How to sharpen a pocket knife: learn the step-by-step

Junior Dorigatti 18 de May de 2023

Como afiar canivete: aprenda o passo a passo

You already know that a pocketknife is an indispensable everyday accessory, right? But with frequent use, it's inevitable that it will lose its sharp edge over time. So, how do you sharpen a pocketknife to always have it handy when you need it?

That's what we're going to talk about today. In this article, we'll show you a step-by-step guide on how to sharpen a pocketknife, all very simple, so you can do it yourself. Shall we get started?

How to sharpen a pocketknife: check out the step-by-step guide

Sharpening a pocketknife is a task you can do yourself with the necessary materials – which often have great cost-benefit and you might even already have at home.

To make it very simple to understand, we will separate the process into 3 parts so as not to leave out any details, helping you prepare the tools correctly, teaching you how to sharpen the blade, and how to finish it correctly.

1 – Preparing the materials

Before you start sharpening the pocketknife, it's very important that the blade is clean, without any dirt or grease, as these residues can cause an irregular sharpening of the blade. A good tip is to immerse the pocketknife blade for a few seconds in boiling water.

Choose which tool you will use for sharpening. There are several types of sharpeners on the market: stones, files, honing steels, and sharpeners themselves can be efficient in achieving the perfect cutting edge.

If you're sharpening your pocketknife with a stone, it's important to keep it moistened so that the sharpening is more precise and efficient. Additionally, using a lubricant on the stone helps reduce friction that can distort it. Oh, remember to follow the instructions provided with your sharpening stone, as some models can be damaged by the use of oils.

All safety at this time is essential, so be careful that the sharpening stone support is well fixed, so that it does not slip and cause any type of accident.

2 – Sharpening the pocketknife blade

Start by running the pocketknife along the stone, as if you were cutting a thin slice from its surface, repeating this movement several times. It's important not to apply too much pressure, letting the stone do its job.

It is important to position the cutting edge at an angle of 27 degrees and gradually reduce it to 15 degrees, with it slightly inclined. The movement should be smooth and constant, passing over the entire blade.

One way to know when to switch sides when sharpening is to observe if a burr forms on the side opposite the stone. If so, it means that the blade steel is getting thin enough, as thin steel indicates that the blade is sharp.

Finally, flip the pocketknife blade and repeat this process to sharpen the other side. After this process, it is important to use a less coarse stone to give the final touches.

Want to sharpen your knife? Check out this tip: knife sharpening – how does it work?

3 – Finishing the pocketknife sharpening

How do you know if the pocketknife is already sharp? Take a piece of paper and, without resting it on any surface, try to cut it. If you can cut it without tearing, it means the sharpening was successful. Now, if it didn't work and tore the paper, keep repeating the process until it cuts.

Clean the blade well with a clean cloth to remove any remaining steel fragments or oil that may have been left on the pocketknife. Now your pocketknife is ready to be used again.

Tips for keeping your pocketknife sharp

Now that you've learned how to sharpen a pocketknife, we've separated some tips to help you maintain the edge for longer before needing to sharpen again. Here are some tips that will help you, check them out!

Avoid improper use of the pocketknife

One of the main reasons is the improper use of the pocketknife, the great villain. One of the wrong ways to use a pocketknife is to cut something using an abrasive surface, which is not prepared to absorb the impact of the blade.

The same applies to cutting food without using a cutting board, which can also lead to the same problem with blade impact.

Clean it correctly

Storing a dirty pocketknife is harmful to the blade, which will be more exposed and at risk of starting to corrode. Avoid washing the pocketknife in washing machines, because in addition to chemicals damaging the handle, the possible impact of the pocketknife with other accessories can damage the blade.

Prefer to do a good cleaning with running water and a damp cloth, which is sufficient to keep it clean.

Do not sharpen with a grinder

The grinder is highly recommended for sharpening kitchen knives, but for pocketknives, it can be very harmful and render them unusable, due to the different steel alloys of the knife and pocketknife. So do not use this method for sharpening.

We hope that with these tips you can sharpen your pocketknife and preserve its edge, all so that it stays sharp much longer without needing to be sharpened again. Do you know another way to sharpen a pocketknife? Share it with us in the comments.

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