How to sharpen a knife at home: methods and tips. How to sharpen a razor - extending the life of razors Sharpening razor blades
There are many ways to restore the sharpness of a blade. You can sharpen knives manually or using special tools. Blade processing tools are divided into automatic and semi-automatic. With their help, damaged blades are restored, or cutting edges are simply straightened.
IMPORTANT! We should not forget that with each sharpening the amount of metal on the blade decreases.
We will help owners of cutting tools figure out how to properly sharpen knives using any of the proposed methods.
Processing a blunt instrument on a machine
The industry produces various electric sharpeners for.
The entire mechanism is located in the housing, which makes working on the machine completely safe. No effort or special skills are required, so any housewife can easily cope with this task.
An electric motor rotates an axis on which several circles for various purposes are located. From rough to give the primary shape or restore the geometry of the blade, to polishing, which is used for final finishing.
With the help of a knife we cook food, cut food and do other housework. Therefore, it is very important that the knife blade always remains sharp. Theoretically, there is nothing difficult in sharpening knives, but in practice it turns out that not everyone can sharpen a blade well. To have an idea of what to sharpen knives with and how to do it correctly, we recommend reading our article.
Before you start sharpening a knife, you need to find out what material it is made of. There are several types of knives:
- Carbon steel knives are the most affordable, made from an alloy of iron and carbon, easy to sharpen and remain sharp for a long time. Among the disadvantages, it can be noted that the knife blade oxidizes from interaction with food or an acidic environment, due to this, rust and stains appear on the knife, and food acquires a metallic taste. Over time, after plaque forms on the blade, oxidation stops.
- Low carbon stainless steel knives are made from an alloy of iron, chromium, carbon and in some cases nickel or molybdenum. Stainless steel knives are inferior in hardness to carbon steel, so they quickly become dull and require regular sharpening. The advantages include corrosion resistance.
- Knives made of high-carbon stainless steel are a higher class of knives, with a higher carbon content and additions of cobalt or vanadium. Due to the higher quality alloy, this type of knives does not require frequent sharpening and is not subject to corrosion.
- Damascus steel knives are mainly made as edged weapons, but there are also kitchen options. A Damascus steel knife is a multi-layer blade made from different high-quality alloys. The disadvantages include the high cost of knives.
- Ceramic knives have gained popularity because of their sharpness and ability not to become dull for a long time. But in addition to their advantages, ceramic knives have a significant disadvantage, which is their fragility when dropped from a height and poor resistance to fracture.
Sharpening tools
Touchstone (sharpening stone)
Sharpening stones are available with different numbers of abrasive grains per square millimeter. Therefore, for rough sharpening and finishing grinding, you need to use bars with a minimum and maximum abrasive content. In foreign-made whetstones, information about the number of abrasive grains is on their labeling. You have to choose domestically produced sharpening stones “by eye” or ask the seller which whetstone to use for initial sharpening and which for final sharpening.
Mechanical sharpener
Mechanical sharpeners are mainly used for sharpening kitchen knives. Although the sharpening process is quick, the quality leaves much to be desired. For this reason, for hunting and sporting knives, it is recommended to use other sharpening methods.
Electric sharpener
Modern models of electric sharpeners allow you to achieve high quality sharpening due to the built-in function of automatically determining the angle of the blade. The electric sharpener is perfect for both household use and for sharpening knives in catering establishments. The range of electric sharpeners is presented in a wide range, so the price may vary, but if you want your knives to always remain sharp, then buy more “advanced” and expensive models.
Musat
Musat - designed to maintain the sharpness of the knife edge. In shape, the musat resembles a round file with a handle. Musats are included in knife sets, and many owners often confuse them with a tool for fully sharpening a blade. Please note that with the help of musat you can maintain the sharpness of a sharpened knife, but if the knife has become completely dull, you will not be able to sharpen it with musat.
Sharpener "Lansky"
This sharpener is used for sharpening small and medium-sized knives. The design of the sharpener allows you to sharpen the blade at the angle you choose. The Lansky sharpener consists of a rod with a removable touchstone and two corners connected to each other. The corners simultaneously serve as a vice for the knife and a scale for selecting the sharpening angle. The sharpener kit also includes sharpening stones of different grits with ANSI markings.
