USE HONING STAGE 1
a. Pull the blade alternately through the left and right slots (see Figure 3) of Stage 1,
making about 3 pair of alternating pulls, taking about 3-5 seconds for each pull. Check
the edge carefully to confirm the presence of a burr (see Figure 4), which will be quite
small since the Stage 1 abrasive is quite fine. To check for the burr, move your forefinger
carefully across the edge as shown in Figure 4. (Do not move your finger along the
edge—to avoid cutting your finger). If the last pull was in the right slot, the burr would
appear only on the right side of the blade (as you normally hold it) and vice versa. The
burr, when present, feels like a rough and bent extension of the edge; the opposite
side of the edge feels very smooth by comparison. When a burr exists along the entire
edge, proceed to strop and polish again in Stage 2.
b. If there is no burr continue honing in Stage 1, alternating left and right slots until a light
burr develops. When a burr is present along the entire blade length proceed as below
to polish again in Stage 2.
RETURN TO STROPPING/POLISHING STAGE 2
a. Make 3 pairs of pulls, alternating pulls in the left and right slots, taking 3 to 4 seconds
per pull for a 5" blade. Make 3 pairs of faster pulls, alternating left and right slots, taking
1 second per pull. Test the blade for sharpness.
b. If the edge is not shaving sharp, make a few more pairs of fast pulls in Stage 2 until the
edge is shaving sharp.
RE-SHARPENING THE CONTEMPORARY EURO/AMERICAN
AND ASIAN STYLE BLADE
Re-sharpen by following the procedure above starting with Polishing in Stage 2 as
described. Depending on its use, you should be able to resharpen to a razor edge 5 or
more times using only Stage 2 before finding it necessary to again hone in Stage 1. Hone in
Stage 1 only when you find it is taking too long in Stage 2 to bring the edge to razor sharp-
ness. In that event, follow the sharpening sequence, using Stage 1 and 2, described above.
Figure 2. Santoku knife in left slot Stage 2 (double
facet Santoku blade).
Burr
English — 6
Figure 3. Santoku knife in right slot of Stage 1.
Figure 4. When you create a distinct burr along
the blade edge, it can be detected by sliding finger
across and away from the edge. Caution! See text.