Sharping stone

For years I used a variety of small sharpening stones and steels to sharpen knives and cutting tools.  I never used them regular enough to keep the knives and cutting tools truly sharp.  I found it was time consuming and just never kept up.  Not sure if it was because the sharpening stones were small or the fear of cutting myself while sharpening kept my knives dull.  

In 2017, I helped a professional chef shut down his restaurant and discovered his well used sharpening stone.  It was 1.5" H x 2"W x 12" L and had a great feeling in the hand.  He gave me a spare stone.  The stone was a course/medium grit and I discover the joys of sharpening.  

Since the initial gift of the stone I tried a fine/medium grit stone.  In 2025, I purchased a Winco 12" Fine/Grain Knife Sharpening Stone for $20.  It is designed to sharpen knives and tools made from stainless and carbon steel.  

Straight edge knife sharpening

Steps

1. Wet stone with water.

2. Grip stone in palm of hand keeping finger below the surface.

3. With knife edge so handle in touching the edge of stone and towards you lay flat on stone and slightly tip back of blade up.

4. Pull knife toward 2 times moving stone towards the tip of knife

5. Turn knife upside down and push knife instead of pull (2 times).  

6. Turn the knife edge towards you and pull the knife 1 time.

7. You are done so rinse stone and knife.

Straight edge scissor sharpening

I use a bench corner that allows the stone to be placed along the edge of the bench so the scissor's handle hang free in the air while being sharpened.  The stone is held in place with either a clamp or dowel so I can pull the scissor across the stone without it moving.  

Steps

1. Wet the stone and place on edge of bench

2. Examine scissors so high part of edge is away from you and hold it on the stone at the angle of factory grind.

3. Pull scissors towards you making 2 pulls on the stone.

4. Turn scissors upside down and repeat with 2 pulls.  

5. Lightly use the stone to remove any bur developed during sharpening.

6. Clean the stone and scissors with water and dry.

7. Oil scissors and tighten the screw.