The Easiest Way To Sharpen Knives with Dan Wowak. Yes you can do it. 

A good tip if you are new to knife sharpening is to use a permanent marker to colour in the edge. Then when you sharpen it makes it clear where you are removing metal.

finally someone sharpens a knife the way i do!! been a toolmaker for 38 years and never could get anyone to catch on to my knife sharpening style!! way to go!!

You just taught me something I could not figure out in the first 50 years of my life.Thank you for the great video!

Best field sharpening tutorial I've ever seen. And it shows how effective a very small/portable sharpening stone can be. Thanks man

I've struggled to find the right angle for decades, trying various techniques and getting frustrated at the slow progress, but this is so simple and makes so much sense. Thank you!

I love how you flipped this around, bringing the stone to the knife, to help us understand how to maintain the grind angle. All the other tutorials I've seen or been taught were about trying to somehow "envision the angle" as I brought the knife to the stone which never worked for me and undermined my confidence in the technique as a beginner. Thanks for sharing this innovative, clear, and simple method to do this correctly.

I realize this is an old video but I'm a 49 year old homeless man with cerebral palsy. Your candle trick and y stick and lots of your content makes life easier. I realize I am not your target audience but thanks. Love from Wisconsin.

Absolutely the best knife sharpening video I have ever seen. Outstanding! Thank you, sir. I subscribed.

Ahh! The Mora 511. The 10 dollar knife that cuts like a million bucks. Excellent video...and this technique works.

Thanks Dan, FINALLY someone gets that we are not all expert sharpeners! Sub!

DAN!!! Have I got your attention? Good. I posted before, said I was going to sharpen everything with a blade. I did. I started with the oldest crappiest knife I have. My stone has two sides. One for crappy and the other for not. Anyway your system WORKS. All my knives are now sharp. Also, I'm an upholsterer. The scissors I use are the hardest to sharpen. I usually end up with about 1 inch of blade that cuts. Not anymore. My scissors CUT!! Thank you very much. If I should ever meet you I'll buy you a beer. Or two. 😎😃

What a great explanation! The art of tackling a subject (could be any subject), and explaining said subject so that both experienced and inexperienced people can understand is a gift. Being able to effectively take a subject and simplify it for everyone to understand is actually very difficult! Well done!

This has got to be the best video on RU-vid explaining knife sharpening. I dread trying to sharpen my knives and usually have someone do it for me. With this EASY explanation, I’m going to bite the bullet and give it a shot. Thanks Brother!!!

I've been hesitant to sharpen my knife but you made this really simple.

Finally someone who can actually explain this properly.

That’s been my method for the past 60 years. The “kiss” method rules supreme. 😊👍👍

You are a rare breed bro, thanks a ton. Regards from Shillong, India. 🇮🇳

That info on the gap was the best info I have gotten on the correct angle. Great video

Wow, great video Dan. I never could keep the edge at the correct angle by laying the sharpening stone flat but this method lets you actually see and maintain the same angle. So simple but so effective.

This video is super mega helpful. I'm one of those who have teetotally messed up some damn nice blades while "trying" to sharpen them. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

That's a really great approach to sharpening. The angle has always been my number one issue but not anymore. You just made me sharper! Thanks

Almost feel like face palming after seeing this technique. It just makes so much sense since finding the correct angle is the hardest thing about sharpening

Thank you, Sir, for presenting a great technique in such a calm and professional way. Brilliant! 👍🤙👌

Dang! 73 fricking years old and sharpening knives since I was a kid and you just taught me a whole new way to sharpen a knife! I've always liked using a "Washita" stone - a small one like in the video - they've always been a bit challenging to use horizontally so your "vertical" technique looks intriguing. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks!

Thank you ! I never looked at sharpening a knife in that way but it damn sure works!!! Thank you ! Mr Dan

Dan, all of your videos feel so comfortable to watch. Thanks for keeping things simple and straightforward! I have 5 different Moraknivs and use your tip to keep them honed! Thanks!!!

