what is honing a knife

Honing a knife is a maintenance technique used to realign the sharp edge of the blade, which can bend and warp with frequent use. It is done using a honing rod, also known as a honing steel, by running the blade edge at a 15-to-20-degree angle down the rod an equal amount of times per side. Honing does not remove any metal from the blade; instead, it realigns the existing edge, resulting in a sharper-feeling, more precise blade. It is important to note that honing is different from sharpening, which is the process of removing material from the knife to create a brand new edge. While honing maintains and straightens the edge, sharpening restores a dull or damaged edge by removing metal. It is recommended to hone a knife often to maintain the edge and only sharpen it when it becomes dull