Step 4a: Begin the First Stroke. Hold your knife with
the blade edge pointing away from you. Place the
heel of your knife on the far edge of the stone and,
holding the blade gently but firmly with both hands
at a 15- to 20-degree angle and using even pressure,
slowly drag the knife over the stone toward you
down its length while simultaneously moving the
knife so that the contact point moves toward the tip
of the blade.
Step 4b: Maintain the Angle. Be careful to maintain
the 15- to 20-degree angle as you pull the knife
across the stone. Pressure should be firm but gentle,
and the blade should glide smoothly across the stone.
Step 5: Repeat. Each stroke should finish with the tip
of the knife touching the bottom edge of the stone.
Lift the knife, reset the heel at the top edge of the
stone, and repeat.
Step 6: Look for Silty Water. As you repeat the
process, a thin film of silty-looking water should
collect on top of the stone and on the blade. This
abrasive liquid will gradually take material off the
edge of your knife, sharpening it.
Step 7: Check for Burr. As you continue to repeat
strokes on the first side, a tiny burr will eventually
form on the other side of the blade. To check for it,
place the blade on your thumb and pull it backward.
If burr has formed, it should catch slightly on your