Simple concept. Simple response. Thank you, Dan.

Agreed with a lot of comments, this is one of the best knife sharpening videos that I've seen and sharping it in the woods. Thanks for sharing!

So I just tried this with my single blade Case XX. I don't think it's ever been this sharp!Great video, very helpful. Thank you much!

That’s a real easy way to get a nice edge on my knives. Thanx

Wow thank you. That is super easy. Especially in the field, you don’t have the luxury of bringing an entire knife sharpening set with you. The close up shot is very helpful. Most people are visual learners and that is definitely a good way to learn something as delicate as knife sharpening.

Probably the best RU-vid video I’ve seen regarding tutorials. Very detailed, yet kept simple and to the point. Subbed

I love my lansky puck's for all camping etc. They are EXCELLENT for axes and hatchets. "keep the faith people and keep on keeping on"

Wow, I know there are a ton of great videos out there but this is a whole new perspective for me and probably the best explanation or "what's going/science" of seeing the angle. Awesome video!

Dan, you are a simple person and I say that in a good way. Love ya.

The best knife sharpening instructional I've ever had. thank you

This is the easiest method and I never thought about the method before. Thank you!

Thank you this makes it more likely that I will be sharpening in the future rather than just buying a new knife

This really is a common sense and useful video. I have always struggled with sharpening knives and this technique is definitely going into my toolbox 👍🏻

It's 2022 and this video is yet one of the most useful tips I have ever seen on youtube

What a wonderfully simple technique. This takes the dread out of the process for me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I will most certainly try this method out next time. I have always had problems with keeping the correct angle when using the classic slide on the stone method.

I love minimalist solutions like this. I'm determined not to go down the rabbit hole and contraption purchases involved in knife sharpening, and this video is greatly appreciated.

Thank you! So many people emphasize the 15 or 20 degree angle, but I like how you mentioned the gap and closing it. Makes sense!

I've always considered I know how to sharpen really well, but this is new and wonderful!

When I was an adult Boy Scout, we actually tried shaving with our pocket knives- Crocodile Dundee style! We spent an hour sharpening first, then we were able to shave some. 😎 We still needed the razor anyway. 😋

Brilliant - thank you. As someone who struggles with knife sharpening this concept of determining the blade angle is genius - thanks once again.

I feel confident about sharpening my knives correctly now! Thank you!

This was a great instruction. I was always 45ing it like how they taught me. Never got why I was dulling my blade.

My grandfather was an ornamental black smith and wood carver. I was taught by his son my uncle how to sharpen knives. You come closest to the way our ancestors sharpened knives, axes, hoes, shovels and scissors. The circular motion and angle method you demonstrated comes closest to the method I was shown. But I have seen a more interesting method that Japanese sword black Smith's use. They set angle and draw the stone like a leather strop. This method works well on a small knife but not on a sword for example.

Excellent, Dan. This is the first time that I've seen this technique taught. Thank you.

You mean what you say! You teach from your bottom of your heart! Thank you Sir! Much Love from Canada!👊🏽💪🏽🙏🏼😁🤙💙

