Wear protective gear, including gloves and goggles. Although there is no risk involved, you should still use caution around batteries and sharp items.
Before you begin, unplug the battery from the wall or other electrical source (if it's an automobile battery). The electricity won't be used by you; only the terminals.
To sharpen the knife, place it on the negative terminal of the battery and carefully run the edge along it. Keep the same angle—about 20 degrees—that you would while using a sharpening stone. For the blade's sides, repeat the process five to ten times.
The Scientific Part: The theory goes like this: the lead that comes out of the battery terminal helps to fine-tune the blade to its original position. Even while it's not quite "sharpening," it may make the blade much sharper and more efficient.
The next step is to polish the edge and remove any burrs by passing the knife down the terminal and then stropping it on an honing rod.
Reasons for Its Success
This method uses the characteristics of the materials to make your knife's edge endure longer; it's not just for show. You can go longer between regular sharpenings with this easy solution.
The Bottom Line
The next time you're annoyed with a dull knife, think about using this battery approach. Not only does this unexpected approach make your kitchen knives much sharper, but it also transforms a mundane chore into an interesting science experiment. Cheers to a kitchen that's less boring and more exciting for chopping, mincing, and cooking!
