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Understanding the principle of knife sharpening
Before learning how to sharpen a Laguiole knife, it is important to understand what happens during sharpening.
When the whetstone is wet, the friction of the blade on the stone releases a fine garnet dust from the natural stone called Coticule stone. This dust mixes with water and forms a slightly purplish paste.
It is this abrasive mixture composed of water and garnet particles that allows the metal of the blade to be worn very lightly in order to form a cutting edge.
Garnet powder is extremely hard, almost as hard as diamond, which explains its effectiveness in sharpening Laguiole knives and other sharp tools.
Which stone to use to sharpen a Laguiole knife?
A fine-grained whetstone is recommended for a precise and durable edge. Coticule stone, with a grain of about 1500, is particularly suitable.
It has two essential qualities:
great finesse
Effective abrasive power
This natural stone is simply used with water, both for domestic and professional use.
The different steels of knife blades
Laguiole knife blades can be made from different types of steel:
Carbon Steel
Steel that is relatively soft and easy to sharpen, but requires regular maintenance.
Stainless steel
Harder steel, which takes longer to sharpen, but offers good corrosion resistance.
Surgical 440 steel
High quality steel that sharpens very well with a fine and abrasive stone.
Sandvik 12C27 Steel
Steel known for its good cutting performance and giving excellent results when sharpening.
Blade grind shapes
To cut effectively, the blade of a knife has a cutting shape called grinding.
The two main forms are:
Flat grinding
It starts from the back of the blade and gradually descends towards the edge.
The V-Grind
This is the most common shape on Laguiole knives.
When sharpening, it is the end of the cutting edge that must be worked on the stone.
Prepare the blade before sharpening
Before using the whetstone, it is important to check that the edge of the blade is in good condition.
If the cutting shape is too damaged, it may be necessary to restore it using:
of a water grinder
or a fine-toothed flat file
For this delicate job, it is advisable to practice on an old knife before working on your Laguiole.
Sharpening Laguiole knives and small knives
When sharpening, it is essential to have a fixed point.
For small knives, the stone must remain still.
This allows the cutting angle to be maintained throughout the operation.
What angle should I use to sharpen a knife?
The recommended angle is about 25 degrees.
This angle allows:
Good cut quality
Longer cutting time
An angle that is too tight, for example 15 degrees, will make the edge more fragile.
To find this angle easily:
place the blade perpendicular to the stone (90°)
halve the angle
then again by two
This results in about 25 degrees, which is the ideal angle for sharpening.
Sharpening technique of a Laguiole knife
The stone must be well wet and kept fixed.
It is then necessary to:
Rub the blade on the stone
Perform regular back and forth movements
Maintain the same angle
Constant pressure
Start with the straight part of the blade, then finish with the tip in a slightly rounded motion.
Once one side is sharpened, repeat the operation on the other side of the cutting edge.
The sharpening time depends on:
of the condition of the blade
of the type of steel
Stainless or 440 steels usually require more time.
Sharpening large kitchen knives
For large knives, the technique is reversed.
The knife becomes the fixed point and the stone is moved on the blade.
The stone is held firmly on a work surface and then rubbed on the edge with a circular movement, always respecting the angle of about 25 degrees.
Sharpening scissors
The scissors have only one cutting edge per branch.
It is therefore necessary to sharpen only this part with a circular movement.
After sharpening, it is necessary to remove the slight burr formed on the flat side by passing the stone flat over the branch.
The 4 essential rules for good sharpening
To successfully sharpen a Laguiole knife, four principles must be respected:
Maintain a fixed point
Wet the stone well
Respect the 25° angle
Applying sufficient pressure
Leather finish for a perfect edge
After sharpening on the stone, it is recommended to run the blade over a strip of leather.
This passage makes it possible to:
Remove the slight burr
improve the fineness of the cutting edge
The blade should be rubbed on the leather in the direction of the grain.
Using the whetstone
Natural whetstone can be used in many areas.
Professional use
Woodworking
Woodworking Tools
Leather trades
Agriculture
Food trades
Leisure
hunting knives
fishing knives
gardening tools
pruning shears and axes
Regrinder’s advice
The fixed point is a very important element when sharpening.
When sharpening a small knife or folding knife, position your thumb or index finger in front of the blade axis. This position allows for stronger and more precise pressure on the blade during sharpening.
You can also increase this pressure by pressing with one finger of the opposite hand, which makes it easier for the blade to rub against the stone and improve sharpening efficiency.
After sharpening on the stone, it is advisable to pass the blade over a strip of leather. On some boxes, a strip of leather is glued to the inside of the lid to facilitate this operation.
Run both sides of the blade over the leather in the direction of the grain, applying light pressure. This step allows for a better finish, as the leather straightens the slight burr that may remain after passing over the stone.
Whetstone Care
After use, the whetstone should be cleaned simply with soap and water.
It is recommended that you maintain the blade of your knives regularly. Frequent use of the whetstone helps to maintain the cutting shape and maintain an effective cutting edge.
Uses of whetstone
Thanks to its abrasive properties, whetstone can be used in many areas.
Professional Uses
Woodworking Tools
Planer gouges and blades
wood chisels
Leather trades
farrier’s tools
Food trades
Agriculture
Printing
Recreational Uses
hunting knives and daggers
Fishing Knives and Hooks
gardening tools
pruning shears and axes
Small tools for model making