How to sharpen a knife with a honing steel?

1. STAFF

   Paul Edmondsonposted 15 years ago

   How to sharpen a knife with a honing steel?
   
   I'm thinking of getting a honing steel to keep my knives sharp.  Are there tips on how to use one effectively?

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2. 59

   ChefToolsposted 15 years ago

   A honing steel is a very useful tool. You will need to slide your knife on it at a 20 degree angle on each side 5 - 10 times and then againd switching sides every time. It does take a bit of practice, but after a few times the process takes only a few seconds. You can use a honing steel as much as you need, even every day.

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3. 58

   truparad0xposted 14 years ago

   A honing steel does not sharpen knives.  It aligns the edge of the blade so it cuts effectively.  A sharpening steel or stone would sharpen a knife, and a well-maintained knife in a regular household kitchen would probably only need sharpening once or twice a year.  You can hone as needed which can be a couple times a month or daily depending on how often you use your knives.
   
   My brother works in a meat department and hones their knives daily.  Their knives are shipped out biweekly for professional sharpening.
   
   ChefTool's answer on how to hone is correct.

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4. 65

   mlesniewskiposted 14 years ago

   You may want to invest in a good bench stone to re-sharpen your blades.  A sharpening steel is good for a quick touch up or edge alignment, but for the most part they dont remove any metal to get a true sharp edge. 
   
   There are several stones to choose from on the market everything from oil stones to high end japanese water stones.
   
   If your not used to sharpening on a stone the best to start with is an old fashioned oil stone.
   
   Hope this helps.

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