Instructions on Sharpening Blades at Home
- 1). Place the oil stone into a large bowl. Pour light machine oil into the bowl. Ensure there is enough oil so the entire stone is covered. Allow the stone to soak in the oil overnight. This will lubricate the stone, allowing easier sharpening and prevent the burrs from clogging the pores.
- 2). Place the stone out in front of you. Place the blade onto the stone, holding the blade's handle in your dominant hand and resting your nondominant fingers on top of the blade for control. Angle the blade about 20 degrees onto the stone.
- 3). Slide the blade across the stone on a slight curved angle, from the base of the blade to the tip. Repeat this 10 times on the one side of the blade.
- 4). Flip the blade over. Again, slide the blade across the stone on a slightly curved angle so that the entire blade---from base to tip---gets sharpened in one sweep. Do this 10 times with second side of the blade.
- 5). Wipe off the blade with a paper towel to remove any excess oil.
- 6). Hold the honing steel in your nondominant hand under the butt of the steel.
- 7). Place the base of the blade onto the steel just above the butt. In one sweep, pull the blade up along the steel, from base to tip. Do this several times.
- 8). Pull the blade around to the back of the steel. Starting at the top of the steel, pull the blade down several times, again, from base to tip to properly hone the blade.
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