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sharpening

Process of creating or refining a sharp edge of appropriate shape on a tool or implement designed for cutting

EntityQ237105

Also known as Sharpen

Subclass of: grinding
, technique
, maintenance
+1 more

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

Sharpening is the process of creating or refining a sharp edge of appropriate shape on a tool or implement designed for cutting. Sharpening is done by removing material from the implement with an abrasive substance harder than the material of the implement, followed sometimes by processes to polish the sharp surface to increase smoothness and correct small mechanical deformations without removing significant metal. The process creates a bevel - the angled surface that meets at the cutting edge. Ideally, the two sides of the edge meet at a precise mathematical point, though in practice, a microscopic radius always remains. Sharpening is distinct from honing or steeling, which are maintenance steps used to realign an edge that has rolled over during use, though the terms are often used interchangeably in casual conversation.

Overview

All data

36 statements · 28% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Uses: sharpening stone
bench grinder
Has effect: sharpness
Practiced by: sawfiler
knife grinder

On other databases

24 identifiers linking sharpening across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

28%

externally sourced

Source last edited August 7, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). sharpening (Q237105). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/sharpening-Q237105