Sharpening Basics

What sharpening stones should I start with? We get asked regularly to recommend stones for the beginning sharpener. Everyone wants to get stones that will be of the most practical use. No one wants to waste money on something they will have to repla...

Understanding The Differences In Materials The three most common types of sharpening stones are water stones, diamond stones, and oil stones. Each of these stones has its own advantages that can help users achieve their sharpening goals. Below ...

Our sharpening specialists answer hundreds of questions via phone calls and emails every week. While each call or email is unique, there are many questions that share common themes. Here are our Top 5 Sharpening Questions. How do I know which gr...

At least three or four times a year. Maybe. Sharp knives make all the difference in the kitchen. A dull blade makes cooking and food preparation tasks more challenging and can even be dangerous. It can be difficult to know how often you should...

I would like to sharpen my edge to the same angle. What technique can I use to match the existing angle of my edge? The most common way to help you sharpen to the existing angle on an edge is to use a marker or Sharpie to help you identify your sh...

This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to sharpen your knives using sharpening stones. We recommend you read our article Selecting a Sharpening Stone to help you determine the best stone for your application. One more thing to consider ...

I’ve been sharpening for hours but my knife still isn’t getting sharp. What can I be doing wrong? We often get this call or email from customers. It can be very frustrating and may even force you to give up sharpening. But as frustrating as spendi...

Sharpeners make great gifts. We’ve compiled a list of our top gift idea suggestions. If you still have a question, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Top Knife Sharpening Gift for the Outdoorsman Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition Knife Sha...

Sharpening instructions often instruct you to feel for a burr as a test of progress. If you feel a burr, it indicates that you have sharpened all the way to the edge. But Sharp edges can cut and should be handled with care. So how do you go about saf...

What's the difference between the various razor strops? We offer several different razor strops to choose from. Different sizes are available as well as different leathers. Some have linen belts and some do not. This article is intended to give an...

Nano Hone is a high-quality maker of Water Stones, Diamond Stones, Stone Holders, Flattening Stones, and more. Nano-Hone products are known for the many innovative features that make sharpening easier and more enjoyable. Complete Line of St...

Stones that go to the Extreme Are you looking for the most extreme of fine in a sharpening stone? Stones that go that extra little bit finer? Well look no further than Shapton Water Stones. While other brands top out at 10,000 or 12,000, Shapton's...

Naniwa Has a Wide Range of Stones to Fit Every Need Naniwa has been manufacturing quality waterstones for over 60 years in Osaka, Japan. They have developed several different lines of stones in that time, each with its own unique characteristics. ...

In order to understand sharpening, it is helpful to visualize dull and sharp edges. By understanding what dull and sharp look like, it is easier to understand the process of getting from one to the other. Unfortunately, edges tend to be rather small ...

We have found that many customers really want to know more about selecting the angle for their knife. In this article we will discuss in more detail why you may want to choose one angle over another. Before getting into the detail, we’d like to ma...

Selecting an angle for your knife edge is an important first step in sharpening. It is probably equally as important as selecting a sharpening stone Selecting an angle is probably one of the easiest steps in sharpening, once you know the basics. To...

A 20 degree angle is the most common angle to sharpen a knife. However, sometimes you just need a quick and easy way to find that angle. When nothing else is available, we've found that folding a piece of paper twice can serve as a good guide to find...

The Aligner maintains a consistent sharpening angle, taking the guesswork out of sharpening. Choose from seven different settings to get your perfect edge. You can set the bevel guide closer to the clamp for a sharper edge, or you can set it farther ...

How do I sharpen a serrated knife? Many knives feature serrated blades. The saw-like cutting action of these knives allows for aggressive slicing and the edges hold up well. Eventually though every edge becomes dull and loses its cutting ability. ...

A Step-by-Step Guide for Sharpening Knives Using Bench Stones and the DMT Knife Sharpening Guide This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to sharpen your knives using bench stones and the DMT Knife Sharpening Guide. We recommend you read ...

To understand sharpness you must first understand the definition of an edge. An edge is the line of intersection of two surfaces. A highly sharpened edge is one where the two surfaces are highly polished to form a very fine edge. Sharpening is the...

Sharpening a serrated knife is much different than sharpening a traditional straight blade. Each individual serration will need to be sharpened separately. Because a serrated knife functions like a saw, it can often still cut when dull. However when ...

A Abrasive - A generic term for the particles, whether naturally occurring mineral or synthetic, on or within a sharpening surface that cut the metal in the sharpening process. Examples of abrasives are: Aluminum Oxide, Chromium Oxide, Cubic Boron...

Our Sharpening Stone Grit Chart We decided to come up with a grit chart based on 10 levels. Since one person's "fine" and one manufacturer's "fine" may mean something completely different we established a 1 to 10 grit chart with 1 being the m...

