There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and similarly, there’s more than one way to sharpen a knife. That being said, keeping a knife sharp is a matter of responsible knife ownership as well as safety, since a sharp knife cuts more easily. Of course, there is more than one type of knife sharpener; here are 5 of the most common along with some things you should know about each. 

Sharpening Stones

Sharpening stones are the most basic types of knife sharpeners. A flat sharpening stone is an abrasive stone that is used to remove stock from the edge of a knife so that it can be profiled or restored. Stones vary in grit from low (coarse) to high (fine) and can be used to restore and profile edges as well as to polish them, in higher grits. Bench stones are larger and pocket stones are smaller and intended to be more portable. There are also natural stones, which are made of stones such as novaculite (Arkansas stones) or coticule, as well as synthetic stones, which are made of manmade materials like glass or aluminum oxide. 

Sharpening Rods 

Another type of knife sharpener is called a sharpening rod, which all things being considered is more versatile than flat stones because rods can be used to sharpen inwardly curved blades (like talon knives and karambits) as well as knives with recurved edges. They can also be used to sharpen serrated knives, whereas flat sharpening stones cannot. Like sharpening stones, rods may be made of natural materials, but they are more commonly made of manmade materials like ceramic, or steel impregnated with diamond dust. 

Pull-Through Knife Sharpeners 

Pull-through knife sharpeners are another type of knife sharpener. To sharpen a knife with a pull-through sharpener, you place the edge into a slot and pull the blade back through towards yourself. Inside the slot are either carbide blades or sharpening rods set at an angle, which restore the edge of the knife. Pull-through sharpeners are very easy to learn to use, but they are not versatile because they can only be used to sharpen the edge at a preset angle, whereas sharpening stones and rods enable the user to adjust the angle as the user works them.

Belt Sharpeners 

Belt sharpeners consist of a sanding or sharpening belt and an electric motor which runs the belt. Like a sharpening stone, they are very effective, but since they are powered, they are much more efficient than stones. They can be beginner friendly for this reason, and they can also be used to sharpen a knife much more efficiently and quickly than stones, but they tend to be more expensive as well. Belt sharpeners can be a good choice especially if you frequently need to resharpen knives, or if you have a lot of edged tools to sharpen at once. 

Knife Sharpening Systems 

There are also knife sharpening systems which typically consist of a series of stones or rods that the user uses in succession, intended to bring a knife’s edge back from a dull state to a set sharpness. The good thing about knife sharpening systems is that they typically come with detailed instructions as well as edge guides, which makes them very friendly to beginners. The tradeoff is that knife sharpening systems tend to be a little more expensive than other types of knife sharpeners.

Where to Get These Types of Knife Sharpeners 

Want to learn more about knife sharpeners or just get a few so you can keep your knives sharper? Check out The Knife Connection. They carry a wide range of knife sharpeners and systems, perfect for nearly any application. Visit their website for more information or get in touch with them for more information. 

For more information about White River Knives and Great Eastern Cutlery Please visit: The Knife Connection.