A utility knife has a vast range of uses at home and work.
It is a reliable cutting tool for cardboard, carpet, and cords. Basically, we can use a designed utility blade to cut objects with thick or tensile bodies like a cable wire or a piece of rope.
However, just like any other knives at home and work, your utility blade becomes dull after frequent use. In this way, you should know that it is important to sharpen utility blades to extend their lifespan and improve their cutting qualities.
More so, bear in mind that it is a job for any knife owner to know the methods and points to keep a utility knife sharp and shiny.
But before you dwell too much time on the need to sharpen blades, let us keep track of the recent sharpening methods, tools, and products that would make your blade’s edge top-notch.
Deep-dive into the following points and take your cut of learning.
Contents
How to Sharpen a Utility Knife at Home
You may be wondering if you can sharpen utility knife blades at home. The answer, of course, is yes. Knowing knife sharpening basics is an essential skill.
To get a better look at the correct way of sharpening a utility knife, here is a kill-shot list of sharpening methods you can choose from:
The Process
While your goal is to make your blunt utility knife sharp, it is vital to consider the following items as they are necessary for this method:
• sharpening stone
• sharpening steel
• a cup of oil
• a cup of water
• a piece of clean cloth
• a chopping board
The 14 Simple Steps
1. Clean the whole body of the blade with a piece of cloth.
2. Make sure that there are pieces of dirt or food particles in the edge, swedge, and handle.
3. Place the sharpening stone on the chopping board.
4. Sharpen your blade by holding it at a 20-degree angle.
5. Start with the coarse part and move to the good side when the edge has started to sharpen.
6. Continue honing in long and smooth ways.
7. Change your direction at times until each part of the edge looks perfect for cuts.
8. After your blade becomes sharp, pour some water on the stone to add friction.
9. Pour some oil into the surface of the stone.
10. And sharpen your blade two to three more times.
11. Now, it is time to use the sharpening steel to optimize the honing process.
12. Hold the steel vertically, opposite your body with the handle on top and the steel facing downwards.
13. Sharpen the knife from heel to point. Repeat this step until your blade looks sharp.
14. Wash your sharpened edge with water and try it on a piece of cardboard to see the results.
Those are the steps on how to sharpen utility knife at home. For optimum results, you may use a utility blade sharpener. It is widely found in the market along with other knife products and comes in different brands.
Before buying one, make sure that you know your utility blade dimensions to choose the sharpener that fits your knives.
Alternative Sharpening Tools
Sometimes, you are rushing to sharpen your blades at home because you will use them in an instant.
However, you cannot find a utility knife sharpener. In this situation, you can do a quick search for the following stock products at home as alternative tools to make your knives sharp:
• leather belt
• coffee mug
• a spine of another knife
• nail file
• used sandpaper
While these tools may not be completely compatible with a particular utility knife size, they still have the qualities necessary for any sharpening product to hone different kinds of house knives.
Box Cutter Vs. Utility Knife Vs. Razor Blades
Speaking of the different types of knives, are you one of the knife users who are unsure of the name of the kind of blade you are using? Take into account that you are not the only one.
So, let us take a clean look at the following blades that are often interchanged and see their standard differences and similarities:
Box Cutter
A box cutter is a fine, affordable razor-type knife designed to open cardboard boxes and slice packing tape.
Utility Knife
The utility knife looks like a box cutter with a thicker blade and sturdy body. It is used for professional works such as cutting wires and ropes. Still, it cuts what box cutters can slice and dice.
Razor Blades
Also known as razor knives, these blades are tools for peeling dried paint off a window or plastic laminates.
Sharpeners for the Cutters and Blades
Just like any knife, these multi-purpose knives are handy and helpful tools for different uses. To keep their best cutting performance, use a sharpening product such as sharpening stone or steel. In addition, a knife sharpener that you can search on the web is an ideal sharpening product for these knives.
Perfect Place to Cut and Hone Your Utility Blade
If you are trying to start collecting exquisite blades and unique knives, you also need to have a high-quality sharpening tool for this purpose.
With the booming dropshipping businesses around the globe, shopping for your hardcore yet easy-to-use utility knife from the United States becomes possible even if you are residing in Canada or the United Kingdom.
What are the top sharpening products you are planning to ship? Why do you want it? Add it to your cart now in the online shop and go straight with your knife collection journey today.
The Final Cut
A utility knife is a busy man’s most helpful tool at home, scraping paint drips or at the office cutting cardboard. Either way, a utility blade is proven to be useful. In this sense, you should know how to maintain your knife’s quality by having a special sharpening item for it.
If you have questions about knives and high-quality sharpeners, go to our homepage and know more of the standards steps in cleaning your blade.