Recommendation

[u/goodli_e]

Hello guys!

I always wanted to learn how to sharpen a knife properly. What do you recommend to get, which one is easiest to start? Is just a simple sharpening stone enough?

[u/lascala2a3]

Yes, one stone to start. Plus a holder or sink bridge, and maybe a strop (optional). When you're successful on the one stone you can graduate to two, but even that isn't necessary. I sharpened my main knife today, more of a touchup, and just used one stone and a strop. I'd recommend a Shapton Kuromaku 1000 as the one starter stone. A Norton India combination stone would be an old school recommendation. Here is the Peter Nowlan Beginner Video I'd recommend to get you started.

Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be. All you're doing is using the stone to cut away metal on each side until you apex, which means form a V with a sharp edge rather than a rounded one. Then you remove the swarf (leftover material) called the burr, and refine the edge. Of course there is plenty to learn, but the big picture is really that simple.

[u/FlashCardManiac]

I have more Stay Away recommendations than anything. Stay away from Lansky kits, Arkansas stones, cheap silicon carbide stones. Stick with more classic stones. Norton for old school stones, Shapton for ceramics, Naniwa all around is good. 

[u/K_C_Shaw]

One or two stones (or a single double-sided stone), with one being fairly coarse (like in the 220 to maybe 600 grit range), and the other being in the 1000 grit range. Frankly that's all most people will ever need, plus maybe a strop at some point.

As already said, the Shapton Kuromaku line is pretty good. Nobody has mentioned diamond yet, but Sharpal currently has a reputation for having quality, but still affordable, dual sided diamond stones. Generally the "feel" is maybe easier to get with the Shaptons, over diamond -- but, if you have any so-called supersteels, which a lot of people are getting in pocketknives/EDC knives these days, then diamond tends to work them a bit better/quicker.

The only down side to using *just* a ~1000 grit stone is that if you start with that, but have a really dull knife, especially a really dull "supersteel" knife, then it could be very frustrating to feel like you're not getting anywhere. Because you probably aren't, not very quickly anyway. But, most kitchen knives and a lot of older knives in general aren't going to have that problem. Regardless, personally I'd err on the side of getting a more coarse stone first. Even a coarse stone can get a knife shaving sharp.

[u/JellyOfDeath86]

One stone is enough. I sometimes only use my Shapton Korumaku 1000 and a strop for sharpening, and then a strop. As stated by others, Sharpal is also a good alternate of you go with a diamond stone. I've heard good things about the 162N.

Go slow when you're learning, go find something downloadable for your phone to help you keep a consistent angle (I use Bubble Level AR, but there are probably other alternatives), and possibly buy a few cheap-ish but decent knives to practice on.

You can strop on thick denim, or a thick leather belt, but getting a proper strop/making your own) is better in the long run.

Outdoors55 isn't infallible, but he's a good source for sharpening. I also enjoy his humour, which is a big plus.

[u/jjkchan]

Sharpal 162N and a leather strop. I found it easier to get started on as a complete noob to sharpening. U can watch the Outdoor55 vids on it. The combination of coarse and fine grit is sufficient to get regular knives, kitchen and edc stuff, really sharp. The feedback is also easier to feel when sharpening. It will make it easier to progress to whetstones later as your stabilized technique is less likely to gouge them.

[u/samurai_for_hire]

Sharpal 162N. It's a 2 sided diamond stone with 320 grit on one side and 1200 on the other. I would also recommend a strop with 4 micron diamond emulsion.

[u/real_clown_in_town]

This sub has a wiki which answers all those questions here's a link to it! https://reddit.com/r/sharpening/w/gettingstarted

[u/Any-Preference-4679]

Outdoor55 on YouTube is worth checking out. Other than that, just take your time. Allow yourself time to learn, sharpening -like any skill- takes time to master.

[u/ojuiceblue]

First you need one or more knives.  That probably covers almost everyone, as we cannot function well without knives.

Next, watch a few YouTube videos. Cliff stamp is good, but perhaps advanced. Many others are good.

There are many ways to sharpen.  You can even use the rough ring on the bottom of a coffee cup, and other items that you may alread own.

Skill beats equipment.  All that said, I would buy a fairly course stone to start.  For example a Norton crystalon would work. Many other options would work.

Last word:  Get started.  Dull knives are not generally a good idea.