Whether you call it a hollow ground or a hollow grind, you can sharpen these knives with ease. A hollow grind is produced when you use a wheel to sharpen the edge of a knife. Because there is less material directly behind the edge, this type of ed...

If you've only been around sharpening for a few years, you've probably never heard of a carborundum stone. It isn't that these stones don't exist, it is because the current popular language doesn't use the term carborundum to refer to the silicon car...

An India Stone is made from the man-made abrasive aluminum oxide. The term India Stone is a trade name for Norton's Aluminum Oxide sharpening stones. Norton's India stones are orange, tan or brown in color. This distinguishes them from Norton's Cryst...

Buck Knives – Buck Knives has been around for over a century. Located in Post Falls, Idaho, they specialize in hunting, outdoor, tactical, and everyday pocket knives. Camillus Cutlery Co. – Founded in 1876, Camillus Knives manufactures knives und...

You may have heard that you can stack quarters under your knife to find the correct sharpening angle. While true, the type of knife, or more specifically the width of the blade and the desired angle dictate how many quarters you should use. The chart...

Sharpening a Serrated Knife Is sharpening a serrated knife worthwhile? People may tell you that sharpening your serrated knives isn't necessary. To some, sharp kitchen utensils may not be a priority (I assume you, a sharpening s...

Different Tools for Pruner Sharpening Recently, we made a video exploring three ways to sharpen a Felco pruner. Well, we say pruners, but our resident Englishman Tom insists that they are really called secateurs. Call them what you will, pruners a...

Different Tools for Mower Blade Sharpening Recently, we made a video exploring three ways to sharpen a lawnmower blade. Mower blades are commonly in need of sharpening but often overlooked. There's many possibilities for sharpeners to use on mo...

Digging a hole or splitting snarled roots can be tough work. Make an easier job of it with a sharp shovel. Many people have never even thought about sharpening a shovel, but we guarantee a sharp edge will cut through dirt and plant matter faster than...

Common Beginner Sharpening Mistake: Using only a Fine Stone We work with beginning sharpeners on a daily basis. The most common mistake beginners tend to make is skipping the coarse grits and going straight to fine grits. Fine grits sharpen man...

What is honing compound? Honing compound is extremely fine abrasive used in the final polishing stages of sharpening. These abrasives are sometimes loose, but are usually held in a medium like a wax bar, a paste or a spray. The particles in our s...

Which is better, wet or dry sharpening? Or, put another way, "Do I need to use water/oil with my sharpening stones?" This is a question that comes up regularly here at Sharpening Supplies. Conventional wisdom says that using water or oil with a sh...

Other than constant practice, how do you maintain a consistent angle while sharpening a knife or tool? Almost daily, sharpeners ask us what they can do to keep their knife or tool at a constant angle as they sharpen it. This is probably the most com...

Which Guided Knife Sharpening System should I get? At Sharpening Supplies, we offer guided knife sharpening systems from three manufacturers: DMT, Lansky and Gatco. Each company's system offers different features and options, and all are availabl...

What angles can I sharpen to with each Guided Sharpening System? At Sharpening Supplies, we carry guided knife sharpening systems from three manufacturers: DMT, Lansky and Gatco. While similar, there are differences in the capabilities of each. Th...

How do I use the Naniwa Japanese Knife Sharpening Guide? Most knife sharpeners find maintaining a consistent angle to be the hardest part of putting a good edge on their knives. The Naniwa Japanese Knife Sharpening Guide is a simple, easy to use gui...

What are the differences between the various mounted strops? We offer several models of mounted strops. They are available in large and small sizes, hand-held and bench-mounted, as well as a variety of other options. We put together this article t...

Sharpening knives and tools can be complex sometimes even if it is, theoretically, a simple process. The variety of stones and different systems alone are enough to confuse even the experienced sharpener, let alone the novice. Add to that the diff...

Whether you've already got a Double-Time Flattening Stone or you're thinking about getting one, proper use and care is important information. Have a look at the following instructions for using and caring for your Double-Time Flattening Stone. Soa...

Congratulations on Your New Paddle Strop Thank you for choosing a Sharpening Supplies 12" XL Double-Sided Paddle Strop or 8" Double Sided Paddle Strop. Whichever size you decided on, your strop is made in the US using the highest quality materials...

New Double-Sided Stones DMT is an American made brand that has been making high quality diamond stones for decades. Their lineup features a large range of sizes, shapes and grits. We now have exciting new DMT double-sided stones that will increas...

My straight razor. Since 2014 I’ve been using a Kamisori straight razor with a Western-style symmetrical full hollow grind. As is traditional with sharpening advice, if you ask half a dozen people how they sharpen their razors, you’ll get half...