I prefer sharpening stones

[Buddy Thomason]

I tried just about every tool and method. In the end, after Tai Goo taught me hands on how to do it right, I found that I like the sort of old school approach. Here's what I use:



I use either honing oil or WD40 equivalent on the stones. I mainly use Arkansas soft and hard. I've got an Arkansas black stone for a super fine edge but rarely need it.

That little strip of plywood has a layer of cork under a piece of slightly thick and textured watercolor paper upon which I apply stropping paste or powder of a couple of different grades in different places. It's a great DIY honing device.

I have no problem controlling the angles free hand, but it takes great patience to gently and slowly raise the burr on one side all the way from tip to guard, then again on the other side etc. There are no short cuts with this method.

Tai takes it a step further with his assortment of special stones from which he chooses depending on the type of edge needed:





Here's Tai's honing stick in action:



Tai was demonstrating with a small kitchen slicer and tested the edge against a hair by applying slight pressure only - no 'sawing' or drawing the edge across the hair as that would be cheating.



Yessssss!



Naturally I have some diamond sharpeners for harder steels and heavier work.

And I use a sharpening steel occasionally, though they cut aggressively and require care in use. The sharpening steel works quickly in the kitchen to touch up an edge that is otherwise in good shape.