How to Sharpen a Knife Without a Stone

Although a stone is one of the best tools for sharpening a knife, if you do not have one at hand, there many things that you can use to sharpen your knife – ranging from a coffee mug to a nail file. Below is a look at 5 ways you can sharpen your knife without a stone.

How to Sharpen a Knife Using the Bottom of a Coffee Mug

While a coffee mug is smooth on the upper edge and the sides, the bottom is a bit rough and provides either a fine or medium grit for sharpening your knife, depending on how rough it is. Below are the steps for sharpening your knife with the bottom of a coffee mug. This process can also work with a ceramic bowl or plate.

1. Pick an old mug – preferably as coarse as possible at the bottom.
2. Turn the mug upside down and place it on a hard surface such as a table or countertop. If the surface is too slippery, lay a piece of cloth under the mug for better grip.
3. Hold your knife at a 10^–degree angle to the bottom edge of the mug.
4. Make full-length strokes with the knife against the bottom edge of the mug.
5. Repeat for at least five strokes while maintaining the angle.
6. Turn the knife over and make the same number of strokes at a 10^–degree angle on the other side of the knife blade.
7. Repeat this process until the knife is adequately sharpened.

How to Sharpen a Knife Using Another Knife

Although most knife-making experts recommend against using a knife to sharpen another knife, this technique is quite effective if done correctly. Instead of stroking the sharp edges of each knife blade against each other, stroke the dull blade against the back of the other knife. Otherwise, you will damage both blades.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Hold the knife that needs to be sharpened in your left hand (or non-dominant hand).
2. Hold the knife you will use as a honing steel in your right hand (or dominant hand).
3. Hold both knives with the sharp edges facing to the right.
4. Hold the knife in the right hand at a 10^–degree angle against the knife’s blade in the left hand.
5. Stroke the knife in the left hand against the one in the right hand in a direction away from you.
6. Keep the 10^–degree sharpening angle and repeat the movement at least five times.
7. Then, flip the knife over and begin to sharpen the other side of the cutting edge until your knife is adequately sharpened all the way around.

How to Sharpen Your Knife Using a Flat Rock

You don’t have to look far for something to use to effectively sharpen your knife. You can use a flat rock you might already have laying outside your front door. This method works well even if you need to sharpen a pocket knife during a backpacking trip. The secret is finding a relatively smooth flack rock. You then use that flat rock the same way you would use a sharpening stone.

Below are the steps to follow:

1. Pick a smooth, flat stone and lubricate the stone with some water. If it has dirt, dust it off and clean it with water before sharpening your knife.
2. Hold the knife with your dominant hand at a 10^–degree angle against the flat rock you have chosen.
3. Stroke the full length of the knife against the rock.
4. Keep the 10-degree sharpening angle and repeat the movement for at least five strokes.
5. Then, flip the knife over and sharpen the other side of the cutting edge until your knife is adequately sharpened.

How to Sharpen Your Knife Using a Nail File

This might be a surprising tool on this list, but it works quite well, especially for smaller knives. Nail files have a texture similar to the texture found on most sharpening stones. Additionally, a small and lightweight nail file makes it easy to carry with you on any trip as a sharpener substitute.

Below are the steps for using a nail file to sharpen your knife:

1. Place the nail file flat on a hard surface with the rough side facing up.
2. Hold your knife with your dominant hand at a 10^–degree angle against the flat surface you have chosen to use.
3. Stroke the full length of the knife with the nail file while holding your knife down with your left hand, so it doesn’t slip.
4. Keep the 10-degree sharpening angle you have while sharpening your knife with a nail file. Repeat the movements at least five times.
5. Then, flip the knife and sharpen the other side of the cutting edge until your knife is adequately sharpened.

How to Sharpen Your Knife Using Sandpaper

Sandpaper is another unexpected tool you can use to sharpen your knife if you don’t have a sharpening stone or other knife sharpener available. However, if you intend to use the sandpaper method frequently, consider mounting the sandpaper onto a flat block for more convenience.

Here are the simple steps for sharpening your knife using sandpaper:

1. Mount the sandpaper on a flat block or fold it into a rectangular shape.
2. Place the folded sandpaper or the sandpaper block on a sturdy, flat surface.
3. Hold the knife with your dominant hand at a 10^–degree angle against the flat surface.
4. Stroke the full length of the knife while holding the knife down with your left hand.
5. Keep the 10^–degree angle and repeat the movement five times.
6. Then flip the knife and sharpen the other side of the cutting edge until your knife is adequately sharpened.

Conclusion

There you have it – 5 easily accessible and effective knife sharpening methods to use, whether at home or outdoors. Identify the method above that is easily accessible to you and try it out the next time you need a sharp knife and don’t have a sharpening stone or honing steel. With that said, you should still invest in a sharpening stone for long-term use to preserve your knife and boost edge retention.