The One-Day Hand Sharpening Experience
A Sharper Knife. A Skill to Keep.
Spend a day with Patrick Joseph in Kilkenny, discovering the craft behind a sharp edge. Through demonstrations and hands-on practice, you’ll learn to sharpen knives by hand using Japanese whetstones — developing a practical skill you can continue using at home. Understand the edge, feel the difference as you work and discover the satisfaction of bringing a dull knife back to life.
One Day | Kilkenny | No Experience Required
€150.00
Product Description
From a Dull Edge to a Clean Cut
Your experience begins with assessing a knife and understanding what its edge needs. Patrick will introduce sharpening stones, explain grit selection and demonstrate how to prepare your equipment. You’ll then put the method into practice, learning to control the angle, pressure and movement of the blade across the stone. As you work, you’ll learn to recognise the burr — an important indication of your progress — and understand how to remove it as you refine the edge. Leather stropping and practical sharpness checks complete the process, helping you assess your results and recognise when your knife is ready to use.
Learn the Method. Understand the Edge.
Patrick studied high-performance Japanese kitchen knives with Murray Carter and brings that experience, alongside his own work as a knifemaker, to his teaching.
Each stage begins with a demonstration, followed by time to practise and receive individual feedback. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, adjust your technique and understand why an edge is improving — or what needs to change. The aim is to leave with a method you can repeat and the confidence to maintain the knives you use.
A Skill for Everyday Life
For home cooks, chefs and knife enthusiasts, hand sharpening offers a closer understanding of a familiar tool. Whether you have never used a whetstone or already own stones but struggle to achieve a consistent edge, this experience provides time to develop your technique with guidance from Patrick. No previous experience is required. Bring curiosity, patience and a willingness to practise. Book for yourself or give someone a day of learning with a practical benefit that lasts beyond the experience.
Your Experience Includes
- One day of practical tuition with Patrick.
- Knife-edge assessment and sharpening principles.
- Stone preparation, grit selection and stone care.
- Angle, pressure and movement control.
- Burr formation, recognition and removal.
- Edge refinement and leather stropping.
- Practical sharpness checks.
- Guidance on maintaining your knives at home.
Sharpening Stones
Each participant will need suitable sharpening stones.
Bring your own, or purchase the same King stones Patrick uses during the course. If you plan to bring your own stones, please provide their details when booking so their suitability can be confirmed. Any King stones purchased are yours to take home, allowing you to continue practising with the equipment you used during the day. Sharpening stones are purchased separately and are not included in the €150 course fee. Please arrange any required stones when booking.
Booking Your Experience
€150 per person
Limited to ten participants per date, this one-day experience takes place at a teaching venue in Kilkenny, with space for each participant to work. The venue address, arrival details and what to bring will be provided with your booking information.
One Day | Ten Participants per Date | No Experience Required