Sharpening and grinding machines
Sharpening machines are used mainly in production for high-precision sharpening of rotating shaft blades. In addition to high-precision machines, there are electrically driven abrasive wheels and rotating discs for grinding. Sharpening knives on such machines should only be done by an experienced craftsman, because due to the speed of rotation of the circle or disk and the high heating temperature, with any unsuccessful movement, the knife blade will become unusable.
Do-it-yourself blade sharpening
Sharpening a knife with a whetstone
Sharpening a blade made with a sharpening stone is considered to be of the highest quality, provided, of course, that it was carried out by an experienced craftsman. To sharpen a knife on a whetstone, do the following:
How to sharpen a knife using a sharpening stone, see also in the video:
Sharpening a hunting knife on a Lansky sharpener
Hunting knives are made of hard steel, so their initial sharpening requires sharpening stones with a low content of abrasive grains.
How to sharpen knives in a Lansky sharpener, watch the video:
Sharpening scissors
Sharpening of scissors must be done on a special sharpening machine. Sharpening blades using improvised materials (sandpaper, the edge of a glass, etc.) can temporarily improve the sharpness of scissors, but not for long. If you do not have the opportunity to have your scissors sharpened by a professional, you can try to sharpen them yourself on an abrasive stone. When sharpening you need to follow a few simple rules:
When sharpening scissors, do not rush; patience will be your ally in this matter.
You can also watch the video on how to quickly sharpen scissors:
Sharpening plane and chisel blades
Sharpening the blade of a plane and a chisel are practically no different from each other. Therefore, the sharpening process described below applies to both tools:
In addition to manual sharpening, the chisel can be sharpened on a machine with a rotating abrasive disk:
Do not forget that when sharpening products on a machine, a lot of sparks and small particles are generated that can get into your eyes, so be sure to wear safety glasses. To avoid damaging your hands on the rotating disk, wear gloves.
You can also learn how to sharpen tools from the video:
Tips for quickly sharpening a blade using improvised tools
Stone
You can quickly sharpen a knife on a hike or on a picnic using an ordinary cobblestone. Use any stone lying on the ground instead of a whetstone and run the knife blade along its surface. You won't achieve razor sharpness, but you will return the knife to working condition.
Second knife
It is quite possible to sharpen two knives at once, without sharpening stones or tools. To do this, you need to take a knife in both hands and begin to sharpen the blade of one knife on the blade of the other. After 5-10 minutes of this work, the knives will become sharper than before.
Glass objects
The knife blade can be slightly sharpened on the rough edge of glass or ceramic objects. For example, on the bottom of a glass or the edge of a tile. The main thing is that the surface is rough.
Leather belt
A leather belt is more suitable for finishing and giving the knife blade a razor sharpness than for rough sharpening. But if there is nothing at hand except a belt, then you can try to sharpen the knife on it. To do this, you need to tighten the belt and start moving the blade along it; you may not achieve strong sharpness, but you will polish the knife to a shine. 
By learning to sharpen knives and tools yourself, you will acquire a skill that will be useful to you throughout your life!
Almost everyone knows that a straight razor needs to be sharpened constantly. But few people know how to sharpen a razor on jeans. With the advent of disposable and reusable (cassette) razors, people gradually began to forget about sharpening blades. But it turns out that it is also quite possible to sharpen a razor, significantly extending its life. Considering that cassettes for a good reusable razor are quite expensive, this skill will not be superfluous and will save money.
How to sharpen a razor with improvised means
The razor has been a personal hygiene item for several centuries. The first special hair removal device, the straight razor, had to be sharpened before each use. Moreover, its blade was aimed at the belt directly during shaving.
Modern technologies have made it possible to create safe shaving machines. Many of them, such as "Vest" or "Chic", can be used repeatedly. But even branded cassettes gradually become unusable and require replacement. Each blade of the cassette is made of high-strength steel, but it still becomes dull over time and develops burrs, which leads to a painful shave and skin irritation.
