The Stick by Sharpow

The Stick by Sharpow®

This page is a quick start guide to getting the most from The Stick.

Two Sticks By Sharpow Together

The Stick by Sharpow is a simple maintenance tool that helps keep your knives cutting well between sharpenings.

It is not a hone and it is not a traditional sharpener. The Stick lives in the space between, giving edges a light refresh so food slices more easily and prep feels smoother again.

Quick Start: An Easy Edge Refresh

  1. Set The Stick. Place The Stick flat on a stable countertop, long edge parallel to the counter.
  2. Hold your knife. Grip the handle comfortably with the spine leading and the edge trailing, the same way you would spread butter.
  3. Start at the tip. Set the knife’s tip on the Stick. Knives dull first in the front third, so begin where it needs the most help.
  4. Glide to the heel. With light pressure, pull the knife in a smooth, shallow pass from tip to heel. Think of gently buttering toast or spreading jam, not scraping.
  5. Repeat on the other side. Flip the knife to the other face and repeat a short series of passes until the edge feels lightly toothy.
  6. Wipe and test. Wipe the blade clean, then test on a tomato or a sheet of paper. When you feel more "bite" and control you're ready to get to back to prep.

Use light pressure. The Stick works best when the abrasive does the work, not the user. 

When to Use the Stick

  • Your knife is starting to smush or slide instead of slice cleanly.
  • You notice more effort when cutting, but the edge is not chipped or destroyed.
  • Before a big cooking session or holiday meal, to restore a little extra bite.
  • After a professional or Sharpow shipped sharpening, to keep that edge performing longer.

When It’s Time for Sharpening Instead

  • The edge is visibly chipped or has flat spots.
  • The knife still feels dull after a full Stick routine on both sides.
  • You have never had the knife sharpened and it has years of use on it.

In those cases, send it in for a full reset with a Sharpow shipped sharpening kit or bring it to Vivront if you are local to our store in Edina, Minnesota.

What the Stick Is (and Isn’t)

  • Is: everyday edge maintenance for the space between sharpenings.
  • Is: a flat, stable, aerospace-grade abrasive surface on an anodized aluminum body.
  • Is: available in 30 micron (for typical Western steels) and 9 micron (for harder Eastern steels).
  • Is not: a fix for sharpening a smashed, rounded or severely chipped edge.
  • Is not: a traditional hone or pull-through sharpener.

If your Stick is labeled 30 micron, it is tuned for most Western-style knives. If it is labeled 9 micron, it is tuned for harder Eastern-style knives.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Pressing too hard. Use a light, steady touch. Heavy pressure can damage the abrasive and your edge.
  • Starting at the heel. Always begin at the tip and glide to the heel. The front third dulls first.
  • Edge-first strokes. Keep the motion spine-forward and edge-trailing. 
  • Using just the very edge of the stick. Make contact from side to side and use the full width of the surface. 
  • Skipping the wipe. Wipe the blade after using the Stick to remove residue and fine particles.

Buy The Stick By Sharpow

HERE

Learn More About Using the Stick

For a Full Reset

The Stick can keep a good edge working. When a knife needs more, a full sharpening brings it back to its best. Explore Sharpow shipped sharpening kits to send your knives in for service.