Once again I’ve got one of that short comments on one of my clips that actually says nothing but buggers everything:
He’s doing it wrong, any one watching this thinking they going 2 try it like this, DONT! It will make the knife un even, so some parts will be sharper/blunter then other.
So here is my reply – too long to get posted at youtube:
These are strong words backed up with – nothing. To me it does not get clear what you mean by “uneven“.
If you talk about the challenge of not changing the angle during free-hand sharpening – that’s what makes free-hand sharpening a craft. You’ll have to practice to be able to hold that angle through out the length of the knive. So even though I called it “basic movements” I didn’t mean “you’ll get it right the first time movements”. What I did mean was “you can (have to) expand on that movements” – leaving philosophical discussions for some place else.
What other ways are there? You could move the knive lengthwise – wobbling still possible. You could move the knive straight over the stone, i.e. not doing the 8-shaped movement shown in the clip. Wobbling still possible.
The lengthwise sharpening is especially interesting for high carbon-steel knives. For lower grade knives that don’t hold the edge as good and cannot be made as sharp, serrations – running 90°-wise to the edge – are sometimes desired (e.g. when slicing tomatoes). One cannot have those moving the knive lengthwise over the stone.
You could use a rig – then we are no longer talking over free-hand.
You see – I would be interested in your way of doing things.
Let me tell you what I get – for years – from sharpening my knives the way shown in the clip: My veggies and the meat does not even realize it’s been cut until they fall apart. The hairs on my arm pop out in fear just upon seeing those knives. My mother in law does not realize she cut herself until blood spoils the salad.
What’s your experience with your way of sharpening?
For all the german speaking readers in search of sharper knowledge I’ve put some tipps and tricks on sharpening together.