Honing Rod

Knives are the most essential tool in the culinary world, and their sharpness is paramount to achieving precision and finesse. The honing rod is an indispensable companion to both knives and knife sharpeners - they allow you to maintain the integrity of your knives!

But, what exactly is a honing rod and how does it work in conjunction with a knife sharpener?

While a knife honing rod and a sharpening tool contribute to the same effort - that is, knife sharpening and maintenance – they aren't the same thing. Even though a honing rod may be referred to as a knife sharpener rod or a sharpening steel rod, the exact purpose of a honing tool is different to that of a classic knife sharpener.

Sharpening involves removing metal from the blade of the knife in order to create a new edge. Honing, on the other hand, will realign the edge of the blade of your knife. The realigning process is about keeping the edge straight, and when the edge of the blade is straight and properly aligned, it maintains its sharpness for longer.

Honing rods go by many names - ranging from rod knife sharpener to steel sharpening rod - but regardless of the exact title, the purpose is the same. Let's have a quick look at exactly what a honing rod looks like.

A honing rod, known by some as a sharpening steel rod, is a long, slender, cylindrical tool most commonly made from ceramic, steel, or even diamond-coated materials - hence the fact that it's known by some as a diamond sharpening rod. The material from which the tool is made doesn’t necessarily separate the best honing rod from the "worst" - some materials are simply more abrasive than others and are particularly suited to specific types of knives.

They're normally 25 to 30 centimeters in length, and the diameter ranges from 1.25 to 2.5 centimeters. The surface of the honing rod may be totally smooth, or, it can have ridges or be lined with fine grooves or even diamond particles. The different surface options influence the relative efficiency of the honing and alignment of the edge of the blade.

How to Use a Knife Sharpener Rod?

1. Place your honing rod (in your dominant hand) at perpendicular to the surface it’s resting upon, and make sure it's not going to slip around.
2. In your dominant hand, hold the dull knife you’re wanting to sharpen, and hold it at a 15 to 20 degree angle to the rod.
3. Place the heel (base of the blade) against the top of the honing rod at the correct angle, and gently slide the knife down the rod towards the tip of the blade in a sweeping motion. Use moderate pressure.
4. Repeat the above step on the other side of the blade.

Now that you know what a honing rod is, what it looks like, and how to use it, you can get your own one today!