In the kitchen, a sharp knife is an indispensable tool for cooking delicious food. However, as time goes by, the knife will gradually become blunt, and then you need to use a sharpening stone to restore its sharpness. However, faced with a wide variety of sharpening stones on the market, consumers often have difficulty choosing, especially the choice between coarse grinding and fine grinding.
1. Basic knowledge of sharpening stones
A sharpening stone, also known as a sharpener or a sharpening rod, is a tool used to sharpen the edge of a knife to restore its sharpness. A whetstone is usually made of natural stone or artificial material, and has abrasive grains of different coarseness and fineness on its surface, which are used to remove the worn part of the knife edge and re-form a sharp edge.
① Types of sharpening stones
Sharpening stones are mainly divided into two categories: natural whetstones and artificial whetstones. Natural whetstones are usually made of natural stones such as quartz and sandstone, with different hardness and coarseness. Artificial whetstones are made of materials such as ceramics and silicon carbide, with more stable performance and longer service life.
② The coarseness of sharpening stones
The coarseness of a whetstone is a key indicator of its grinding ability. Coarse sharpening stones have larger abrasive grains, which can quickly remove the worn part of the knife edge, but are prone to leaving deeper scratches. Fine grinding stones have smaller abrasive particles and can grind the edge of the tool more finely, removing scratches left by coarse grinding and making the edge smoother and sharper.
2. Characteristics and applicable scenarios of coarse grinding and fine grinding
① Characteristics and applicable scenarios of coarse grinding
Coarse grinding stones are usually used for preliminary grinding of the cutting edge of the tool to remove severe wear and deformation. Its grinding speed is fast and can significantly restore the sharpness of the tool in a short time. However, coarse grinding is also prone to leave deep scratches on the cutting edge of the tool, affecting the cutting effect and appearance of the tool.
Coarse grinding is suitable for the following scenarios:
The cutting edge of the tool is severely worn and needs to be quickly restored to sharpness.
The cutting edge of the tool is severely deformed and a large amount of metal needs to be removed to restore the original shape.
A large amount of food needs to be processed quickly, and high requirements are placed on the sharpness of the tool.
② Characteristics and applicable scenarios of fine grinding
Fine grinding stones are used to further grind the cutting edge of the tool, remove the scratches left by coarse grinding, and make the cutting edge smoother and sharper. Fine grinding has a slower grinding speed, but can provide a finer grinding effect, making the cutting edge more durable and beautiful.
Fine grinding is suitable for the following scenarios:
The cutting edge of the tool has been coarsely ground and scratches and burrs need to be removed.
There are high requirements for the sharpness and cutting effect of the tool, and the edge needs to be fine and smooth.
The tool needs to be used for a long time and its service life is expected to be extended.
