Syracuse 23cm / 9" Sharpening Steel, Denim

Put simply, a sharpening rod is a bar of material that is considerably harder than the blade it is designed to sharpen. A good quality sharpening rod acts to realign microscopic kinks, curls and folds that appear on a blade edge during normal use. They aren't designed to remove material from the blade, but act to restructure the grind profile for better cutting performance and longer lasting sharpness.

Using a Sharpening Steel
1. Hold the steel in your left hand with the point facing downwards onto a wooden chopping board.
2. With the knife in your right hand hold it against the steel at a 15 degree angle.
3. Draw the blade across the steel in an arching curve, pivoted at your wrist and repeat on the other side.
4. Repeat 5 or 6 times. Use little and often to keep your knives sharp.