How to sharpen your knives with a stone

Sharpening a knife is not always easy. To get a perfect edge, you have to choose just the right tools - and know how to use them.

In this article, we'll show you how to sharpen your knives with a sharpening stone, a powerful tool that has been around for centuries. Discover all the basics of sharpening stones, including their origins, the knives they can sharpen, how they differ from other sharpening tools, and how to use and clean them.

The origins of the sharpening stone

Stones were the original tools of knife sharpeners. In fact, they were the first sharpening tools ever to be used. Originally, peasants used stones to sharpen their scythes before cutting hay, running the stones along the blade. Although the technique has evolved somewhat over time, stones continue to be one of the most widely used tools for sharpening knives.
Where do sharpening stones come from? Most sharpening stones are natural elements extracted from quarries. They are often made of sandstone or shale.

Sharpening stones are distinguished by their particles. Some have coarse particles which are suitable for sharpening extremely damaged knives, while others have finer particles that let you sharpen any type of knife by spending more time on those that need it.

The stones we offer at Opinel come from Lombardy in Italy and Ariège in the Pyrenees.

Are sharpening stones suitable for all knives?

Stones can be used to sharpen any type of knife, with the exception of knives with micro-serrated edges (e.g., serrated and bread knives). Pocket knives, kitchen knives, table knives, garden knives (such as pruning shears), and even scissors can be sharpened with a stone. The same goes for knives with a rounded tip: simply glide the curved edge along the stone.

However, special care must be taken with polished and black blades, as these blades are more easily damaged during sharpening. The knife should always be held at a 20-degree angle against the stone.

How to use your sharpening stone

First of all, keep in mind that your knives should be sharpened regularly. Professionals sharpen their knives before nearly every use.

The first step involves soaking the stone in water for a few minutes until it is nice and drenched. The sharpening stone must be wet to prevent stone dust and steel particles from clogging up its pores. Once the stone is drenched, you can then proceed with the sharpening. Hold the knife at a 20-degree angle against the stone to prevent the blade or cutting edge from becoming damaged. To create a 20-degree angle, place your thumb on the back of the blade, then place the knife against the stone.

To sharpen, press gently and push the knife away from you, gliding the entire length of the cutting edge against the stone. If you sharpen your knives regularly, then 5 glides will be enough. Next, turn the knife over and repeat, this time placing your index finger on the back of the blade to create a 20-degree angle. If the stone gets dry, feel free to wet it again.

While sharpening, you may notice that small white marks appear on the blade. This is sediment from the stone. Be sure to clean the knife after sharpening by rinsing it with water or wiping it with a cloth.

How to clean your sharpening stone

Sharpening stones are extremely easy to clean. After each use, simply rinse the stone with water. This will remove the stone dust and steel particles and prevent the pores from clogging. Let the stone dry, then store it in a drawer (for example). Do not wash the stone in the dishwasher or use soap, a sponge, or detergent - water is enough.

Sharpening stones are incredibly durable and have an extremely long lifespan. However, they can break easily so be careful not to drop them.

How do sharpening stones differ from sharpening steels and manual sharpeners?

In addition to sharpening stones, we also offer a manual sharpener and sharpening steels. Feel free to check out this article for tips on how to sharpen your knives with a steel.

These tools are quite similar: the feel, the sharpening noise, and the end results are pretty much the same. We recommend simply choosing the tool that works best for you. However, keep in mind that stones and steels are used differently, and that steels are more versatile than stones.
Opinel sells two sharpening stones: the large natural stone and the small natural stone.

Now that you're an expert on sharpening stones, go ahead and give one a try! Take advantage of the tips in this article to give your knives a new lease on life!