Move the blade down in the slot until you feel it contact the diamond disk. Pull it towards you
lifting the handle slightly as you approach the tip. This will give you a feel for the spring tension.
Remove the knife and press the Power Switch. A red “indicator” on the switch appears when
this switch is turned “ON.”
Stage 1:
If you are sharpening a straight-edge knife for the first time, start in Stage 1. Pull the
knife once through the left slot of Stage 1 (Figure 3) by slipping the blade between the left plas-
tic angle guide and the polymeric spring while pulling the blade toward you and simultaneously
moving the blade downward in the slot until it engages the moving diamond coated disk. You
will hear it make contact with the disk. If the blade is curved, lift the handle slightly as you
sharpen near the tip of the knife, keeping the blade edge approximately parallel to the table.
Sharpen the entire blade length. For an eight (8) inch blade each pull should take about 6
seconds. Pull shorter blades through in 3-4 seconds.
Next, repeat with one full length pull in the
right
slot of Stage 1. (See Figure 4)
Note:
Each time you insert the blade, simultaneously pull the blade toward you. Never push the
blade away from you. Apply just enough downward pressure to make contact with the wheel –
added pressure does not speed up the sharpening process.
To insure uniform sharpening along the entire blade length, insert the blade near its bolster or
handle and pull it at a steady rate until it exits the slot. Always make an equal number of pulls
alternating one pull in the left slot and then one pull in the right slot in order to keep the edge
facets symmetrical. Generally in Stage 1 you will find that only two to five pairs of slow pulls is
adequate, but for a duller knife more pulls will be needed.
Before moving to Stage 2 you will find it is very important to confirm that a burr (see Figure 5
and 6) exists along one side of the edge. To check for the burr, move your forefinger carefully
across the edge as shown. (Do not move your finger along the edge – to avoid cutting your
finger). If the last pull was in the right slot, the burr will appear only on the right side of the blade
(as you hold it when sharpening) and vice versa. The burr, when present, feels like a rough and
bent extension of the edge; the opposite side of the edge feels very smooth by comparison.
If no burr exists, make one or two pairs of additional alternating pulls in the left and right slots
of Stage 1 before proceeding to Stage 2. Slower pulls will help you develop the burr. Confirm
Figure 5. Develop a distinct burr along knife edge
before honing in Stage 2.
6
Figure 4. Inserting blade in right slot of Stage 1.
Blade Edge
