Knife sharpening has come a long way from the traditional bench stone. Although these are still available, a wide variety of other tools are now available to sharpen every type of knife or cutting device. The knife sharpener you choose will depend on the tools you need to sharpen and your personal preference.

Grinding wheels have abrasive grains throughout that cut away chips in the material and sharpening the knife. A variety of abrasive substances are used in wheels. Aluminium oxide is the most common material found in wheels. Varieties of different types of oxide are used and are designated by a letter and a number. Aluminium oxide is great for sharpening steel, bronze, wrought iron and annealed iron.

Zirconia alumina is a blend of aluminium and zirconium oxide. This combination makes for a very durable wheel. It is good for sharpening a wide range of steels and alloys. This material is the next most common substance used after aluminium oxide.

Ceramic aluminium oxide is one of the newest materials used in grinding wheels. It is a very strong material and is used when precision is needed. Ceramic aluminium oxide is often blended with another abrasive material. The substance it is blended with varies according to the purpose and material it is being used to sharpen.

Wheels come in a variety of shapes. A straight wheel is the most common. These have a front facing cutting edge. A cylinder wheel is another common shape. These wheels have the cutting edge on the front of the cylinder.

The grit size is another consideration in choosing the right wheel for the job. A lower number, for example ten or twenty four, is a coarse grain wheel. A larger number, like 100 or 180 is a fine grain. Fine grains are good for finishing work as they remove smaller pieces of metal from the edge of the knife.

Bench grinders are inexpensive tools that are used by many to sharpen knives. They can be used to sharpen a variety of objects, including knives, cutters, hand tools and drill bits. They can be mounted on your workbench. The wheels come in six or ten inch diameter sizes. The motor used in these varies from 1/3 to 1 horsepower. A good bench grinder has a tool rest to keep the wheel steady and improve accuracy in sharpening.

If you own a chainsaw, you will need a chain saw sharpener. Automatic sharpeners are the easiest method available to sharpen a chainsaw. The chain is locked in place when the wheel is lowered. Position the tooth and set the angle on the sharpener. Pull the head up when finished and position the next tooth. Automatic sharpeners ensure uniform sharpening.

Manual sharpeners are less expensive. They are also precise and work with all types of chain. A manual lever is used to lock the chain in place. Manual chain saw sharpeners often come with more than one wheel. This makes them more versatile and ensures they will work with your chain.