Chef's Choice Diamond Hone 440 - Manual Knife Sharpener Manual

Before you begin

The Chef'sChoice^® Manual Diamond Hone^® sharpener is "ambidextrous" - extremely easy to use whether you are a right- or left-handed person. 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)

Keep all fingers clear of the blade at all times.
Make certain the blade is clean, then proceed as follows:

Sharpening

Holding the knife in the right hand, place blade in the first slot (above number 1). Center the blade left to right in the slot. While keeping the blade well seated in the slot and continuously centered in the slot, move the blade back and forth smoothly along its entire length, through Stage 1. It is unnecessary to lift the blade after every stroke. Apply light downward pressure on the blade and continue the back and forth action until the blade is sharp. Stage 1 creates a first bevel along the edge. Unless the knife is very dull, it will take less than 25 full back-and-forth strokes to sharpen in Stage 1. Do not proceed to Stage 2 until the edge is very sharp. It should, for example, be sharp enough to cut paper well*.

Honing

To hone the sharpened edge to razor sharpness, move the blade to the slot of Stage 2. This hones by creating a second "micro-bevel" along the edge. Maintaining the blade centered in the slot, move the blade back and forth through this slot. Apply little to no downward pressure on the blade. If the blade is sharpened adequately in Stage 1, only a few, (less than 10), strokes will be necessary in Stage 2.

Suggestions

• If left handed, turn the sharpener around, hold the handle with your right hand and the knife with your left, and follow sharpening and honing instructions above.
• Extremely dull knives can be sharpened in Stage 1, but many strokes may be necessary. Stop periodically and check the blade for sharpness by carefully cutting paper. Then hone the knife in Stage 2.
• Avoid excessive downward pressure on blade.

Resharpening

Knives can be resharpened by following the procedure described above, but, generally, fewer strokes will be required than for the initial sharpening.

Maintenance

• The exterior can be cleaned with a damp, soft cloth.
• No oils or other lubricating liquids are necessary with this sharpener.
• Not for scissors

EdgeCraft also offers a wide range of popularly priced powered Chef'sChoice^® Professional Sharpeners for those who have many knives or a wide variety of knives, and for those who wish to sharpen faster and with less effort to obtain the ultimate in edge sharpness and durability. Chef'sChoice^® powered Professional Sharpeners will safely sharpen either conventionally edged or serrated blades. The pre- sharpening, sharpening and honing angles are totally compatible for all models of the Chef'sChoice^® knife sharpeners.

* To test periodically for sharpness, hold a sheet of paper by its edge, a short (but safe) distance from your fingers, and carefully slice through the sheet. A sharp blade will cut smoothly without tearing the paper.

EdgeCraft Corporation
825 Southwood Road
Avondale, PA 19311-0915
(800) 342-3255
(610) 268-0500