Sharpening a Knife: Determining the Correct Angle and Technique - Prof. Maryedith Mcfarlin, Study notes of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences

Download Sharpening a Knife: Determining the Correct Angle and Technique - Prof. Maryedith Mcfarlin and more Study notes Physical Activity and Sport Sciences in PDF only on Docsity! How do I sharpen my knife? Determine the Correct Angle  Generally, you can determine the appropriate angle simply by matching the current angle on the blade when sharpening; even a dull blade should hopefully have a visible angle  If no current angle is visible, follow the chart below to determine the appropriate angle:  The smaller the angle, the sharper your knife will feel, however, there is less metal behind the edge resulting in a weaker edge compared larger angles Lubricate the Sharpening Tool  Why would I need lubricant to sharpen my knife? ◦ Lubricants are not meant to help the blade “glide” over the sharpening tool, they are meant to help remove the microscopic particles of steel (grit) that are left behind on the sharpener as the knife is sharpened ◦ Without lubricants, the pores of the sharpening tool will become clogged with grit Sharpening the Knife  Place the sharpening tool on a steady, solid surface  It is best to cut “into” the sharpening tool rather than dragging the blade backwards  Starting at the base of the blade (near the handle), grind one edge using a course stone or tool until a burr forms ◦ A burr forms when the steel has been ground enough along the edge that it folds over slightly; this can be felt using your thumb on the edge opposite of the sharpening tool ◦ It is important to grind the edge until a burr forms because that is how you know that you have successfully sharpened the blade as much as you can for that one side  Once a burr is formed, turn the knife over and repeat the process, still using the coarse side of the sharpening tool, until the burr emerges on the opposite side  Now that the burr has been risen from both sides, use a finer stone or tool to smooth out the edge and remove the burr; do this for both sides independently ◦ Alternate between grinding the (2) sides of the blade until the burr is gone