Blunt knives - a real problem for every mistress and an additional reason for quarrels with her husband. In order for the process of cutting food to take place easily, and in the house a favorable atmosphere reigned, the grinding stone must become an obligatory kitchen accessory.
How to choose a grindstone?
By taking care of the acquisition of the necessary object for sharpening knives, you will inevitably come across a choice problem. It would seem, what could be easier than finding a bar with an abrasive surface? But today the market presents a lot of its varieties, so the eyes run up, and the hands go down. If you are at a loss, this review will help you decide.
Types of grinding stones for knives
1. Natural grindstone , made in the form of a bar of rectangular or oval shape. They are a piece of natural material, for example, crystalline silica or quartz. By the type of interaction with the blade, the natural grinding stone refers to water - before starting the grinding process, it should be placed in water for about 10 minutes. Their unconditional plus is that the result is achieved as quickly and easily as possible. But there are drawbacks. So, the service life of such grindstone is not long, because the abrasive surface is quickly erased, and the stone itself acquires unevenness. But this, in principle, is not a big problem, because if desired, the stone can be leveled.
How to level the grindstone?
- rub the moistened stone on the silicate brick;
- Use grindstone with a larger granularity, also pre-moistened with water;
- on a concrete slab or curbstone.
Of the other difficulties in using water grindstones, it is necessary to thoroughly wash it from particles of metallic dust after each use.
2. Artificial sharpening stones - the abrasive element on them is fastened with special high viscosity glues, from which it becomes necessary to use oil when grinding. It is necessary to ensure that the stone in the process of operation is not covered with a gloss of metal particles and, therefore, does not lose its properties. It is worth noting that the usual vegetable or machine oil is not suitable here, you need to use a special substance that is sold in a set with grinders.
Artificial bars are made mainly from cores of electrocorundum and glue, as a binder. The degree of granularity depends on the quality of the constituent elements, as well as the quality of the bar. Separately it is necessary to allocate sharpening stones with diamond dusting. As you know, diamond - the most durable material, so this bar will be the most durable. It is worth paying attention to the size of the diamond crumb - the smaller it is, the slower the blunt knife, perfected with the help of a stone with such a sputtering.
3. Ceramic grindstone - the most modern of all of the above. Combine the quality of processing natural stone blades and wear resistance of diamond bars. The downside is that the process of sharpening knives with their help takes quite a long time.
How to sharpen a knife with a grinding stone?
- Preparation of the grinding bar - grease with oil or wet with water depending on the type.
- Determine the angle of the blade when sharpening. Most experts agree that it is 20⁰.
- Smoothly perform reciprocating motion with a sharp edge of the blade along the surface of the grinding tool.
Additional recommendations, if any, are usually indicated in the instructions for the knives. But in any case, it should be remembered that learning how to sharpen a kitchen tool is a matter of time and experience.