Super-Simple Whetstone Knife Sharpening Techniques

Want to sharpen your kitchen knives, but don't know how? Nathan's here to show you the basics of kitchen knife sharpening on whetstones including how to find your angle, how to raise a burr, and how to polish your edge. Today, we'll be using Knifewear sharpening stones, and a few other pieces of gear.

Or visit Knifewear stores in Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, or Vancouver.

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The Gear 0:00
Preparation 2:47
How to Find an Angle 5:46
Starting Your Edge on 220 Grit 8:26
Flattening Your Stone 16:37
Polishing Your Edge on 1000 Grit 17:57
Removing the Burr & Testing 20:59

[starskymedia]

This was one of the best instructional videos I've ever watched on knife sharpening, now my knives are razor sharp!

[JaysonBucy]

Best. Explanation. Ever. Seriously, this was the best demonstration of how to use a whetstone I've ever seen. Thank you.

[nihilismistheonlyway]

I JUST got a $50 amazon "starter" kit made in Japan. Watched this and a couple other videos.... my very first time ever! Got those babies sharp! Thank you!
It's so cool cutting thru a potato like it's butter and a hot blade!!!

[lorilynch-senter]

Funny how this video popped up on my phone after me saying out loud last night how I need to sharpen my chef's knife. No conspiracy theories...fact. 🙄

[imgadgetmanjim]

One of the best sharpening tutorials I have seen. Well done.

[brettharris]

This was hands down the best whetstone knifesharping video I have seen so far. You did a wonderful job explaining it in simple effective way for a beginner

[Jeremy]

After watching your videos I bit the bullet and bought everything in the video. My first attempt was a success. I know I have a long ways to go. Thank you for building my confidence!

[patw]

This video is the best sharpening video I’ve seen on YouTube. So many new bits of info that most other videos don’t mention!

[SergeZ]

I've watched a number of knife sharpening videos to figure out how to do it right. This video is the best hands down. Tells you everything you need to know on how to sharpen with a whetstone and why. Comprehensive yet concise. Excellent work. Save yourself a ton of time looking at other videos and just watch this. I have no affiliation to knifewear. I'm just genuinely impressed. What I have learned over months of studying and practicing was explained perfectly in this one video.

[JamieHoughton]

I don't comment on much but when I did the newspaper test at the end, I let out a "woooo". Thank you.

[ronniaj]

I am a North Sea fisherman and a knife is your best friend. I find circular motion is far better when sharpening and most fisherman do it circular 😊

[jamesporld]

Good refresher video. I was able to effortlessly shave arm hair with my pocket knife. Now that’s a sharpness test. 👍🏼

[kassidywolf]

I love the way you explained what was happening to the knife at each stage. It really helped me visualize what I need to do and how it works. Knowing the “why” is so important! Thanks for the video, I feel way more ready to sharpen my knives.

[Sullstice]

Today was the day I planned on learning how to sharpen my knives. Thank you!

[areejalkhowaiter]

Thank you very much for the main steps & all the small details, it really let you understand each step in the most safeties way

[stevehardy]

Thank you so much .appreciate the time and effort you put in to the video's. Respect. New to Japanese knives and your video has now educated me more on care and sharpening. Thank you .

[Soireb]

I was gifted a used knife set; one of those that comes in a block. Most knives seemed fine, except for the chef’s knife; which is extremely dull and had a jagged edge. I bought a wet stone set (1000/6000) and was able to reduce the jagged edge. But the knife was still very much dull. Of all the videos I’ve seen this one has been the most informative and now I know what I did wrong. So thank you for putting out this content. I really needed the step by step. Awesome video!!

[vincenthu]

I love how you broke it down and made it simple, now it feels so much less daunting. Thank you!

[jchuhn]

Excellent display of technique and skill. Thank you for such a quality video.

[ChristianDanaBecker]

Great video, but the background music was irritating, especially when you were saying you could hear the burrs, and cutting the paper.