When it comes to maintaining the perfect edge on your kitchen knives, you might immediately think of traditional whetstones or electric sharpeners. But what if you don’t have access to those? Lost in the woods, maybe? In a pinch or just curious about alternative methods, here are 20 weird ways you can use to keep your knives sharp and ready for action.
-
Ceramic Mug Bottoms A simple ceramic mug flipped upside down can double as a sharpening surface. The unglazed ring on the bottom provides the perfect grit to hone your blade. Hold the knife at a 20-degree angle and draw the blade across the ceramic surface.
-
Leather Belts (Stropping) If you’re looking to polish and refine the edge, a leather belt can do wonders. Stropping with a belt can help remove burrs and align the edge after sharpening. Just pull the blade away from the edge using light pressure.
-
Car Window Edge Caught without your sharpening tools while on a road trip? Use the edge of a rolled-down car window. The slightly rough surface of the glass can act as a makeshift honing tool. Apply even pressure as you pass the blade over it.
-
Emery Boards Those little nail files in your grooming kit aren’t just for your nails. Use an emery board to sharpen a dull knife in a pinch. Start with the coarse side to re-establish the edge and finish with the finer side for smoothing.
-
Concrete Steps or Sidewalks If you’re outdoors and need to sharpen your knife, the edge of a concrete step or sidewalk can work as an abrasive surface. Just be gentle and keep an even angle to avoid damaging the blade.
-
The Spine of Another Knife This trick works best for honing rather than sharpening. Use the spine of a harder knife to straighten out the blade edge of a softer one. It’s a quick fix that’s perfect when you don’t have honing rods available.
-
Sandpaper A piece of fine-grit sandpaper (600-1000 grit) laid on a flat surface can mimic the effect of a sharpening stone. Use a consistent angle to run the blade over the sandpaper, following the same process as with a whetstone.
-
Glass Bottles The curved neck of a glass bottle can act as a honing tool. Hold the bottle firmly and pass the blade across the glass neck at an appropriate angle. This method can provide a quick hone when you're in a pinch.
-
Cardboard While cardboard isn’t abrasive enough for sharpening, it works as a makeshift strop to align and polish the blade. Draw the knife over the edge of a thick piece of cardboard to touch up your edge.
-
Sharpening Steel from DIY Stores If you’re on a budget, a rod used for sharpening tools in woodworking or construction can do the trick. Ensure it’s fine enough for knife sharpening, and you’ll have an affordable alternative to a traditional honing rod.
-
Diamond Nail Files Diamond-coated nail files provide a gritty surface that can act as a sharpening tool. The diamond particles can sharpen the blade more efficiently than standard emery boards.
-
Flat Rock Smooth, flat rocks found in nature can substitute for a whetstone. Make sure the rock is damp and flat enough to create a consistent angle for sharpening.
-
Knife Steel Insert in a Multitool Many multitools come with built-in knife sharpeners. These can be great for touch-ups when you're on the move or camping.
- Aluminum Foil Fold aluminum foil several times until you have a thick sheet, and then slide your knife blade against it at a 20-degree angle. This method helps hone the knife and can remove small burrs.
-
File Sharpeners from Toolboxes A small, fine file found in most toolboxes can sharpen the edge of a blade. Ensure it’s clean and free from rust before using it on your kitchen knives.
-
Smooth Edge of a Plate The unglazed bottom of a ceramic plate offers a similar surface to a ceramic mug. Glide the blade across this edge to hone it gently.
-
Keychain Sharpeners Small keychain sharpeners are portable and perfect for quick touch-ups. They might not provide the finesse of a whetstone, but they’re useful in a pinch.
-
Polishing Paste on a Strop Use a polishing compound with a leather strop for a razor-sharp finish. The paste helps to refine and polish the blade edge, making it sharper than honing alone.
There’s more than one way to sharpen a knife, as these unconventional tools prove. The key is to maintain a consistent angle and use even pressure to avoid damaging the blade. Next time you find yourself without a whetstone, try one of these creative solutions to keep your knives sharp and ready.
Do you have your own unconventional tool for knife sharpening? Or maybe you’ve tried one of these before? Share your experience and tips in the comments below! Let’s swap ideas and keep our blades at their best!