I've been sharpening my knives wrong for a decade and a customer's kid pointed it out

I was doing a demo at a local school fair and a twelve-year-old asked why I was holding the steel at a 90-degree angle. I was so used to my old chef's way, I never questioned it. Anyone else have a basic skill they learned wrong from the start?

3 comments

3 Comments

thomas_roberts1h ago

Spent years doing push-ups with my elbows flared out like chicken wings. A gym buddy finally asked if I was trying to wreck my shoulders. Felt like a total idiot once I fixed my form.

harper_gibson210d ago

Totally feel that. Watched a youtube tutorial on sharpening and realized I'd been using way too much pressure for years. Light, steady strokes changed everything for my kitchen knives. Felt like a total noob but hey, now they actually cut stuff.

the_logan10d ago

Light pressure never worked for me, harper_gibson2. I get way better results with a firm, controlled push. My knives just bite into the stone otherwise.