Intake and Inspection

Bevel Resetting

Progressive Honing

Stropping and De-Burring

Every blade undergoes 40x optical inspection to document edge chipping, rolled apexes, bolster geometry, and previous heat damage before touching a stone.

We establish a uniform primary bevel angle matched strictly to the tool purpose, using low-RPM water-cooled wheels to eliminate thermal stress.

The blade progresses across calibrated diamond plates and fine waterstones from 400 to 8000 grit, systematically refining scratch patterns across the apex.

Final passes on vegetable-tanned horsehide charged with diamond suspension strip away microscopic wire burrs, leaving a clean polished micro-bevel ready for clean push-cuts.

Friction Destroys Factory Heat

Hardware store pull-through sharpeners and dry belt sanders generate instantaneous temperatures exceeding 400 degrees Fahrenheit directly at the apex. This thermal spike anneals hardened martensite into soft steel, ruining edge retention permanently.

Our Albion bench mitigates heat through continuous water lubrication and slow abrasive contact. The cutting edge stays cool, preserving the original Rockwell hardness and structural integrity engineered into your cutlery steel.

Drop-Off Tool Preparation

Wrap bare blades securely in heavy kitchen towels or cardboard sleeves secured with tape before bringing them to our Albion bench.