From wusthof.com (http://www.wusthof.com/care-and-sharpening/using-a-steel http://www.wusthof.com/care-and-sharpening/using-a-steel): > The difference between

From wusthof.com (http://www.wusthof.com/care-and-sharpening/using-a-steel http://www.wusthof.com/care-and-sharpening/using-a-steel): > The difference between honing and sharpening your knife depends on whether your knife needs regular maintenance or if you need to reset a dull edge. A honing steel will re-align the microscopic teeth and can be used frequently- even after each use. A sharpening steel will actually take a small amount of steel off the blade, creating a new edge. So although the previously-linked one might not be a sharpening steel, they do actually exist. Further down the page: > The difference between a diamond steel or ceramic steel and honing steel, is that a diamond steel and ceramic steel will actually grind away material from the knife, allowing it to reset the edge.