When you’re a beginner, you probably wouldn’t need it…
…but as you gain experience and become more comfortable with the process,…
…you’ll want to explore how you can magnify the results even further.
One such element is a honing compound.
We will discuss what exactly it is, why and how to use it…
…as well as what types you can find out there.
Anyway, what is honing actually?
“Honing is an abrasive machining process that produces a precision surface on a metal workpiece by scrubbing an abrasive grinding stone or grinding wheel against it along a controlled path. Honing is primarily used to improve the geometric form of a surface, but can also improve the surface finish.”
The definition of a honing according to Wikipedia
Before we jump into the main part, let us hear Katarina’s story…
Hello, my name is Katarina.
I am about to hon my knives, but I’m not sure what honing compound to use
Despite my repeated inquiries to my father,
I haven’t gotten a satisfactory answer.
My final step was to search for it online,
and I read several articles and forums’ threads
about honing compound and when to hone a knife.
The article and forums explained things very clearly
so that I understood what was being said.
Thanks to them, I can sharpen my knives properly!
Let’s jump right in!
A Guide to Honing
The purpose of honing is to maintain the sharpness…
…and the quality of a blade that is already sharp.
Knives that are purchased from a manufacturer…
…have been professionally sharpened.
Sharpness wears out over time and the knife’s edge…
…becomes less straight and more worn from scratches…
…and knicks, as well.
Honing is an easy and straightforward process…
…that can be done at home without a lot of extra or expensive…
…equipment.
Moreover…
Honing is more about adjusting the straightness of an edge…
…than re-sharpening a knife.
Every time you use a knife, we recommend honing it.
In terms of how knives can be honed, there are two methods…
…either honed with a honing steel or pulled through.
The material used in honing steels is long and narrow, like a rod.
Here’s the real deal…
Why a Honing Is Used?
It is important to point out that honing a compound isn’t a necessity…
…for sharpening.
Even without one, you could still have a razor-sharp blade.
As a finishing process, honing the compound involves bringing shine to…
…a blade that has already been sharpened (once the blade has been…
…sharpened).
A sharper blade can be achieved with a honing compound;
however, a dull blade cannot be revived with this type of compound…
…because it doesn’t remove enough metal to clean the blade.
Keep reading…
What Is the Proper Way to Use Honing Compound?
Honing compound must be applied to a surface before it…
…can be used.
Compounds can be used on a wide variety of surfaces…
…leather strops being one of the most common.
In order to pass the edge over the compound, it must be…
…applied to the surface.
In the sharpening process, honing compound is used as the…
…final abrasive.
The abrasive particles are extremely small and will polish an…
…existing edge to a mirror finish but are not aggressive enough…
…to restore sharpness to a dull edge.
In order for the compound to be effective the edge being sharpened…
…must have been passed through the finest sharpening stones.
This is important…
What Options Do I Have for Honing Compounds?
We offer a variety of honing compounds including wax bars, powder, paste, and spray.
Wax Bars
Wax bars are a go-to format for many sharpeners…
…due to their economics and practicality.
Any surface can be rubbed with it, and you’re good to go.
Green Honing Compound, is the most popular product.
It is a chromium oxide and aluminum oxide compound in a wax bar…
…that is fast and effective for polishing to a mirror finish.
The 6 oz bar lasts a long time, providing years of service.
Having owned my own for many years myself…
…I can attest that it still has plenty of life left.
Here’s the suggestion for wax bars! What I needed was this polishing compound and it worked perfectly. It arrived on time and was well-packaged, which was a plus. Check it out:
- Strict quality control: We strive to provide each customer with the best polishing compound. We use the most advanced production technology and strict quality control.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Abrasive Powders
An abrasive powder is loose grit that can be sprinkled on a strop…
…or a similar surface to polish an edge.
Grit may have to be reapplied frequently…
…because there is no binder to keep it on the surface.
We carry aluminum oxide abrasive powder in 0.5-micron size.
Definitely worth checking out. This is a very simple tool to use. If this product had a lid, it would be the best of the best.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Pastes
Compounds for honing are spreadable, softer pastes.
A variety of diamond abrasives are available in the pastes…
…such as DMT’s Dia-Paste and Norton’s Diamond Paste.
They are available in grits of 6, 3 and 1 micron…
…which correspond to water stones of 2500, 5000 and 16000.
You might want to consider combining them…
…with DiaSpray if you want to build a convenient polishing kit.
Although there are many excellent thermal compounds on the market, MX-4 is by far the most affordable.
- WELL PROVEN QUALITY: The design of our thermal paste packagings has changed several times, the formula of the composition has remained unchanged, so our MX pastes have stood for high quality
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Sprays
When it comes to getting a razor-sharp edge…
…sprays are convenient and easy to use.
Spray is one of the products featured…
…a high-quality spray graded to a uniform 0.5 micron.
It is equivalent to a 30000 grit stone…
…and is a perfect complement to our diamond paste selection…
…with only a small amount needed to achieve a mirror finish.
A few squirts on a strop will usually do the trick.
If you are looking for this type, I will suggest to you the best emulsions on the market!
- Premium Quality Emulsions
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Go on…
Knowing When to Hone a Knife
You can test knives to see how dull they are in a few different ways.
The most common method is to take a sheet of regular printer paper…
…and slice it down the middle with a knife while holding the paper up.
Keep an eye out for these signs when cutting paper:
It is likely that the knife’s edge is still sharp…
…and doesn’t need too much maintenance if it easily cuts through…
…the paper.
It should be sharpened immediately if the knife constantly catches…
…on the paper fibers and cannot slice through.
The knife may need to be resharpened if it cannot cut fluidly through…
…the paper after honing and/or stropping.
The blade will likely slip off the skin in case the knife is dull…
…making it difficult to cut through this skin.
Wait, I’d recommend it to anyone who has never used a strop before! The stones are of excellent quality. My first time using this set resulted in razor-sharp edges with a mirror shine, even though I’m far from an experienced knife sharpener.
- ✅PREMIUM KNIFE SHARPENING STONE SET - All the sharpening tools you need are here: High quality grit 400/1000 3000/8000 stone, bamboo base, angle guide, flattening stone, polishing compound, leather honing strop and leather razor strop.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
That’s it!
Sum Up!
The purpose of using honing compound is to remove any scratches…
…and other imperfections from your blade’s edge.
This can be done by hand with a steel wool pad…
…or you may use an electric hone machine…
…that uses a rotating wheel…
…covered in these products.
The process involves rubbing the surface of the knife against the wheel…
…until it has been polished smooth.
It takes time and patience as well as practice to get good at honing.
Conclusion
A variety of honing compounds are available today…
…each with its own benefits based on your individual needs.
Honing compounds work well when you know what type to use.
Let us know what you thought of this article in the comments section below!
Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