This sounds like a great technique as the biggest problem in learning to sharpen is 'finding the angle' or 'closing the gap'. What has helped me is stropping. Yes, instead of pushing the blade against the stone (to sharpen it), with stropping you draw the blade 'backwards' so you are never in danger of crunching the edge into the stone. But whilst stropping, you learn to feel that 'perfect angle' and it translates to when you then try pushing (as in sharpening with a stone) instead of pulling (as in stropping). Of course it doesn't happen overnight. I did not set out deliberately to learn sharpening by stropping, but I used to spend nights watching TV stropping whilst playing with my new knives. After a few months, feeling the angle had been learned and I found sharpening 'just happened'. Also, I started sharpening with an oiled but smooth Arkansas stone, and I would recommend starting off that way because it is more forgiving if you do crunch the blade but also because I think the smoothness and slight grip of the oil, helps you feel when you have just the right angle. After that, shifting to courser (more aggressive) stones is easy. One last point, you need to be aware of what type of grind your blade has, and try to preserve it. The Mora, for example, has a scandi grind with flat side meeting at an angle. They make feeling the angle easier because you have a large flat area which makes contact when on the perfect angle. Other grinds may be concave, and finding the angle there does involve feeling for a slight crunch, backing off to maintain the angle - so a bit more difficult. But there again, stropping helps because maintaining the angle is all part of the 'stropping skills development package'. Oh, another last point. You need to sharpen evenly along the entire blade, then stop and sharpen the other side when you feel the edge has folded over. Yes... After sharpening the blade for a while the edge will become really fine. So fine, that a microscopic edge will develop and get pushed backwards on the other side. When that happens, evenly across the entire length of the blade, you then need to begin sharpening from the other side. You know when this folded edge has developed by stopping every so often and testing to see if your finger nails can catch the fold when you pull your nails down over the edge (not length wise... that would slice them open) on the side opposite to the that which you've been sharpening. Once you've developed that folded edge and swapped sides a few times, you need to be more gentle and careful with your sharpening and move to a finer stone. Sometimes the folded edge you're developing simply flips and flops around to the opposite side that you're working on without actually resulting in much sharpening. If you feel that is happening then swipe (as in, cut or slice) the cutting edge of the blade through a corner of a block of wood, in order to wipe the edge off. Then continue sharpening. BTW, I think Dan's method is a great starting point. I hope what I've outlined (practice stropping to learn to feel for the angle then...) will help you progress. Obviously there are also lots of RU-vid knife sharpening videos out there as well.

I knew the small stone that came with my knife must be to sharpen, but had no idea how to use it. Very clear instructions here! So handy for myself who’s a widowed single mama. Thank you!

So simple and clearly demonstrated. Wish I had seen this technique years ago. Thanks for sharing.

Mind blown for sure. Genius in its simplicity! Thank you so much!

Dan, Love your videos man. Your teachings are great. Simple, to the point, and made so that I can understand and apply with a degree of confidence. Would you consider another knife sharpening video on those of us with convex blades. My go to knife is the Joker Nomad. Love that knife. However, it has a convex grind to it. I know this is different from other blade grinds. This would be super helpful. Thank you for considering.

God Bless everyone!!!! Jesus Loves you all very much!!!!

This is the best video / explanation I've come across! Bringing the stone to the knife (instead of the knife to the stone) is such a simple subtle shift that makes all the difference in being able to really clearly see what you're doing and get the angle and technique correct.

OMG! Thank you so much, Dan!

I did it, I did it!!!!! 🤪 Thank you for this video, I’ve always felt intimidated to sharpen my own knife, but after watching this, you made it really easy to follow.

Great video on field sharpening. I hadn't considered keeping the knife stationary and moving the stone. Your work is done here Batman.

Omg! I've been trying for awhile to sharpen my camping knifes and even had a friend with a bunch of fancy stones try and it didn't work but this was the best video ever!! I've now got sharp knifes and I did it myself! I just found your channel tonight! Love it!

You're a Really Great Guy! God Bless you. Every Boy Scout, Cub Scout etc. should see this.

Dang, I've been doing it wrong all this time?! Thanks Dan.

Good content. That's the first time I've seen that technique. Great way to find the correct angle. I love the water stone, instead of an oil stone. Finding the correct angle is critical. As for stones, when buying one, make sure that it's not one that has been pre soaked in oil. If you get one that's pre treated with oil, you won't be able to use water. That's been my experience, anyway. Thanks

Yup. Great way to simplify it. I’ve been sharpening my own knives for decades. However I did struggle a little in the beginning many years ago. This is a pretty simple way to explain it to someone who hasn’t done it yet or hasn’t figured out the technique

Great instructions on knife sharpening. An easy task nobody practice anymore including myself. Thank you.

I’ve never seen this technique before. Definitely trying it soon.

My Father sharpened all his knives to razor sharp, I watched him many times when he sharpened our carving knife using a steel, it was so fast i asked him to slow up, Ive never really understood how he did it. Nice video Dan, easy to follow.

