How can I fix an uneven bevel when sharpening kitchen knives?

[AuroraS]

I get asked this question a lot as someone who reviews software: what are the best software tools for someone just starting out? Whether it's for personal use, school, or beginning a career, the options can be overwhelming.

I'm putting together a guide of recommended software for beginners, but I'd love community input. What are the essential software tools that are actually user-friendly and have good learning resources?

We should cover different needs: productivity, creativity, communication, and organization. What are your top software recommendations that balance power with accessibility? And importantly, what are the best free and paid apps for someone building their software toolkit from scratch?

[LunaL]

As a student who was recently a complete beginner, here's what I wish someone had told me:

Start with tools that are:
1. Free or have good free tiers
2. Have lots of learning resources
3. Are widely used (so you can get help)

My recommended software for beginners:

Productivity:
- Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) - everyone uses it, easy to learn
- Todoist or Microsoft To Do for task management
- Notion for notes and organization (start with templates)

Communication:
- Slack or Discord - learn one messaging platform
- Zoom or Google Meet for video calls

Creativity:
- Canva for simple design work
- iMovie or Windows Video Editor for basic video editing
- Photopea (free Photoshop alternative in browser)

The key is to not overwhelm yourself. Learn one tool well before moving to the next. And use the built-in tutorials - they're usually better than you'd expect.

[JosephR]

For beginners, I recommend focusing on tools that will be useful regardless of what path you take:

1. A note-taking app: OneNote, Evernote, or Apple Notes. Learn to organize information digitally.

2. A calendar app: Google Calendar or Outlook. Get in the habit of scheduling and time management.

3. A password manager: Bitwarden or LastPass. Start with good security habits early.

4. Cloud storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Learn to work with files in the cloud.

5. A communication tool: Whatever your school or workplace uses (Slack, Teams, etc.)

What's most important for beginners is developing good digital habits. Learn to:
- Keep files organized
- Use strong, unique passwords
- Back up important data
- Communicate clearly digitally

The specific tools matter less than developing these foundational skills. Once you have good habits, learning new software becomes much easier.

[Nicholas35]

For creative beginners, my recommendations are different:

Absolute basics:
- Canva: For any kind of design work, presentations, social media
- DaVinci Resolve: For video editing (free version is powerful)
- Audacity: For audio editing
- Photopea: Free Photoshop clone in browser

When ready to level up:
- Figma: For UI/UX design (free for individuals)
- Blender: For 3D (steep learning curve but worth it)
- VS Code: For coding (with lots of extensions)

Learning resources:
- YouTube: Free tutorials for everything
- Skillshare/LinkedIn Learning: More structured courses
- Official documentation: Often overlooked but very helpful

The mistake I see beginners make is trying to learn professional tools like Adobe Creative Cloud too early. Start with free tools, build skills, then consider paid tools if you need them professionally.

Also, join communities! Discord servers and forums for these tools are great for getting help and feedback.

[IvyN]

From a technical perspective for beginners:

Essential security tools:
- Antivirus: Windows Defender is actually good now, or Malwarebytes Free
- Password manager: Bitwarden (free) or LastPass
- VPN: ProtonVPN free tier or Windscribe free tier
- Backup: Google Drive/Dropbox for important files

System utilities:
- CCleaner: For cleaning temporary files (free version)
- Everything: Lightning-fast file search for Windows
- VLC: Plays any video format
- 7-Zip: Handles any archive format

Browsers:
- Chrome: Most popular, best extension ecosystem
- Firefox: More privacy-focused
- Edge: Actually good now, especially on Windows

The most important thing for beginners is to develop good habits: regular updates, backups, and using strong passwords. The tools themselves are less important than using them consistently.

[TylerBA]

For Mac beginners:

Built-in tools worth learning:
- Notes app: Actually really good for basic note-taking
- Reminders: Good for simple to-do lists
- Calendar: Syncs with Google Calendar, iCloud, etc.
- Preview: Handles PDFs and images surprisingly well
- QuickTime: For screen recording and basic video playback

Free third-party apps:
- The Unarchiver: Handles any compressed file format
- AppCleaner: Properly uninstalls apps
- Itsycal: Tiny calendar in menu bar
- Rectangle: Window management (like Windows snap)

Paid apps worth considering later:
- Alfred: Supercharges Spotlight search
- CleanMyMac X: System maintenance
- Bartender: Organizes menu bar icons

Mac beginners should first learn what's already built into macOS. Many people install third-party apps for things that Apple already provides decent solutions for.

[Emma92]

I’ve been trying to get better at sharpening my own kitchen knives, but I keep ending up with a slightly uneven bevel on one side no matter how carefully I try to hold the angle. I watched a few videos and they make it look so easy. Has anyone else hit this specific wall when starting out, and what little thing finally made it click for you?

[Olivia.B]

I feel you. I hit that wall too. When I marked the bevel with a Sharpie and watched where the ink wore off I saw a tiny tilt in my wrist and I adjusted. The result was a much more even bevel and a sharper edge after a few sessions.

[Alexander_G]

From an analytical angle bevel evenness comes from consistent contact. The edge should feel the stone the same way on both sides. If you dwell in one spot the grind shifts. Try a jig or a fixed stance and monitor your wrist movement as you sharpen.

[KennethFT]

Maybe the blade is not perfectly straight and that throws off a freehand approach. I once noticed a tiny bend in a knife and it fooled my eyes until I checked with a straight edge. Then one side wore faster.

[Joseph_G]

Skeptical angle here. Videos make it look easy but the tiny habits matter. The goal of a perfect equal bevel may be a moving target. The reality is you will feel progress even if the math stays fuzzy.

[Robert_S]

Could be a reframing The idea of a perfectly even bevel is a frame not a wall. Maybe aim for a steady micro bevel on both sides and judge sharpening by how the edge behaves rather than the exact shape.

[Emily31]

Moment I learned sharpening is a ritual not a one shot task. I built a small routine and stuck with it for weeks. The process spread out across days and kept the edge honest.