[FiveseveN]

When sharpening a knife is it best to move the blade across the sharpener or the sharpener across the blade, also should you move the blade as if your cutting a strip off of the sharpener or should you move it backwards so the blade wouldn't be cutting the sharpener? Is it good to get the stone wet when your sharpening? What is the best way to get all of the steel residue off of your knife sharpener after your done with it? Sometimes I try to do this and the steel residue doesn't come off with water and a rag.

[JoeLee]

All I use is a wet stone,but it does take time to master the angle of the cut on the stone.Cut into the stone as you would slice meat thin.Never backwards or circular!!

[Dillinger]

If you want to put a razor sharp, professional edge on your blade, you need the right tools. If you spent all day, everyday, sharpening knives on a wheel in the old country, making your living at it, you would have the skill to free hand it. I am assuming you don't have that kind of time and have to work for a living like the rest of us. What you need is a specialized tool to take out some of the angle changes and guess work. Here are two options and a ridiculous option if you want to go crazy....

Lansky Sharpeners: This company makes a good quality, portable knife sharpener that is easy to use and does a good job of putting a real usable edge on almost any blade...

http://www.lanskysharpeners.com/outdoor.php

Edge Pro: I have one of Benji Dale's Apex systems and love it. Works great and puts a razor edge on damn near any knife I own...

http://www.edgeproinc.com/

Want something all automatic that can sharpen anything in your house / garage / shop?

http://users.ameritech.net/knives/tormek.htm

D

[h&k bigdaddydieseldan]

it really is a skilled trade to really be able to sharpen a knife the correct way

[bellx1]

the more you do it the better you'll get, but if you want to be sure your getting all areas of the blade at the correct angle, color the angled part of the blade with a permanent marker, if you sharpen it correctly, all the color will be gone.

[fapprez]

Originally Posted by bellx1

the more you do it the better you'll get, but if you want to be sure your getting all areas of the blade at the correct angle, color the angled part of the blade with a permanent marker, if you sharpen it correctly, all the color will be gone.

Steller idea. I never thought of that one.

When I was younger, I found an old hunting knife in the shed and decided to "Put an Edge on it". I bought a stone and it had a "guide" with it( really just a peice of plastic in a wedge form at 23 degrees.) About a week later, I was shaving the wanna be whiskers off of my chin. I can still get the angle now as I did then, but without the guide and can still shave with my hunting knifes.

[billdeserthills]

Buck Knife Co., used to make a metal guide that you clamp your knife blade into, one nice thing about it was you could use an inexpensive stone instead of having to buy a whole kit. I bought one as a youngster at the knife shop in a local mall, I believe they are still available.

[CARNUT1100]

I like using dishwash detergent as the lubricant, as it wahses right out with hot water afterwards, leaving a nice shiny clean stone.

[Squirrel]

Ever if you can get the correct angle while shapening a knife, isn't the curved section of the blade a problem, especialy when the curve is concave?

[G21.45]

Originally Posted by Squirrel

Ever if you can get the correct angle while shapening a knife, isn't the curved section of the blade a problem, especialy when the curve is concave?

Good question! Raise the handle of the knife and increase the angle between the stone and the blade as you move across the convex portion of the blade.

If you're sharpening a concave surface, then, use a narrow diameter fine diamond grit rod. (Very uncommon!)