11: Technique: Using a Steel Animation Video
Transcript:
Technique: Using a Steel
A sharp knife is not only more effective than a dull one, it is also safer. The steel is a tool commonly used to maintain a sharp edge on a knife blade.
There are two ways to use a steel. Regardless which method you are using, it is important to use only moderate force when stroking the knife blade against the steel, and hold the blade at the proper angle to the steel.
The knife blade should be held at a 20 degree angle to the steel. To picture what a 20 degree angle looks like, imagine the face of a clock.
Now imagine the wedge, or angle, formed by the minute hand and the hour hand at approximately 3:12 p.m.
The hands of this clock are creating a 20 degree angle.
When using a steel, the blade of the knife and the steel should create this same angle.
The two methods for using a steel differ only in the orientation of the steel. One method begins by placing the tip of the steel on the cutting board with the handle end up. The steel should be perpendicular to the cutting board and parallel to your body.
The heel of the knife blade is placed at the top of the steel so that it forms a 20 degree angle with the steel.
Using even pressure, the blade is drawn across the steel from heel to tip while maintaining the 20 degree angle.
Repeat this movement several times on each side of the blade until the edge has a fine finish.
Using the second method, the steel is held with the tip point up and the handle down. The steel should be parallel to your body.
Once again, the heel of the knife blade is placed at the top of the steel so that it forms a 20 degree angle with the steel.
Using even pressure, the blade is drawn across the steel from heel to tip while maintaining the 20 degree angle.
Repeat this movement several times on each side of the blade until the edge has a fine finish.