Good cassettes for reusable machines (for example, “Vest - 3”) are quite expensive, and sometimes (for example, on a business trip or on vacation) there is simply no time or nowhere to buy them. It turns out that you can easily extend the “life” of a cassette. All you need is jeans and a little patience. If the denim item will serve further, then sharpening should be done on the wrong side. For these purposes, thick ribbed denim is best suited.
The sharpening procedure is as follows:
- Turn your jeans inside out to avoid ruining the item.
- Spread them on a flat surface.
- Place a foil roll, a flat narrow block, a narrow ruler or another flat object under the fabric, the width of which is less than the length of the cutting part in the cassette. This is a necessary condition, since there are protrusions along the edges of the cassette that will not allow you to sharpen the blade on a flat surface. The spacer must be placed under the fabric so that the fabric ribs run diagonally.
- Place the cassette blade on the block and move it along the fabric in the direction opposite to that in which the machine moves during shaving. And so we grind the blade 50 times, moving it only in one direction.
- We unfold the razor and similarly grind the cassette on the jeans, now moving it in the other direction.
After this procedure, you will be able to shave comfortably again. By periodically sharpening cassettes, you can significantly extend their service life. In this way, you can sharpen both disposable razors and branded razors, such as “Vest”.
Instead of denim, you can use a strip of leather of the required width, cut from an old belt or an unnecessary leather item. You should sharpen on the reverse – unpainted side of the leather. Sharpening occurs somewhat faster than on fabric. 20-30 passes in one direction will be enough. There is no need to sharpen in the opposite direction, as with jeans.
Special sharpening devices
Currently, special devices have begun to appear on the market, with the help of which you can easily sharpen the blade of any razor - both budget and reputable.
The simplest of them are designed for manual sharpening. The method is reminiscent of straightening denim. Only instead of jeans, it uses a strip of special plastic mixed with the smallest abrasive, laid on a convenient base in the form of a block. Such devices include RazorPit (manufacturer – Denmark) and Zattoch (Ukraine). According to manufacturers, with regular sharpening, a cassette inserted into the Vest machine can last 5-10 times longer.
The same devices can be used to sharpen disposable razors. The process is also very similar to sharpening blades on fabric. Place a drop of shaving gel or foam on the abrasive strip, and then run the cutting part along it in the direction opposite to the movement of the machine when shaving. 20-30 movements are enough for the blade to become sharp.
If you don’t want to sharpen your razor by hand, you can purchase a sharpening machine, such as Save A Blade from Bradex (analogue - Blade Saver made in China). This small, battery-powered device can quickly sharpen razor blades. It is enough to place the cassette in a special compartment, secure it, and turn on the machine for 5-10 minutes. The device is universal and suitable for sharpening any cassette razors.
If work to restore the razor's sharpness is carried out manually, then it must be taken into account that the blades in the cassettes are thin and can be broken if handled carelessly. It is necessary to move the cassette along the sharpening surface smoothly, without force, without pressing on the machine.
Sharpening blades in razors will significantly extend their service life, make shaving more comfortable, and also help save a certain amount of the family budget.
A knife is an indispensable thing in many areas of human life. This is a universal item that is constantly in demand. Knives are used in the household, fishing and outdoor activities, construction, martial arts, etc. It is impossible to imagine a kitchen and travel set without this item. Because this tool is used so widely, there are many different types of knives: kitchen, travel, utility, combat and others. There are also souvenir knives that attract buyers with their aesthetic appearance.
With constant use of a kitchen knife, its blade may become dull; sharpening the knife will return the blade to excellent cutting quality.
What is a knife and what are its functions?
The knife itself is a tool for cutting various objects, consisting of two main parts: a handle, which the cutting hand holds, and a blade with a blade on one or two sides. The quality of the knife depends on the sharpness of the blade. Therefore, it is extremely important to know how to sharpen a knife correctly. It is usually made from hard metals (stainless steel), which are sharpened industrially. In combat models of knives, the end of the blade can also be sharpened. The handle is made of materials such as iron, wood, and plastic.
The blade angle should be 20 degrees.
