Can you use a Dremel to sharpen a knife? Ask this question, and nearly 90% of the responses will be regrets! The project always ends in disappointments when undertaken without thoroughly researching how to sharpen knife with Dremel.
In essence, the device comes with a lot of risks when used to sharpen a knife. For instance, it tends to remove metals from the knife too quickly, and it would be tough to maintain the exact edge throughout the entire length of your knife. In addition, the steelhead moves very fast and usually produces a lot of heat due to the friction with the knife metal. Not to mention the risk of damaging the Dremel tool itself plus other safety issues.
However, if it works, it is the best way to make your old and neglected knives look new. Thankfully, we are here to make it work for you without any risks involved.
Let’s jump right in…
What You Will Need;
- A Dremel
- A vice to secure the knife in place
- Aluminum oxide grinding stone
- Felt polishing wheel/ Cloth/ nylon bristle brush
- Polishing compound
- Mandrel
- Eye safety Goggle
- A new or old knife
Important: As mentioned before, Dremel is unforgiving, so it doesn’t require a lot of trial and errors during the actual sharpening. For that reason, I would recommend you read through our steps as you test with a knife that you don’t need. If you feel you have gotten it right, reread through the process and proceed the same way with the knife you intend to sharpen.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Preparation
- As long as you have the materials and tools listed above, a lot of preparations are not involved. Here are some few things you need to place in place before you start sharpening.1. Secure the Aluminium Oxide Grinding StoneTo use the aluminum oxide stone for sharpening, you have to attach it to the Dremel tool. The stone has a hole at the center in which you screw the device to attach it.
- Put The Knife in The Vice.Your next step is putting the knife in the vice. Dremel moves at high speed, and it would be great if you firmly attach the knife to the vice. You do not want the knife to slip while sharpening. Adjust the vice until you feel the knife is secured firmly in place.
- Put on Your Eyes Protection GoggleDremel peels off the surface of the knife, and you do not want the particles to get into your eyes. That is the purpose of the Goggle. Make sure you fit it correctly on your face, and it perfectly covers your eyes.
Step 2: Sharpen at The Right Angle
The outcome of this project largely depends on the sharpening angle. You need to be very accurate and consistent in the angle that you settle on. If you keep on shifting the angles, you may damage the edge of your knife beyond repair.
It is not very easy to get the correct angle though. Normally most people experiment with different angles till they get the right one. Thankfully, that is not going to be you. In this site, we have unveiled the blade angle that will give you the best result.
You can either do with the blade at 25 degrees or 10 degrees. 25 degrees allows you to sharpen one side at a time, while 10 degrees will mean that you sharpen both sides at the same time. I prefer dealing with one side of the blade at a time because this process needs to be handled slowly and with a lot of care.
Whichever method you choose, strive to make it uniform all through. Once you are done with one side, turn your knife over and grind the opposite side. Repeat step 1 and 2.Inspect your knife and see if it is correctly done. If not, work on the areas that you are not pleased with.
For a better result, take the following precautions:
- The sharpening should begin at the base of the blade closest to the handle.
- Dremel usually runs at high speed, so when using it for sharpening, ensure you run it as slow as possible.
- Never dwell on one spot for a long time because it will start grinding off your knife serrated features, thereby giving it a different shape.
- Let the blade cool off before you go over it again with the Dremel.
Congratulations, you have done it!You have just turned your old knife into a very useful kitchen knife once again. But there is one thing remaining. You can make it look like a brand new one right from the market by polishing it as described in the next step.
Step 3: Buffing the Knife
I don’t want to treat this as an optional step because you must clean your knife after sharpening. Polishing your knife after sharpening removes all the traces of the sharpening compound, rusts, and any unnecessary film on your knife.
The felt wheel is used together with the polishing compound. Simply screw the mandrel into the felt wheel. The felt has a tiny hole in the middle in which you can screw the mandrel to attach it.
Rub some of the polishing compounds onto the buffing bit. The mandrel acts as the handle as you gently buff all the film or light imperfection on your knife.
Once you are done, not only will you have an extremely sharp knife but a sparkling clean one that you can use in your kitchen or cash out.
Conclusion
As you can see, using a Dremel to sharpen your knife is no longer going to be a complicated process. All you need is to follow our step by step guide and observe all the precautions. If you are keen enough, you can use this method to maintain your knife’s edge much better than a whetstone.
Hopefully, you got helped. Now you can give the device a try. Please feel free to share with us your experience during the test.
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