📝 Article 6: Safety and Precision – The 7 Sharpening Mistakes to Absolutely Avoid

The 7 Fatal Mistakes in Knife Sharpening: Safety, Angle, and Pressure to Master

🛑 Introduction: The Price of Mistakes

Sharpening knives is a rewarding activity, but it carries real risks. Poor technique can result in an irreparably damaged knife, or, worse, an injury.

Mistakes are often subtle and revolve around three key areas: angle, pressure, and the safety of the movements . By identifying these mistakes and understanding how modern tools correct them, you can ensure a perfect edge without compromising your integrity or that of your knife.

Here are the seven most common mistakes made by beginners (and sometimes even experienced users) when sharpening.

1. Errors Related to Technique and Precision

These errors are directly related to the inability to maintain the principles established in previous articles (Angle, Grains).

Mistake #1: The Wrong Angle (or the Floating Angle)

This is by far the most widespread technical error when using manual methods (stone, gun).

• The Problem: As discussed in Article 2, varying the angle (even by a few degrees) throughout the pass or blade movement results in a rounded cutting edge. Instead of grinding a fine edge, you create a rounded surface that cannot penetrate the food.

• The Solution: Practice extensively with an angle guide or, for immediate performance, use a guided sharpening system (roller, platform) which mechanically locks the angle at 15° or 20° and eliminates freehand error.

Error #2: Forgetting the Grain Progression

Sharpen a very dull blade only with a fine grit (e.g. 3000) or, conversely, stop at the coarse grit (e.g. 400).

• The Problem: Fine grit does not remove enough material to repair a large damage, and coarse grit leaves deep micro-scratches that make the thread brittle and not very durable (Article 3).

• The Solution: Always start with a grit appropriate to the condition of the blade (400 if very dull) and finish with a minimum grit of 1000 for polishing.

Mistake #3: Neglecting Morfil (Drool)

The burr is the small metal "lip" that forms on the opposite side of the blade you are sharpening. It's a sign that you have sharpened to the edge.

• The Problem: If you don't remove the burr properly (alternating sides and finishing with a very fine grit), this small lip will break immediately after cutting, leaving an uneven edge.

• The Solution: Once the burr is felt along the entire length, alternate passes on the finishing grain with increasingly lighter pressure, or even use a strop to detach this residual metal.

2. Errors Related to Tool Use

These errors affect the lifespan of your knife and can make the process frustrating.

Mistake #4: Too Much Pressure

The common misconception is that you have to press hard to quickly remove the metal.

• The Problem: Excessive pressure on the knife:

  • Increases the Morfil: Creates a morfil that is too thick and difficult to remove.

  • Uneven Wear: Quickly erodes the stones (cuvettement), increasing the risk of floating corners.

  • Thermal Damage: Can generate heat, degrading the heat treatment of hardened steels (Article 5).

• The Solution: Force is only required with the coarsest grit (400) to establish the angle. For polishing (1000+), pressure should be minimal, as the weight of the blade is often sufficient.

Mistake #5: Forgetting to Flatten the Stone

Water or oil stones wear down under the effect of pressure and friction, creating hollows in the middle (cuvettetage).

• The Problem: If the stone isn't flat, it's impossible to guarantee a flat and consistent angle. The edges of the bevel will be more heavily worked than the center.

• The Solution: Use a flattening stone (or lapping plate ) to ensure your stone's surface remains perfectly flat. This step is avoided by rolling systems that use discs of constant diameter.

3. Security-Related Errors

This is the most important aspect, especially for novices.

Mistake #6: The Wrong Cutting Direction

Pulling the blade towards the edge (cutting the stone) instead of pushing the edge onto the stone is a source of confusion.

• The Problem: Although both techniques exist (pushing the edge to create the burr, pulling to remove it), a poorly controlled movement when pulling on a stone can lead to slippage and a deep cut.

• The Solution: For beginners, favor the pushing motion (from the edge towards the back of the blade) or, better still, use rolling systems that guide the movement away from the hand and reduce the need for complex movements.

Mistake #7: Neglecting Stability and Support

Attempting to sharpen a blade on a slippery or unsafe stone (without a non-slip mat, without a stable support).

• The Problem: The knife or tool slips, resulting in a loss of angle control and a high risk of cuts.

• The Solution: Ensure the sharpening tool is perfectly stable. Modern guided systems often incorporate magnetic bases or heavy, non-slip feet, guaranteeing the stability of the blade and tool during operation.

4. 🔑 Why Some Tools Are Safer for Beginners

The aim of this series is to promote systems that eliminate human error. Rolling diamond sharpeners (or other guided systems) directly correct the three main sources of problems:

1. The Angle (Error #1): It is fixed and non-negotiable.

2. Pressure (Error #4): The system design encourages light and even pressure.

3. Safety (Errors #6 and #7): The hand is kept away from the wire during movement, and the base is stable.

Key takeaway: The simplest path is often the safest.

For the user seeking a perfect edge without risk of technical error or injury, investing in a guided sharpening system guarantees safety and consistent performance .

5. 🗃️ Summary of Key Mistakes to Avoid

✨ Conclusion and Next Step

You now have all the technical and safety information you need. You know what to do (constant angle, grain progression) and what to avoid (pressure, floating angle, danger).

The final question is: with all these options and constraints, which tool suits you best? Is it the stone for the purist, or the guided system for the busy, performance-conscious cooking enthusiast?

➡️ Go to Article 7: The Ultimate Guide: Choosing the Ideal Sharpening Tool for Your Profile.

➡️See our selection of knives

➡️See our selection of sharpening tools