Here’s an unsettling truth. A lot of people that carry or even work with knives daily do not know how to sharpen them.
You’d think they would, but then again, there are a lot more bus drivers out there than mechanics – and the safe bet is that most drivers don’t know a thing about how the engine works.
So, for better or for worse, there are those that work with knives or carry them daily and really don’t know the first thing about getting a good edge on one.
Knife sharpening kits are perfect for these people, as they generally come with everything you need to restore an edge. Here’s what you should know.
What’s in a Knife Sharpening Kit?
Just what comes with a knife sharpening kit is dependent on the kit itself, but usually a kit will come with everything you need to get a good edge back on your knife.
This includes but is not limited to a series of sharpening stones (or rods) of different grits, as well as honing solution.
Some sharpening kits also come with an angle guide, which is critical if you’ve never sharpened a knife before and don’t know how to do it.
Also, many will come with instructions that will tell you just what to do so you don’t get lost or confused and botch the process, which is surprisingly easy to do.
Another thing to note is that since kits are bundled, you’ll often save a little on them as compared to buying all the components separately.
All in all, they are good failsafes if you don’t know what you’re doing.
What You Need If You Don’t Get a Kit
On the flipside, you don’t need to get a knife sharpening kit. All you really need are a few stones of different grits.
Now, this part is important. Most people don’t realize you can’t do it all with one stone. You will need a few stones, ranging from 120-1000 grit, if you really need to restore an edge and want it to be sharp.
How many you will need to use to get your edge back depends on how it is ground and on its condition. If you just need to touch it up, the finest grit stone should suffice.
You can skip the angle guide and the instructions and honing oil. You don’t really need the latter anyway.
What you do need is patience. It’s not easy to get a solid edge back on a very dull knife, and the wrong angle can screw everything up.
But if you are consistent and patient, you can do it. You just need to take your time and be consistent with the sharpening angle.
Explore Knife Sharpening Kits and More
Still thinking a knife sharpening kit might be for you? Whether that’s the case or you literally just need a few new bench stones, visit White Mountain Knives. They carry both, along with a wide variety of other knife sharpening essentials.