The main property that any knife should have is the sharpness of the blade. Over time, any tool loses its former sharpness, so it needs to be sharpened from time to time. The ease of working with the tool and the quality of cutting depend on proper sharpening. After all, a poorly sharpened knife will not be able to cut wood, fish, or bread. So do not underestimate the importance of the cutting tool sharpening procedure.
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Steel hardness is an important parameter when sharpening a knife.
One of the main indicators that determine the process and its quality is the hardness of the steel. After all, a tool made from soft steel can easily be deformed or wrinkled, and too hard material can crumble. Therefore, it is worth choosing a knife with optimal steel hardness. Ideally, it should be 45-60 HRC. A parameter such as hardness is extremely important for the sharpening process, because it determines the sharpening angle of the knife. The harder the blade, the greater the angle should be.
Diagram of the blade cut elements: 1 - cutting edge (RC), 2 - approach, 3 - sharpening angle, 4 - descent, 5 - butt.
If the owner of the tool is not aware of the hardness of the material, it can be checked quite easily at home. You need to take a file with a small notch (needle file) and run it along the blade of the knife. First, this needs to be done with a little pressure - if the steel is of good hardness, the needle file should slide quite freely along the sharpened part of the blade. If you press on the file with noticeable force, it should cling to the blade just a little. In this case, the hardness of the knife is good and you can safely start sharpening.
Before you start sharpening your knife, be sure to be patient. After all, the process of returning sharpness to the blade can take from 5 minutes to several hours, depending on the type of knife. Therefore, you should not expect visible results after a couple of minutes of sharpening.
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What types of sharpening tools are there?
The first thing you need when sharpening a knife is a sharpening tool. Choosing a tool for sharpening is a very important matter, the correct execution of which directly affects the quality of the work. Choosing a sharpening tool is even more difficult than choosing a knife itself. For sharpening, grinding and leveling blades, devices such as mechanical and electronic sharpeners, whetstones, grinders, sanding belts, etc. are used. If the knife that requires sharpening is expensive, then it is advisable not to skimp on the means for sharpening it. Since sharpening tools cost a lot of money, it is important to immediately correctly determine the best option so as not to waste money.
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A whetstone for sharpening the cutting part of the blade
The higher the number on the block, the coarser the grain size of the ambrasive.
A whetstone for sharpening knives is a rather expensive tool. However, with its help you can achieve really high quality sharpening. The main active ingredient that gives the blade sharpness is abrasive crystals. They are practically invisible to the naked eye, but the result of their work is quite noticeable - a sharp knife blade. The more such crystals on each cubic millimeter of the bar, the faster and better the turning process will be. Usually the number of these abrasive grains is indicated on the packaging of the tool. It should be taken into account that for high-quality sharpening work, at least 2 bars are required. One of them is used for sharpening, and the other is used for polishing. It is not recommended to purchase sharpening stones whose packaging does not indicate the number of abrasive crystals, since in this case it is impossible to determine what quality this tool has. It must be said that domestic manufacturers often suffer from the lack of such important information.
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Using musat for straightening and polishing
Musat is able to maintain the sharpness of the blade without resorting to sharpening.
Another tool widely used for sharpening knives is the grinder. It is a steel tube, similar to a file, strip or circle, which is used to grind and sharpen a knife. In professional activities, this tool is used to a greater extent not for sharpening knives, but for maintaining the correct shape and sharpness of the blade. Musat is great for working with kitchen knives, the blades of which, as a rule, are not too hard. This tool must be used before the knife loses its sharpness, because you can’t sharpen a dull blade with a grinder; it’s only convenient for sharpening.
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Mechanical sharpener for sharpening the blade
In everyday life, a sharpening tool such as a mechanical sharpener is often used. With its help you can easily work with kitchen knives and various types of scissors. The fairly high popularity of such a tool is explained by its relatively low cost and ease of operation. The sharpening angle can easily be changed depending on the type of blade. The cutting part of the blade sharpens quickly. But it’s worth saying that you shouldn’t expect high-quality work from a mechanical sharpener. In addition, after using a mechanical sharpener, the knife may become dull faster than before. Therefore, it is better to use it only for working with household knives, but not with hunting, tourist or combat knives, which require really high-quality sharpening.
