Chef's Choice 442 Instructions For Use

442 instructions:
EdgeCraft® Tactical Diamond Hone® Manual Knife Sharpener Model 442
Instructions
The EdgeCraft ® Tactical Sharpener Model 442, features customized mixtures of 100% diamond abrasives specially
designed to sharpen tactical blades, both straight-edge and serrated.
The EdgeCraft Model 442 is a 2-Stage sharpener designed to ensure consistent angle control - stroke after stroke
- as the knife edge is presented to the diamond sharpening elements. Both sides of the edge are simultaneously
shaped and sharpened. This construction ensures that the edges are well formed and very sharp every time.
The abrasives consist of selected 100% single-crystal diamonds embedded on unique interdigitating steel support
plates. The Model 442 consistently outperforms conventional sharpeners that use less efficient abrasives and lack
adequate control of the sharpening angle. Diamonds, the hardest known material, are extremely durable.
Straight-edge knives sharpened on the Model 442 will be "shaving sharp." Straight-edge knives are sharpened first
with diamonds in Stage 1 and then at a slightly larger angle with still finer diamond mixtures in Stage 2. This
creates a double-beveled longer-lasting arch-shaped edge that is much stronger than conventional "v-shaped" or
hollow ground edges. This unique arch structure ensures a sharper edge that will stay sharp longer.
Serrated knives sharpen in Model 442 using only the second sharpening stage, The special diamonds in that stage
create razor-sharp "micro-blades" along the dominant teeth. Even new "factory-fresh" serrated knives frequently
have poorly formed, dull saw teeth that can benefit from sharpening and shaping in the Model 442. The Model 442
restores dull teeth to better-than-new condition. The cutting effectiveness of the serrations depends almost entirely
on the sharpness of the points (edges) of the teeth. It is not necessary to sharpen the sides and bottoms of the
scallops between the teeth, since in general, they are not doing the cutting.

Before you begin...

The Chef'sChoice ® Diamond Hone ® sharpener Model 442 is "ambidextrous"-extremely easy to use whether you
are right-or left-handed. Stages 1 and 2 are marked on both sides of the sharpener for your convenience.
Place the sharpener on a level surface about waist high. If right-handed, hold the handle with your left hand making
certain that your left index finger and thumb remain safely behind the partitioning wall where the handle attaches to
the sharpening stages. (If left-handed, see Suggestions.)
Caution: Keep all fingers clear of the blade at all times.

General sharpening instructions

Make certain the blade is clean - free of all food, fat and grease - then proceed as follows:
Holding the knife in the right hand, place the blade into the "v-shaped" slot and center the blade left to right in the
slot. While continuing to keep the blade cent-ered in the slot, move the blade smoothly back and forth in the slot
along the entire blade length. It is not necessary to lift the blade after each stroke. Apply little downward pressure
on the blade. The light sound you hear as the blade moves across the 100% diamond abrasives tells you the
diamonds are doing the work for you! Continue this back-and-forth motion until the blade is sharp.
The Chef'sChoice ® Diamond Hone ® manual sharpener has been designed with the optimal diamond abrasive
mixture to sharpen your knives safely while producing an extremely sharp edge. The first time you sharpen a knife
may take a little longer, but resharpening will be fast and safe.
Detailed Instructions for use
Straight-edge Blades
(Use Stage 1 and then Stage 2)
Generally 25 to 50 back-and-forth strokes in Stage 1 is sufficient to develop a sharp edge. Center the blade in the
slot (left and right) as you move the knife back-and-forth. Maintain contact with the abrasive but applying light
downward pressure on the knife while sharpening.
If the knife is very dull it may take more back-and-forth strokes, perhaps more than 50 or so through Stage 1 to
develop a sharp edge. Do not proceed to Stage 2 until the edge is very sharp. It should, for example, be sharp
enough to cut easily through the skin of a tomato.
(continued on other side)
Now, make 20-40 back-and-forth strokes in Stage 2 to hone the edge to shaving sharpness. Apply only light