Build grinding machines for knives yourself

The right knife edge enables you to always have a sharp one knife handling not only makes you faster, but also prevents injuries.

Do-it-yourself grinding machines for knives

1. The most important thing about your grinding machine is the grindstone. It should initially be at least 20 cm long and 5 cm wide, because it is a larger one stone it is easier to guide the blade harmoniously over the stone, so the angle can be kept more constant.
2. There are different types of whetstones: Japanese waterstones are great to use, but they wear out fairly quickly. There are high-quality grinding stones made of corundum or silicon carbide in the hardware store. You can also purchase a so-called diamond stone for your grinding machine, which is more artificial Diamond dust was sintered on a metal carrier, but really good diamond grinding blocks are not just inexpensive. Then there are various natural stones that are suitable for sharpening knives, e.g. B. American Arkansas or Washita stones, Japanese Ohmura and Belgian chunks in yellow or blue. The last type are the ceramic stones, which are supposed to bring about very good results at a medium price and are supposed to last for a long time.
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3. Which sharpening stone you choose is a matter of taste, actually you should already have experience in knife sharpening in order to buy the best sharpening stone for you. The only thing left for the beginner is to try it out. Japanese water stones have to be handled very gently, inexpensive diamond stones will soon no longer have diamonds, ceramic stones must definitely be completely flat when buying, natural stones are often quite soft and each have slightly different ones Grinding properties.
4. The basic price difference arises from the choice of the type of whetstone when you choose a whetstone If you have decided on corundum or silicon carbide, you should no longer resort to the cheaper model if it is only a few euros goes. Most of the time, this saving takes revenge, because the inexpensive stone is too coarse or uneven or larger particles break out all the time.


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5. You need two of these sharpening stones for your grinding machine: A coarser stone for Pre-grinding and a finer stone for the final grinding, with some types there are also combination stones two sides.
6. Now these stones have to be fixed on one corner of a (insensitive) table in the direction of the grinding. This can be done with a damp kitchen towel or a piece of damp kitchen roll that has been laid twice, also a carpet fixing mat or some pieces of rubber hold the whetstone in place, the length of the stone may allow an additional fixation with a Ferrule. There are also some hardware store holders that can be turned to and some ideas for building a whetstone holder yourself.

Instructions for using the self-made grinding machines

1. When the grindstone is fixed, your grinders are ready. Because there is no other secret in sharpening than that the knife is guided over the whetstone in a controlled manner. With the fixation, you have both hands free; the knife can be safely guided by using one Grind your hand and check with the other hand and the correct contact between knife and stone produce.
2. The stone is now moistened with the appropriate grinding fluid, new stones should always be ground with water first. If your stone clogs quickly in the process, you should try petroleum or grinding oil. Wetting with abrasive is repeated during grinding when the stone becomes dry.
3. The knife is now placed on the stone, the most important thing here is the right angle. Normal kitchen knives are sharpened at an angle of 10 to 15 degrees, hunting knives at 15 to 20 degrees and slicing knives at 20 to 25 degrees (the heavier the load, the steeper the angle).
4. The knife is guided evenly over the whetstone, most grinders come with a kind of oblique pull manage well by placing the knife in the area of ​​the blade and then in an arc forwards and downwards draw. Others prefer to circle their knife or even move it in the shape of a figure eight. You now work your way from rough grinding with the coarser grindstone to fine grinding with the fine stone.
5. At the very end, the knife should be removed by pulling it over a leather strap, which was rubbed with polishing paste, then through a hardwood and then again over the Leather straps.

Don't worry if your first knife sharpening doesn't produce a perfect result. It takes time to practice a grinding movement that maintains the angle. So you will need a little patience, and you shouldn't use your best knife for the first few tries.