The Use of a Whetstone Knife Sharpener
A knife is an important tool in different situations in life, and its constant use may result in the dulling of the blade. Sharpening the blade with a Japanese Whetstone is a process that seems difficult but with the right knowledge and practice one can prevent injuries and other mishaps.
Using a Whetstone Knife Sharpener:
People are scared to use sharp knives but ironically, blunt knives can be more dangerous to use than sharp ones. You need to apply a lot more force to a dull knife to achieve the cut which makes the blade more prone to slipping and leading to accidents and injuries. These injuries can be severe, as the person holding the knife would have applied a lot more pressure than needed if the blade was sharp.
Sharpening a blade with a Japanese Whetstone can be an intimidating but fun process. The underlying idea of sharpening a dull knife with a Whetstone is to understand the right angles to achieve optimal results, or else you may end up with a dull knife. The blade needs to be rubbed at an equal angle, about 20 degrees on both sides.
Just by cautiously following these steps listed, you’ll get a perfectly sharp and shinning blade in a matter of a few minutes.
Find the best angle:
Place your knife on the Whetstone and hold it firmly. Raise the spine of the blade and keep it at an angle (usually between 15-20 degrees). To ascertain the angle, you can also place your pinkie finger under the spine of the knife. You could also find other objects to place under the knife to give you a clean angle. The exact number or angle is not as significant as maintaining the angle until the process is complete
Raising and Removing the Burr:
A burr is the deformation of the metal at the apex of the cutting edge of the knife. To create the burr, place two fingers on the edge that needs sharpening. Be careful not to let your fingers touch the Whetstone. As you stroke the blade with regulated pressure and at a different angle, the burr's creation takes place under your two fingers.
It is essential to check the burr, as after sharpening you need to ground the metal enough to shave off a thin line on one side. This is a critical point in using a Whetstone sharpener and the goal is to create the smallest burr possible.
Once you feel the burr, you can flip over and repeat the same process on the knife's other side.
Do not forget to remove the burr from both sides as this is essential to the overall sharpness of the knife. This process is done by repeating the same rubbing motion at the same angle, but with only 50% of pressure, which needs to be completed on both sides.
The goal is to achieve a clean and sharp blade by applying the final touch which is to apply less pressure with every next stroke to achieve perfection. If you have Whetstones of different grit sizes, you can gradually use finer stones towards the end of the process to achieve desired results.
Rinse and dry the blade to remove any leftover metal shavings and particles. You can now test your beautiful blade by cutting a slice of tomato or using it to cut paper. If you are happy with the results, your knife is as good as a new one.
You can visit our products section to purchase your Whetstone Sharpener today!
