How to Sharpen Kitchen Knives with Whetstone - Sharpen Dull Knives with Keenbest Sharpening Stone, by TheRenderQ on YouTube. 4 min 10 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 10 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Fit the rubber gasket around the whetstone so it sits snug, then set the stone in the anti-slip wooden base on a stable table.
Soak the stone in water for 10 to 15 minutes. Flip it once, and when the bubbles stop rising it is ready to use.
Clip the angle guide onto the knife spine if you are new to this. It holds the blade at the right angle while you learn.
Start on the 400 grit side for a very dull knife. Place the blade down and slide it away from the sharp edge along the full length of the stone.
Press down on the blade with your free hand as you slide away, then release the pressure as you bring the knife back to the start.
Repeat the sweep several times, working from the tip along the whole edge so the entire blade gets sharpened in one motion.
Turn the knife over and repeat the same number of sweeps on the other side to keep the edge even.
Move to the 1000 grit side and repeat the sweeps on both sides to refine the edge, then strop on the leather if your kit has one.
Rinse and dry the knife and the stone. If the stone surface has dips, rub the flattening stone across the top until it is flat again.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the stone wet while sharpening and add water if it starts to dry out.
Use the same number of strokes on each side so the edge stays centred.
Do not press hard on the fine grits. Light pressure gives a cleaner edge.
Keep your fingers behind the blade edge and sharpen away from your body.
Questions
How long should I soak a whetstone?
About 10 to 15 minutes in water. Flip it once, and when the bubbles stop it is ready.
Which grit should I start with?
Use 400 grit for a very dull knife, then finish on 1000 grit. Higher grits like 3000 and 8000 polish an already sharp edge.
How do I know the knife is sharp?
Check the edge carefully after the coarse stone. A sharp edge will catch slightly on your thumb nail when drawn across it.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