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Electric blade sharpener
An electric knife can sharpen and polish a knife, automatically determining the optimal sharpening angle.
Electric sharpeners are becoming more and more popular. They provide much better sharpening than their mechanical counterparts. Their undoubted advantages include not only the versatility of the type of knife (kitchen, hunting, tourist, combat), but also the type of blade (wavy, straight). Working with such a tool is as easy as shelling pears. He himself chooses the optimal sharpening angle of the blade. In addition to knives, you can also sharpen screwdrivers and scissors. An electric sharpener can handle both new dull blades and old ones equally well. The degree of sharpness of the cutting part of the blade is also not important. The results from the electric sharpener last for a long time; the blade remains very sharp. Nowadays, such devices not only sharpen the blade, but also grind, straighten and process it, bringing it to optimal conditions. Such devices are very multifunctional! The only disadvantage of an electric knife is its rather high cost. But the quality of work definitely justifies its high price.
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Sharpening belts, abrasive and felt wheels for sharpening
The abrasive wheel should not be used at home, as there is a high probability of damage to the blade during the sharpening process.
Another way to sharpen the cutting part of a knife blade is to work with sharpening belts, as well as abrasive and felt wheels. This method of sharpening knives is used in the industrial production of cutting tools and their sharpening points. However, it is better for a beginner not to try this method, since knowledgeable professionals who work with it in factories know how to choose the right sharpening angle and disc rotation speed. Without this knowledge, it will not be possible to sharpen a knife efficiently. In unskilled hands, the blade can simply become deformed. The fact is that under the influence of the grinding wheel the blade heats up to a high temperature, as a result of which the steel must be hardened. But if you overexpose the blade, it may simply deteriorate under the influence of temperature and friction. Another disadvantage of this method of sharpening the blade is its relatively short-lived effect. This is not surprising, because it is beneficial for manufacturers and sharpening specialists that the client contacts them again after some time. Therefore, for long-term effect, it is advisable to choose an electric sharpener.
So, to summarize, it should be noted that any of the above will be used in everyday life, however, for high-quality and long-term sharpening of the blades of sports and other special types of knives, it is necessary to use electric knifes and professional sharpening stones.
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How to sharpen a knife correctly?
After the sharpening tool has been selected, you need to become familiar with the process of sharpening and grinding the cutting part of the blade. After all, the result directly depends on the correctness of turning. When sharpening, you need to start the process with a rough block. It must be placed on a table or any other stationary surface. To prevent the hard block from damaging the surface coating, it is advisable to place fabric or paper under it. With this bar you need to process the blade until burrs appear on it - thin metal strips running along the entire cutting part of the knife. After burrs appear, it is advisable to change the sharpening stone to a tool with a large number of abrasive crystals.
The blade of the knife should be perpendicular to the line of the cutting edge of the blade.
It is desirable that the block be long enough (1.5-2 times larger than the size of the blade of the knife being sharpened). The sharpening scheme, at first glance, is quite simple: you need to move it along the sharpening stone, pointing the sharp edge of the knife forward. It is necessary to ensure that the edge is as perpendicular as possible to the direction of movements that are made when sharpening the knife.
The perpendicular sharpening angle allows you to sharpen the blade evenly along its entire cutting part. It is much more convenient and faster to work with a knife that is sharpened along the entire cutting surface. Another important geometric detail of sharpening a knife is the angle between the blade and the sharpening stone. It is advisable to keep it around 20-25 degrees. Making the angle constant is quite difficult. To ensure a constant inclination of the cutting part of the blade relative to the working surface of the sharpening stone, you need to point the knife handle upward. It is worth noting that different types of knives may require a special sharpening angle. For example, chopping knives should be sharpened at a greater angle than regular knives. The only rule must be followed throughout the entire work - maintaining the same sharpening angle.
