How to Sharpen a Knife

Knifes are great and versatile tools in the right hands. However, even the most skilled hands can not bring a dull knife to life. When knives become dull, they need sharpening before continued use. Read this guide to learn how to sharpen a knife.

Why knives need to be sharpened

If you were to look at a knife blade under a high-powered microscope, you would discover that knife blades are all serrated. A bread knife or a saw displays large serrated "teeth," but every knife has tiny ones that are invisible to the naked eye. As you use your straight blade, these microscopic teeth bend and move. Eventually the blade's teeth fall out of alignment, making it more difficult for the blade to cut. Sharpening your blade realigns these teeth.

Using a knife sharpener

To sharpen a knife you will need a sharpener. These devices are simply long cylindrical pieces of rough metal. To sharpen your knife, take the knife in your non-dominant hand while holding the sharpener in your dominant hand. Hold the knife with the blade facing toward you, and the spine facing away from you. Then, make long rhythmic motions to drag the blade against the sharpener. You can either push the blade away from you, or bring the blade down toward the handle of the sharpener. Either way is acceptable, although the first method is generally considered safer.

Storage

Wipe the blade of your knife off to remove any dust, then store it in a knife block. It should cut much more easily the next time you use it. Repeat this process with any other dull knives.

Knowing how to sharpen your knives keeps them sharper longer. By following these simple steps, you can do the job yourself with minimal effort.