h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Can anyone give good basic instructions on how to sharpen a knife. My knives need more than using a steel. I have a couple of small whetstones - might have to get a bigger one. I did learn to sharpen tools once, but it was a long time ago and I've forgotten the detail.

I'd also like to know how to sharpen scissors. Is the principle the same?

I read the following post from a convo from a few years ago, which seems pretty good. I'm just need a bit more detail on angles:

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Firstly if you have maintained a generally sharp knife you can use a steel to revive the edge. If you could see a used edge up close it gets wiggly w use. The steel brings it back in a nice line.
But, Secondly, as i think is the case here - if it has been a while and the knife needs sharpening.... your best home method is a wet stone.

Wet stone is simple sharpening block sometimes two differing roughness of surface. Buy it almost anywhere. dont get tiny ones for pocket knives if you will be doing kitchen knives. mine is about. 2"x4"x1"

Probably endless debates as to how to use... but ill give you mine.

Position stone infront of you in such a way that you can push your blades across the stone. ( wet it with your spit or other but keep it wet) With a practiced and smooth motion slide the blade across the stone at an angle. do some passes one way then flip and do other side. repeat alot until you feel the blade sliding across and you can imagine the plane of the edge nice and sharp.

i tend to start with the tip of the knife and actualy slide the blade across the stone at an angle as i push it away.... a kind of a sweepslide.

you can imagine yourself slicing minute pieces of the wet stone away with your knife.... tho its actually the reverse

Use a steel when done... just swipe it once or twice.............. happy cooking
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If your knives need more attention than just a sharpening steel, you should probably try to find a professional knife grinder to take care of them. When I was a kid there used to be travelling knife grinders who came around once in a while, and even as late as the early 80s I recall seeing one. These days you might have to go to a local hardware or department store to find out if they either offer the service, know of someone who does, or can send your knives off to be ground.

Here's a transcript of a show that deals with the problem http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/Season2/Tomato/TomatoTranscript.htm Scroll down to 'Scene 3'. If you want to see the footage, contact me at my Message Centre

I don't want to take my knives to someone else, I want to learn how to sharpen them myself. I've learnt how to sharpen tools in the past - it's not that difficult when you know how. I just can't remember the details.

The link you give isn't that easy to follow. I've had a brief look online, and in the library a couple of times and most instructions for knife sharpening are overinvolved and gadget orientated.

I just want some basic, well laid out instructions.

Like these?

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/ck_dm_basic/article/0,1971,FOOD_9799_1726535,00.html

Or like these?

http://www.motherearthnews.com/top_articles/1979_July_August/Keep_That_Knife_Sharp_

For overinvolved, on the other hand:

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

That guy really takes sharpening *very* seriously. However, I did learn that the thing I use to sharpen is called a crock stick. I imagine it's poopooed by proper sharpening types

I bought some knives which came with their own sharpening container. So I don't have to do anything much with those other than put them away each time.

Thanks Trin - the first two are great (guess I needed the pictures). The last one (Mr overinvolved) was the first one I found on google. It does have some good info, I just need to have a practice with the basics first.