You should sharpen the knife using a whetstone so that the tip of the tip at the end of the movement ends up at the place where the sharpening surface ends. It is important that the blade does not come off the block under pressure, because in this case it may become deformed or scratched. Some people make a big mistake in pursuit of the speediest completion of the sharpening process - they press hard on the blade so that it rubs more against the sharpening surface. This should not be done! Such actions lead to a loss of sharpening angle, but do not speed up the process in any way. The movement of the cutting part of the block along the sharpening surface should be smooth and careful so as not to disturb the sharpening angle of the knife and not to spoil your own work with a sloppy movement. This whole process must be repeated a large number of times until the blade on each side becomes as sharp as possible. Over time, sharpening the blade will not cause any particular difficulties, because experience is extremely important in this matter.
This tool is very similar to a file: a long round rod with a notch and a handle. It is mainly used for straightening the cutting edge of a knife. This is useful because it allows you to keep the knife in working condition at all times. But if the blade has become very dull, grinding stone will not help you - a major sharpening is necessary.
2. Mechanical sharpener
cook-r.ruNot a bad thing that every housewife should buy. Well suited for sharpening kitchen knives as it is quick and easy. True, the quality is not always pleasing, and the knives become dull as quickly as they are sharpened. This method is suitable for a kitchen knife, but no more.
3. Electric sharpener
klevin-knife.ru A great way to quickly and efficiently sharpen knives with any type of blade, as well as scissors and even screwdrivers. The device is capable of sharpening and then polishing any blade in two minutes. It is important that it automatically determines the desired sharpening angle, but we will talk about this below. Such a thing will cost from 2 to 50 thousand rubles, depending on the sharpening speed, guide system and power.
4. Machine with abrasive wheel
kak-eto-sdelano.livejournal.com This is a professional tool; it is used to sharpen and polish blades in industrial enterprises. Without experience, it is better not to go to the machine: steel is hardened at a certain temperature, so uncontrolled heating on the machine during sharpening can irreparably damage the knife. Leave this method to the professionals.
5. Whetstone
tojiro.spb.ru Sharpening with a whetstone is one of the most effective methods. This process is not easy, but entertaining. It requires perseverance and some experience working with a bar. For sharpening, two stones are needed: with small grains and large ones.
There are two types of whetstones: natural and artificial. The whole difference is in the grain size: natural stones are usually fine-grained, they are used for polishing. And artificial ones are initially made more universal, with different degrees of grain on different sides of the bar.
How to sharpen knives
vottak.net Before proceeding with the sharpening process, immerse the sharpening stone in oil or water for 15 minutes. This will extend the life of the bar, since steel particles will not get clogged between the grains.
You should start sharpening with a coarse-grained stone. It is important to correctly position the blade relative to the surface of the block, since the final result largely depends on this. The correct sharpening angle is also important: experts advise sharpening the blade at an angle of 20 degrees, but this may vary depending on the type of knife.
- Professional chef's and fillet knives require an angle of 25 degrees.
- Japanese kitchen knives should be sharpened at an angle of 10–20 degrees.
- For hunting blades, an angle of 30 to 45 degrees is used. A larger angle is required for greater resistance to dullness.
- For household kitchen knives, an angle of 30 degrees is sufficient.
The rule here is simple: if you want to make the knife sharper, we reduce the sharpening angle, and for greater resistance to dulling, we increase it.
You need to sharpen with continuous movements, lifting the handle at the moment when the block reaches the bend of the blade. This will maintain the sharpening angle of the cutting edge. It is important that the movement of the blade is perpendicular to the edge, while applying slight pressure to the blade.
Grinding
lastday.club When the main sharpening has been completed, we begin grinding. For this you will need a fine-grained stone. Grinding is necessary to level the surface and remove burrs. The technology remains unchanged.
Conclusion
In theory, everything is quite clear, but in practice, the process of sharpening a knife is far from the simplest. You will have to be patient and attentive: one awkward move, and all the work will go down the drain. Theory is great, but there is no way to do this without practice. And the process itself is not cheap, since good sharpening stones cost a lot of money.
If you just need to sharpen your knives, without all this fetish, take an electric sharpener. The result will be the same, and this method will also save your nerves and time.
