Thanks to these useful tips, you’ll learn how to sharpen a pocket knife without a sharpener in several minutes. We’ll show you cheap and easy solutions that don’t require spending money on sharpeners and that can be performed anywhere.
Keeping your knives sharp is pivotal because dull blades put you at a higher risk of injuries and also diminish the process of cutting, slicing, and dicing.
Therefore, if you need to restore your knives’ glory, but you don’t have a sharpener in your drawer, don’t fret. There are several ways you can do it without this tool. This article will explore those alternative blade sharpening “tools” and how to do each one efficiently.
Why Is It Important to Keep Your Knives Sharp?
Did you know that if you use a knife regularly, you also need to keep it sharp at all times? When the blade is dull or blunt, it increases the risk of injuries due to the need for more pressure and the higher likelihood of slippage.
It also slows down your work and delays the food prep, which is never desirable, right?
Sharp knives have plenty of benefits, no matter their type (serrated, straight, etc.). Thanks to a sharp blade, the food will be less damaged and prettier for serving. With a sharp blade, you can easily cut delicate ingredients like herbs and help them stay fresher for longer.
On the other hand, a dull blade will crush their cells and cause faster discoloration and wilting! Moreover, a sharp knife helps you finish the job fast and enjoy the prep process.
But, what if you don’t have a sharpener around or you don’t feel that you’re good at using it?-No worries, below, check out some awesome ways to do it without the need for this tool!
5 Great Ways to Sharpen Your Pocket Knives
1. Use a Porcelain Plate or Mug
Did you know that according to the American Chemical Society, you can use something as simple as a porcelain mug or a plate to sharpen your blades, as long as it has a rough edge on its bottom?
To do it, you just flip over the plate or cup and run the blade’s edge along the rough edge at a 20-degree angle. Repeat the same on the other side and then rinse the blade under water to remove any tiny metal particles.
Voila-your blade is now as sharp as a razor!
2. Use a Flat Rock
Rather than a sharpening stone, you can use a flat rock when you need to sharpen your blades.
It’s a practical method as you don’t need to carry anything extra when you go on your fishing or camping trip. The trick is to find a nice and as smooth rock as possible.
You can also lubricate it with water, which is also commonly done with sharpening stones, for better results.
Once you’ve cleaned it and watered it, place the blade at a 10-degree angle to the surface of the rock, facing it away from you. In several strokes, move the blade away from you and do it to cover the length’s full blade. Repeat the same on the other side of the blade, until sharp enough.
3. Use a Slate
Using a slate to sharpen your knives can come in handy if you’ve used a sharpening stone. Opt for a flooring slate and use the same movements as you would use with a sharpening stone.
A slate is rough enough to provide effective sharpening, without excessive roughness. If possible, find a slate that’s flat without any special ornaments. It should be clean and slightly rough.
To do it, lubricate the slate with water and place the knife at a 10-degree angle to the slate, with the blade away from you. Smoothly make several strokes with the blade, maintaining the same angle.
Repeat the same on the other side of the blade and do it until you feel the blade is sharp enough.
4. Use a Brick
If you want to know how to sharpen a pocket knife without a sharpener, you just need a single brick! If you have one around, you can use it as you would use a regular sharpening stone. You make the same movements that you would do with that sharpening tool.
But, you should look for a brick that’s not too rough as this could damage the blade! Choose ones with fine grit. To begin, lubricate it with water and place the blade at a 10-degree angle to the block.
Apply smooth drags of the edge of the knife away from you, maintaining the sharpening angle throughout. Make sure you’ve covered the blade’s entire length. Repeat the same process with the other side of the blade.
5. Use Your Leather Belt
Your belt or some other leather strap can come in handy when you need to sharpen a blade. The rougher the belt, the better. It’s best if it’s older because you wouldn’t want to damage your brand-new belt, right?!
To begin, place the belt on a table or a big rock. Then, put the knife at a 10-degree angle to the leather belt and drag it away from you, maintaining the same angle.
Once you’ve covered the entire side, turn over the blade and repeat the same movements on the other side.
Final Thoughts
When you’re spending time in the great outdoors, fishing or camping, you probably have your most faithful companion with you- your pocket knife!
But, what if it suddenly goes dull and you can’t use it?- You can stay calm as we’ve shown you some awesome ways how to sharpen a pocket knife without a sharpener, quickly and efficiently, and go back to business as usual!
