars tend to wear off.
- Ceramic bars: they also need to be soaked, but not so long - 3-5 minutes will be enough. They are denser than novaculite ones, that is, it will be faster to sharpen a knife on them. They are more difficult to use, but they also last longer.
- Diamond Bars: There are many different types of diamond stones, but they all have one thing in common - they are strong and porous. Typically, diamond bars are a bar of metal with diamond grit on the surface. These are the strongest bars, sharpening the blade on them is a matter of a minute. However, due to the diamond component, these are also the most expensive bars.
Step 2. Lubricate the bar
Novaculite and ceramic bars need to be soaked in water for some time. Experts advise, among other things, to use mineral oil, which is designed to protect … the bar itself. Plus, the heating of the blade from friction is reduced, which prolongs its life.
Machine oil will work fine for novaculite and ceramic blocks, and a solution for dishwashing detergent will work for diamond ones
Step 3. Determine the bevel angle of the blade edge
The blade of each knife is sharpened at a certain angle. In the case of folding knives, this angle is 25-30 degrees.
If you cannot determine the angle of the bevel, and you do not want to sharpen the knife without knowing this, then contact a store specializing in the sale of knives or directly to the knife manufacturer for help. You can also search the web for the information you need
Step 4. Aim the knife at the correct angle to the block
The blade of the knife should be pointing away from you and should be held at the correct angle.
Keeping a knife in the same position over time can be tricky. If this is exactly your case, then there is a reason to buy a sharpening attachment that will not allow the blade to deviate. However, keep in mind that not all attachments are suitable for curved blades
Step 5. Run the blade over the surface of the bar
You need to lead to the end of the bar, and as many times as necessary in order to sharpen the blade. As a rule, it is enough 12 times. It will get easier over time.
Curved blades and blades that are longer than the bar itself must be sharpened so that the entire edge is cut evenly by the bar
Step 6. Sharpen the other part of the blade
Unfold the knife and sharpen the other side. Pass the knife over the block 6-8 times … well, or until the edge is sharpened.
Step 7. Unroll the block with the other side
Then run your knife over it. This is necessary to get rid of all the roughness and roughness that appeared on the cutting edge during sharpening.
Or, alternatively, you can use musat. Only in this case you will have to hold the knife at a slightly different angle - more open. Musat, by the way, will quickly help bring the blade back to a more or less sharp state
Step 8. Check the sharpness of the blade
Take a piece of paper and try to cut it with a knife. The sharp blade will cut the paper without problem.
You can check the quality of a sharpened blade by turning the knife towards a light source and looking at the reflection. Actually, the light will reflect brightly from those places where the blade is poorly sharpened
Method 2 of 2: Taking Musat
Step 1. Know that the musat is more suitable for “fine-tuning” the blades
Musat will not only sharpen the blade, but also bring it to a sharper state.
There are different types of musats. Most often, steel musats are found, which are more than effective. However, there are also ceramic and diamond musats. In general, both ceramics and diamonds are more than hard materials. In addition, such musats allow you to quickly sharpen the blade
Step 2. Hold the musat by the handle
For safety reasons, the end of the musat should be resting against something like a cutting board, placing paper under it. It is necessary to hold the musat strictly vertically.
Step 3. Find the bevel angle of the blade edge
We have already spoken about this. If you know the angle of the bevel, you will know exactly how to hold the knife in relation to the musat. Folding knives have, as a rule, a bevel angle of the blade edge equal to 25-30 degrees.
If you find it difficult to determine the bevel angle yourself, contact your specialist store or the manufacturer for help
Step 4. Slide the knife over the musat
Slowly, without using force, slide the blade over the musata. In one movement, you should slide the blade along the musat from the handle to the tip.
Step 5. Sharpen the second side of the blade
If your knife is more or less sharp, then it will be enough to run the blade over the musat a couple of times on each side. If the blade is completely dull, then you will have to make several postings.