How to Sharpen Kitchen Knives with Sandpaper

Reviewed by Jennifer Levasseur

Last Updated: October 8, 2024

Sandpaper can really come in handy if you're looking for a way to sharpen a knife in a pinch. Keep reading to learn what kind of sandpaper to use, how to hold the knife against the paper, and more!

1

Get a sheet of sandpaper to use.

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These can be found at any home improvement store, or even Walmart in the Paint-Wallpaper section. Sometimes these are sold in "Variety Packs" with several grits, about $3. One sheet will last for months.

2

Lay the sandpaper grit side up.

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This will allow you to hold the handle firmly and sharpen the entire edge.

3

Slide the edge of the knife across the sandpaper.

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Pretend that you are slicing thin layers off the sandpaper. Always move the knife in that direction, "on to" the sandpaper, never backwards, in circles or straight along the edge. An angle of about 20° is best. Do not use a lot of pressure, just steady, even strokes—about like slicing a raw Irish potato.

4

Repeat on the other side of the blade.

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Alternate sides: Take maybe three strokes on a side, then change.

5

Make sure to sharpen the entire length of the blade if it's curved.

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This will help ensure that you sharpen the entire length.

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Question

I don't want to put the sandpaper on a table or surface. What other options are there?

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You could make a sanding block instead. This would have the benefit of being moveable to any suitable surface and reusable. To make it, choose a block of wood in a suitable size. Wrap the sandpaper around the block of wood and secure with tacks or other suitable fasteners. Once made, you can run the blades over the side, untacked side of the block to sharpen them.

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My Pops used to sharpen knives on a mug. Is that a good idea?

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It is certainly possible to use a mug for sharpening knives. Choose a mug you don't mind using for this purpose and make sure it's unglazed. Turn the mug upside down so the base faces upward. Run the blade across the blade at an angle to sharpen it. Always run the knife in the same direction and repeat several times for the best effect.

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How do I sharpen serrated knives?

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It is possible to sharpen serrated knives but it must be done with extreme care to avoid breaking or ruining the knife's serrations. For help with doing this, check out the wikiHow How to Sharpen Serrated Knives.

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Tips

Put a few drops of water on the sandpaper before you start. This keeps the edge cool and makes the blade slide more easily. Rinse the paper and blade when done.

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#180 and #240 grits work fast and give the best edge for kitchen knives that are used to cut vegetables and meat. Higher numbers (finer grit), and lower numbers (coarser grit) do not work nearly as well.

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This will work on any type of blade, straight, curved, serrated (steak knife), or scalloped (ham or bread knife), even electric knives.

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