Sharpening Demystified: Mastering the Art of Edge Maintenance

Kulu Blades
Aug 9
2 min read

A sharp knife isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential for safety, precision, and performance. A dull blade requires more force, slips more easily, and can lead to accidents. At Kulu Blades, we believe every knife owner should understand how to sharpen a knife and keep it performing at its best for years.

In this knife sharpening guide, we’ll explain the difference between honing vs sharpening, how to use a whetstone, the role of stropping, and the best knife sharpening tools to invest in.

Step 1: Understanding Your Knife Edge

Every blade tapers to a fine point called the edge. Over time, two things can happen:

The edge rolls — microscopic bending from regular use.
The edge wears down — metal is lost over time, making the blade blunt.

Honing fixes the first issue, while sharpening restores a completely new edge.

Step 2: Honing – Your Daily Knife Tune-Up

Purpose: Realigns the edge without removing metal.

Best Tool: Ceramic honing rod or steel honing rod.

How to Hone a Knife:

Hold the rod vertically, tip pressed into a cutting board.
Place the knife at a 15–20° angle.
Swipe the blade from heel to tip, alternating sides, 5–10 times.
Hone your knife every few uses to maintain its cutting performance.

Pro Tip: Honing is like brushing your teeth—it prevents bigger problems down the line, but it’s not the same as sharpening.

Step 3: Sharpening – Restoring a Razor-Sharp Edge

Purpose: Removes metal to create a new, sharper edge.

Best Tool: Whetstone (water stone) for precision sharpening.

How to Use a Whetstone:

Soak a water stone for 5–10 minutes before use.
Set the angle: 15° for Japanese knives, 20° for most Western knives.
Push and pull the blade across the coarse side (around 1000 grit) with light, even pressure.
Flip and repeat on the other side.
Switch to the fine side (3000–8000 grit) for a polished finish.

Frequency: Every 2–3 months for home cooks, monthly for professionals.

Step 4: Stropping – The Polished Finish

Purpose: Removes burrs and polishes the edge after sharpening.

Best Tool: Leather strop with polishing compound.

Gently draw the knife backward (spine first) across the strop, alternating sides. This gives your blade a mirror-like finish and maximum sharpness.

Step 5: Common Knife Sharpening Mistakes to Avoid

Using glass or marble cutting boards – these destroy your edge.
Overusing pull-through sharpeners – they remove too much metal.
Storing knives loose in a drawer – this dulls the blade and risks chipping.

When it comes to knives, sharpness is safety. Honing maintains alignment, sharpening restores the bite, and stropping perfects the edge. With the right knife sharpening tools and regular care, your knives will last longer, cut cleaner, and perform like new.

Stay sharp. Stay safe. Stay Kulu.