If it’s a good knife you want, VG10 steel is no doubt one of the best. It’s considered as the highest quality of steel for knives. With it, you can enjoy a blade with an incredibly durable and sharp edge. But that doesn’t mean it won’t dull like other knives. Don’t worry, though, because this post will help you learn about how to sharpen VG10 steel knife.
What is VG1-10 Steel Knife?
Before talking about the methods of sharpening and honing this particular knife, perhaps a bit of background info about it is in order. If you know knives, you know that Japan and its connection to it. The Land of the Rising Sun produces some of the best knives and swords, including VG10 steel knife.
They actually invented it. But what does VG10 means? The name is V Gold 10, but it doesn’t mean it is made of gold. It just means the blade is gold-standard, representing the best. Why is it gold-standard? It has to do with the fact that VG10 steel combines the components of both carbon and stainless steel into one.
Carbon steel knives are hard. However, they quickly rust. On the other hand, stainless steel is not as sharp or as hard as carbon knives. They are rust-resistant, though. Japan combined all the best properties of both these knives to create VG10 steel. Now, you have a knife that is hard, sharp, durable, and rust-resistant.
The secret behind VG10 steel is in its components. The rough estimate of the mixture of components in VG10 steel is: 1% carbon, 1% molybdenum, 1.5% cobalt, .2% vanadium, and 15% chromium. All these metals give the steel knife its remarkable properties – holding an extremely sharp edge and high durability.
Talking about how to sharpen VG10 steel knife, it is actually not that difficult contrary to what people think. Because of the extraordinary qualities of this steel knife, you might think sharpening it takes a special way too. Here’s the answer – you sharpen a VG10 knife the same way as any other knife.
What You Will Need;
Now that you know what a VG10 steel knife is let’s talk about what you will need for the task. Below are the items you need to prepare for the three different ways to sharpen a knife.
Sharpening with a Whetstone VG10 steel knife
- Whetstone
- Water
Sharpening with a Knife Sharpener
- VG10 steel knife
- Knife sharpener
Honing Knife with a Honing Steel
- VG10 steel knife
- Honing steel
Step-by-Step Instructions
Now, onto the steps to sharpening your VG10 steel knife. Follow the instructions below.
1. Sharpening with a Whetstone
If you don’t know, a whetstone is a rectangular block that functions a lot like sandpaper. Using it straightens and refines the knife’s cutting edge when you slide the blade across it. You usually need to soak it in water in every use, but not all whetstones are designed like that. It’s best to check with the manufacturer for the right instructions.
In this case, we’ll assume your whetstone must be soaked in water. You can sharpen your VG10 steel knife following this procedure.
- Submerge the whetstone in water until it is saturated completely. Do this for about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Sharpen the knife by holding it at a 20-degree angle against the stone.
- Drag each side of the blade against the whetstone a few times.
- Start on the coarse-grind side of the stone if your knife is really dull.
- But since it’s VG10 steel, starting from the fine-grind side is likely good enough.
- Repeat the process to the other side of the blade.
- If the whetstone is already drying out, you can soak it again and continue sharpening your VG10 steel knife.
2. Sharpening with a Knife Sharpener
Another tool you can use to sharpen your VG10 steel knife is a knife sharpener. It is a quick-fix solution, so it relatively easy to use. There is a coarse and fine part for easy sharpening of a knife no matter how dull its blade is.
Below are the steps to use a knife sharpener:
- Press the knife’s blade into the sharpener’s coarse side.
- Pull the blade in towards you several times.
- When you are done, move on to the fine side.
A knife sharpener is a handy tool for sharpening any knife. However, it is not the best possible solution. Its sharpening method is not that great compared to using a whetstone. That said, you should probably stick to the first method for your VG10 steel knife for the best results.
3. Maintaining Knife with Honing Steel
This method is not strictly a way to sharpen your VG10 steel knife. Instead, it talks about honing the blade to keep it perfectly straight. You don’t even have to worry that it might damage your knife if you continually hone it. This process barely wears down a blade compared to how a sharpening does.
Here is how you do it:
- Hold the honing steel vertically, the tip resting on a solid surface.
- Grip the handle firmly with one hand, keeping the honing steel steady.
- Press the knife’s bottom against the honing steel at a 15 to 20-degree angle.
- Once in position, pull the knife down moving towards you.
- Do this while following through to the blade’s tip.
- Keep holding your knife with the same hand then repeat the motion to the honing steel’s other side.
With this, you have maintained the edge of your VG10 steel knife straight and sharp too. After sharpening and honing your VG10 blade, it is also crucial to store it right. Proper storing (cleaned off, dried and stored), your knife should be in pristine condition for much longer. This way, all your efforts will not be for naught.
Conclusion
There you go. Learning how to sharpen VG10 steel knife is really isn’t difficult. VG10 knife is really the best knife out there, even when it comes to sharpening. If you are looking for a knife to add to your kitchen tools, Vg10 steel is undoubtedly an excellent choice. With this article on sharpening a knife, we believe you are all set for a fantastic cooking time!
See more:
How to Polish a Knife Blade – A do-it-yourself processHow to Keep Knives from Rusting in 4 Easy Ways