I think in most sharpening videos I see from people they are standing, but one person I talked to was a heavy advocate for sitting while sharpening and polishing. The rationale was that built up fatigue over time would make you unconsciously press down on your blade and you would make a mistake. Curious what everyone here does.
Sharpening, sitting or standing
- Thread starter OyakoDont
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Sitting is definitely more comfortable for me, also seems I have a bit more control. I’d love to have a permanent area where I can do it this way.
Buttttttt my knife stuff counter is standing height, so I sharpen standing up
. The rare times I get to sit, when it’s nice in the summer at night and when I use oilstones in the garage.
Buttttttt my knife stuff counter is standing height, so I sharpen standing up
. The rare times I get to sit, when it’s nice in the summer at night and when I use oilstones in the garage.tostadas
Hobbyist / Craftsman
I've done both. I don't think I buy the idea of fatigue from standing causing you to fatigue and press down resulting in a mistake.
I generally stand because of the space I use but if I'm doing fairly serious work I elevate the stone. The fatigue isn't from standing per se it is in my neck from the work being far away.
I generally stand because of the space I use but if I'm doing fairly serious work I elevate the stone. The fatigue isn't from standing per se it is in my neck from the work being far away.
Mostly stand till my waist and neck are too tired to continue, and if I want to continue, sit. But for material removals I can't sit becuase of the space constrains in front of my sink.
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I mostly sit when sharpening knives, but I have to concede that sharpening something at waist height produces better accuracy and precision, presumably because of body mechanics. It's just that I don't need that precision for knives, only for razors.
True, I think the waist height ergonomics helps me more than the sit vs stand. I do notice I have a tendency to rock back and forth a bit if I’m standing and clenching my core doesn’t help a lot.
Both. Either. Neither. I'm flexible. If I am just touching something up I will stand. If I'm doing multiple knives or something needs major rehab then I will sit. Ankles aren't what they used to be.
Updated the poll to include both. Didn't there would be so many middle-grounders.
M1k3
Senior Member
Sit, stand, in hand, stationary or mobile.
Depends on the situation for me.
Mostly standing and stationary though.
Depends on the situation for me.
Mostly standing and stationary though.
NotAddictedYet
I like your post
Didn't even occur to me I could sharpen sitting down. Need to try this now..
It's entirely possible that I have touched up a few knives on a TV tray while sitting in my chair watching the requisite TV and perhaps consuming a hoppy beverage. Possible indeed...
I stand when I do it in the kitchen or at the sink, and I sit when I do it on the work bench; I don't really notice a difference in the end result.
I love sharpening over a sink, so standing for me.
DitmasPork
Senior Member
Neither sitting nor standing—laying in a prone position works best.
With your trusty mutt on the back of your legs to keep you warm.
DitmasPork
Senior Member
DitmasPork
Senior Member
All's y’all's got it easy. Back in the day, knife sharpening used to be a two-person job.
I would actually really want this.
Uncle Danny
Its $4/month for these sticky feet
Desert Rat
Senior Member
My couch and coffee table are about the same height and I have somehow got it down where my elbow rests on my knee. That's how I sharpen my pocket knives while I watch TV. I stand to do my kitchen knives.
SiDave
Well-Known Member
Stand. I’ve got the knifewear wooden piece that goes over the sink.
We were always taught in school that when doing any kind of metal removal be it with rasps or stone your elbow joint should be locked at 90 degrees for precision. If you are sitting at the dining table that’s impossible. If your counter (ad most are) is at waist level it is not ideal either but I’d say better than the kitchen table… I’d say standing potentially gives you a better control, but to each their own. Six of one… in other worlds. I stand for all of it…
I'm having trouble picturing this. Not trying to give you a hard time. But if your elbows are locked at 90 degrees then how do you move your hands? I would love a little more explanation. I like to learn about other people's techniques.
I tend to keep everything below my elbows locked, i.e. hands and wrists. My movement comes from my shoulders pushing and pulling my locked wrists back and forth. My elbows end up bending back and forth quite a bit. My core stays still. Standing at an appropriate height kitchen counter this feels quite natural. Sitting is a little more awkward but necessary as I have increasingly strict physical limitations on my standing time. I have a workbench set up with an adjustable vise over a water/oil bath and a bench stool that gives me a lot of flexibility if I am doing a lot of work. But I don't have any issue adapting to what is available.
And kind of unrelated, but sharpening in-hand is where I feel like I have the most precise angle control. I can do that sitting or standing or laying down or upside down. But I definitely couldn't do it with my elbows locked at 90 degrees.
Perhaps locked at 90 degrees is not exactly correct as you would have to move the body. The idea is for the forearm to remain perpendicular to the plane of sharpening/grinding. I’m sorry about the confusion.
If it remains parallel, then you can stay on a plain easier and prevent change in the pressure you are applying to the blade…
No worries. Thanks for the explanation. We are definitely on the same page!
