A knife guide is unnecessary if you are comfortable and experienced with freehand sharpening. However, this guide is highly useful for solving the common mistakes that involve in the sharpening process.

Step 1: Select proper Coarseness

You should select proper coarseness for bench stones for sharpening your knife, which is the first step involved in this process. You should keep in mind that it is very difficult to sharpen a very dull knife with the finest stone. You should start with the proper coarseness, which is essential for achieving the desired edge quickly. You can start with the coarsest stone if the knife is very dull.

Step 2: Determine the Right Bevel Angle

The next step is the selection of right sharpening angle. You can try a different method of sharpening. However, you should select the right bevel angle for getting the most preferred result. It may not be exact, but following some general guidelines is always good. The recommended angle is 20 degree.

Step 3: Apply Oil or Water to Stone

Water is required for some stones, but some others require oil for floating the swarf away. You can simply apply a few drops of water or oil directly to the stone. You can select a lubricant on the basis of the type of stone you are using. Water is required for diamond stones and water stones. However, oil is used as a lubricant for Crystolon and Arkansas stones.

Step 4: Sharpen the Knife

You can start with the coarsest stone required for your knife. You can also progress through the finer stones until reaching the desired level of sharpness. The knife should be kept on the stone at chosen bevel angle. The motion can be like sweeping arc pattern across the knife.

You should always maintain an angle of the knife on a stone. Sharpening longer curved knives is really challenging. But, you can do it effectively if you are able to maintain the angle. This process can be repeated on the other side of the knife. You should repeat the process till you get desired sharpness.

It is always better to make your knife as sharp as possible. However, the sharpness is determined by the bevel angle. You should also select the right grit for getting the finest result. The grit can be selected on the basis of the use of a knife.

You can simply go with all the way to the finest stone. This process may provide you the best edge. If you are using your knife for cutting soft vegetables like tomatoes, you can select a slightly more coarse edge, which is helpful for getting a tooth pattern for easier cutting.

You should always select the right and high-quality sharpening stones for doing the process. It does not mean that sharpening stones from the famous brand can live up to the quality. Some distributors sell cheap stones with the name of a brand. So, you should always purchase high-quality sharpening stones of reputed companies.