Use and Maintenance of Ceramic Coatings Technologies, Inc. Products

Maintenance
Blackening of the CeraHone® surface indicates that the sharpening process is working. When the surface is completely black, scrubbing with a mild abrasive pad, a little water and a detergent soap cleanser, will quickly restore the surface.

Sharpening with a Cerastick®
It is best not to use an aggressive sharpening device like diamond-coated steel to maintain the edge. A knife that has become dull after use may be readily restored by using a ceramic hone. Place the knife blade against the smooth Cerastick® at an angle of about 20 degrees. Draw the knife down and across the ceramic surface using light pressure and making a slight arc. Now draw the knife in the same manner on the opposite side of the Cerastick®. Repeat this process, alternating between the front and back of the Cerastick®, 10 to 20 times. Maintain the 20-degree angle and be certain to run the entire blade across the ceramic surface with each stroke. Edges that have become damaged or extremely dull may be restored with a knurled Cerastick®. The sharpening procedure is much the same as honing except it will take a little longer. Once the edge has been restored, it may be made razor sharp with a smooth Cerastick® as described earlier.

Sharpening with 2-4-1 Cerastick®
To restore damaged edges, draw the knife down and across the knurled ceramic surfaces at an angle of approximately 15 degrees using moderate pressure and making a slight arc. Repeat this process, alternating between the front and back of the 2-4-1 Cerastick®. Once the edge has been re-established, turn the 2-4-1 Cerastick® 90 degrees and hone the cutting edge at an angle of about 20 degrees in the same manner as used to sharpen it.

Sharpening Serrated Knife Blades
Serrated blade edges may be sharpened or restored with any of several CeraHone® tools that have been designed for maintaining serrated edges. Regardless of the tool chosen, the sharpening method will be the same. Apply firm pressure and move the tool back-and-forth in a serration, holding the tool almost perpendicular to the edge. Stop frequently and feel for a raised burr on the flat side of the blade. Move on to the next serration once a burr has been established. When all of the serrations have been reworked, hone the back side very lightly with a smooth Cerastick® just enough to remove the burr. This is not an easy or fast process and it will probably take a fair amount of practice. Once the method has been mastered, any serrated knife may be restored and maintained.

Sharpening fish hooks
New fish hooks are always dull! Sharper hooks penetrate better and catch more fish. Both the CeraHone® Triangle and Paddle sharpeners will improve new hooks and touch-up hooks that have become dull from use or misuse. With a flat side of either CeraHone® tool dress the inside of the point, removing enough metal to flatten the tip. Turn the hook and work the outside of the tip back-and-forth in the groove until the point is sharp.