As with most " everything " , it is the Q. U. A. L. I. T. Y. of the TEACHER that gets " IT" DONE !!!!!!!!

Thank you sir. Appreciate your working here brother.

That's a good tip,I would have never thought to hold my knife like that,also a strope is pretty handy in maintaining your knifes edges an removing burrd.

Ever use the edge of your truck window to put a quick edge on your knife. The ground glass of a car/truck window is an excellent honing tool!

Tried this and absolutely works!! Thank you!!

Works exactly as you said. Thanks

How about the sharpie marker you can mark up the edge of knife that’s the angle and put it to the stone when the mark wares off you on the right angle that help me a lot when I was a kid first learning to sharpen my knife. I’ve help some others folks learn to sharpen knives. Also a wide stone helps out too

His knifes are so sharp the fingers of his gloves ran off out of fear of getting to close to the blade lol.

Thank you, Dan!

I collect knives & I've viewed many, many videos covering "How to Sharpen" your knife.., well, your's beats them ALL!!! THX for these insights [especially the info covering blade-to-stone angle] and safe & sure way to kill dullness.

I really like how you hold the knife and stone so you can see the gap. However, you may want to mention that not all knifes have a single grind. For example blades that are made from thinner stock than the one you use in the video, like Swiss army knives, will have a primary grind of around 15 dps which extends 1/4 or 1/2 the way towards the spine of the blade, and then a secondary grind, which only extends a couple of millimeters from the edge, of 20-25 dps. This means that when you 'close the gap' your stone is resting on the primary bevel and won't remove any metal from the secondary bevel. It could be quite frustrating for someone to apply your great technique only to find that their knife never seems to get any sharper.

I'm really pleased with this! It works like a charm ru-vid.comUgkxDcr-y2Pf6xdnrFHrSP7dl9kpKaCozcSQ Takes less time than my old electric sharpener because it can take more off the knife faster, and then it smooths out nicely with the finer grit polisher. I don't know how long it will last before the grit wears away, but I wouldn't mind having to replace it every once in a while.

Awesome video! I’ve watched a lot of knife sharpening videos and this one is hands down the best technique for beginners. Can’t wait to try it out! 🙏

This video was so helpful! I took a knife that hasn’t been sharpened in about 2 years and followed your instructions and bam sharp knife. I did he newspaper test and it cut like butter. Thank you thank you.

I think it’s hilarious that every time someone puts out a video on how to sharpen a knife, it’s a Scandi grind. The easiest grind to sharpen. Show how to field sharpen a convex or hollow grind with no obvious bevel to use as a guide. That would be a big help for people starting off in Bushcrafting. Not all knives are scandi.

What about knives with such a small bevel that you can't really know for sure if you "closed the gap"? Like SAKs.

Just love your videos, always thankful when I watch. All the stuff I've been teaching my son. Love it don't stop.

Such a good teacher

Old time standby that my Dad taught me is to test sharpness on arm hairs..... if my knife doesn't shave my arm hairs then it is dull

Treat every knife as if it were loaded. Never point your knife at something you are not willing to cut. Keep your finger/thumb off the jimping if you're not ready to cut. etc. lol.

I just appreciate the fact the video is as sharp as the knife!

Finally knife sharpening i can understand. Thank You !

Very good explanation. Harder to apply knife to stone. That Jay in the background is giving you a thumbs down, lol.

I never liked how all these youtubers are laying the blade flat to a stone. It's actually making the job more difficult, because you CAN'T SEE what the hell is happening on the other side. This video makes so much more sense.

I've been around a long time and your knife sharpening technique is fantastic. Never have seen it or thought of it. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks.

GREAT video. Perfect presentation. Thank you Dan.

Love this. Been sharpening for years and I like this idea. Super simple and easy in the field. Thank you

Thanks from South Africa.

Thank you for a simple efficient method

So simple it's crazy. Excellent tip. Thank you!!