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Drewing101
21
Dec 8, 2017
The description and item list should correct this "sharpening rod". The rod is used to hone the blade, not sharpen it. (you should use this often and in the proper manner, you should only use the proper tools to sharpen your knives). https://www.thekitchn.com/did-you-know-this-steel-doesnt-actually-sharpen-knives-211855
Cloaca
1906
Dec 12, 2017
Drewing101There have been several drops in the past for sharpening stones. My advice though is to find a beater knife and spend a lot of time practicing, using a loupe or other magnification to check on and understand what's going on, before trying to sharpen your good knives.
Jaggi
737
Mar 20, 2018
Drewing101I'd love to know where this concept got started (that honing is the process of re-aligning the edge with a steel or rod). I can't help but wonder if it isn't simply a misunderstanding that has taken on a life of it's own thanks to that repository of all ignorance, the internet.
Traditional definitions for 'hone' and 'honing' typically refer to whetstones and the process of sharpening with said stones. The word hone itself even derives from an Old English word for stone.
Personally I think it's more accurate to call it a 'sharpening rod' than a 'honing rod', especially for non abrasive steels like the one included in this set.
Nec89
32
Mar 27, 2018
JaggiIt's not a sharpening rod because it doesn't sharpen. The purpose of a honing rod is to realign the edge. Simplest way to think of it is that sharpening removes metal to create a new edge where as honing does not and simply just realigns the edge that is already present. Also your correct about the origin of the word hone but even when honing a knife with a whetstone you aren't pushing the blade into the stone as you would with sharpening. Generally you draw the knife toward you with the blade facing away to accomplish the same end as a honing steel which again is to correct a rolled edge and realign the edge already on the knife. Stropping essentially serves the same purpose but can also give you the benefit of polishing.
Jaggi
737
Mar 28, 2018
Nec89I know that that's what you and some other sharpening enthusiasts think honing is (realigning the edge).
My point was that this is far from being a universally accepted view. 'Honing' has traditionally been a term that refers to the process of using abrasive stones (hones) to form a sharp edge or smooth surface, not the practice of using a steel or rod to realign an existing edge.
The distinction you're trying to make between 'sharpening' and 'honing' disregards this accepted definition, and instead substitutes a newly created and revisionist concept of what honing is.
Anyway, given that 'sharpening' has a relatively broad definition (making something sharp) while 'honing' is more specific (forming an edge with the use of an abrasive stone or hone) I still think 'sharpening rod' is preferable to 'honing rod' if we're trying to minimize technical inaccuracy!
ScottTheSlayer
2
Mar 7, 2019
JaggiThis is a drop for a set of knives don’t you think we shouod be using the accepted nomenclature used basically universally by knife enthusiasts and professional chefs instead of arguing about what english people called rocks in the dark ages? Words change over time google honing a chefs knife and tell me if you see a single whet stone