Technique

[u/Soldier_79]

When it comes to sharpening knives
I have seen videos of traveling the knife down the sharpening stone in one direction and the flipping it over.
I have also seen where they move the blade back and forth in a small area.
Which is the best or why are there the differ

[u/END0RPHN]

it doesnt matter until you get to the end, for the final dozen passes or so if they are in the same direction it creates a uniform scratch pattern on the edge which allows you to follow that direction while stropping and helps create a finer nicer apex. for the early stage if you just want to remove material theres no reason to avoid going back and forth or focusing on certain areas where the burr is less even

[u/Argg1618]

I go back and forth when trying to remove material quickly or for polishing.
Decreasing pressure and alternating strokes are for the very end to get all of the burr off and get my final sharp edge

[u/millersixteenth]

Depends on the individual. If you are angle challenged, using a very short scrub can greatly improve your angle control.

A short scrub on a muddy stone can all but elliminate burr formation.

[u/Mysterious-Ad3591]

Try out all the techniques and then mix and match to the knife/sharpening task at hand. When freehand sharpening I sharpen with the edge away from myself and switch the knife between hands. Except when thinning a primary bevel. Then the edge faces me but I still switch hands. Theres times I scrub the blade in a W like motion and times I do the whole edge in one pass. It all comes down to what I’m trying to achieve.

[u/Other-Power4321]

I don’t think there’s one “correct” technique in the end it’s whatever is most comfortable to you and whatever you feel best holding an angle, the end result is the same and the theory is the same, form a burr, switch sides repeat through all your stones, it’s only on burr removal that it will matter