Sharpening stones: types. How to choose, use, edit, store

Meet a new article from Arsenal Masters RU specialists. All about sharpening stones. Classification, types of stones. Recommendations and advice on the selection, storage and alignment of stones, and the process of sharpening tools.

There are many sharpening stones, it’s difficult to choose, and there are also many nuances and features. We have collected information on them and added tips and recommendations. We are waiting for your feedback, share your experience!

Classification of sharpening stones

There are synthetic and natural stones.

• Synthetic stones are divided according to the type of material into water, ceramic and diamond.
• Natural stones work with water or oil.

The wide selection of stones is also due to the different grain sizes of abrasive stones. This allows you to remove chips, remove minor damage, and bring the sharpened surface to “zero.” In practice, water stones are more often used.

The popularity of manual sharpening is easily explained:

• The hardness and edge of the steel does not deteriorate because no heat is generated.
• A huge selection of grain sizes allows for any fine sharpening.
• Precise cutting geometry (no rounded chamfer surfaces such as felt or rubber discs).
• No expensive equipment needed.
• In their practice, Masters reach perfection!

How to Make Dull Blades Sharp: Dull blades have a rounded edge on the cutting edge, therefore, when sharpening, it is necessary to remove material from the chamfer surfaces to again achieve the perfect “intersection” of the 2 planes of the blade chamfer.

Best Knife Sharpening Stones for 2022

The domestic market is represented by a large variety of sharpening stones. However, according to experienced users, it is best to use water stones for sharpening kitchen knives. This is due to the fact that they are perfect for processing even hard steel and provide the maximum level of sharpness of the sharpened tools and utensils.

When choosing a sharpener, you need to pay attention to the degree of its grain size. In order to recognize it, you need to familiarize yourself with the markings, which, as a rule, are applied to the edges of the bar. In addition, such markings, which indicate the grit level of the sharpener (measured in grits), must be indicated directly on the packaging itself in which the whetstone is sold.

Where can I buy? You can purchase a sharpening stone for kitchen knives in online stores by placing an online order. In addition, sharpeners that are sold on a popular Internet resource called Ali Express have recently become very popular among domestic consumers. This is due to the fact that the products presented on this site are of low cost and acceptable quality.

Synthetic water stones

These are the most popular and productive abrasive stones. They have an open-pore microstructure with the inclusion of homogeneous particles; the abrasive grain is quickly crushed. Requires correction when worn.

Structure of synthetic abrasive stones Sharpening stones mainly consist of a binder (matrix) in which abrasive particles (alumina, carbides, natural semi-precious stones, diamond dust) are embedded.
The effectiveness of the stone depends on the combination of the hardness of the binder and the quality of the abrasive particles. The binding agents used in synthetic water stones are generally dye-like substances, whose hardness can be determined by composition and firing temperature level. Open structure Closed structure Abrasive stone materials
Silicon carbide abrasive is very effective and is therefore used for coarse abrasive stones, while corundum is used for finer abrasive stones.
Binder
The soft bond allows the abrasive particles to be constantly exposed during use, making the stone very effective. These stones are ideal for extremely hard low alloy steels. Tool steels with coarse-grained alloy components (for example, chromium and vanadium) require a stone that wears slower and holds its shape longer. The binder is stronger - the stone remains flat longer.

HOW TO USE SYNTHETIC WATER STONES

Before use, stones must be soaked in water for 10-15 minutes. Water serves as a washing medium, which prevents clogging of the stone pores with abrasive particles and preserves its abrasive properties. If it is not sufficiently rinsed with water, the abrasive debris becomes a paste that reduces the abrasive properties of the stone. ON A NOTE! Professionals actively use this fact. By using it, they achieve a finer abrasion, compensating for the large steps in grit when moving from a coarser stone to a fine-grained stone. Most aqueous (water) stones have a fairly soft, open-pore compound that continually exposes fresh abrasive particles during sharpening, resulting in high efficiency. As a result of wear, regular adjustment of water stones is required.

Flaws

It would seem that if a diamond whetstone for sharpening knives has so many advantages, why doesn’t everyone rush to quickly purchase it or use it exclusively. Everything is very simple, these abrasives have two significant disadvantages, which play an important role for sharpeners:

• quick and productive grinding of metal during sharpening in the hands of a beginner, and in some situations, even in the hands of a master, a little carelessness can seriously damage the blade;
• Another minus is the price. Diamond bars are worth an order of magnitude higher than natural stones. The reason for this is the expensive production process. Therefore, if you see inexpensive diamond bars on sale, avoid them. After a few sharpenings, such a diamond sharpener will turn into a pile of garbage.

Ceramic stones

A relative innovation are ceramic water stones with particularly high wear resistance for professional use. Ceramic stones have a very strong bond and show little wear. However, to achieve good sharpening performance, it is necessary to use very high quality and wear-resistant abrasive particles (such as Shapton). Shapton ceramic stones hardly absorb water. With them, 1 minute of soaking is enough.

Main criteria when choosing a stone

Before purchasing a tool you must:

1. Select abrasive material. In everyday life, ceramic products are more often used, for example, a boat-shaped block. A double-sided sharpener with a rough and smooth surface is often found. Diamond stones are rarely used in professional sharpening of kitchen knives. The high price limits the spread of natural abrasives.
2. Pay attention to graininess. When sharpening, use bars with a grain size of 600-800 units. To polish the edge, bars marked 1500-2000 are used. Bars with a grain size of more than 2000 are intended for professional work.
3. Consider the scope of use. The size of the block should exceed the length of the blade by 1.5-2 times.

Diamond stones

. As an alternative to Japanese water stones, you can use diamond sharpening stones. In these whetstones, abrasive diamond granules are deposited in a nickel matrix as a thin layer on a metal substrate. They provide high flatness, durability, provided that the diamonds are of high quality (monocrystalline). The diamonds are applied to an extremely flat, warp-resistant and unbreakable base plate. Thus, diamond stones are extremely wear-resistant and do not chip like abrasive grains. High-quality monocrystalline diamonds guarantee remarkable sharpening speed even when working with the hardest high-alloy tool steels. It is recommended to moisten diamond stones with water and grind with light pressure. Made from high-quality single-crystal diamonds, DMT stones (USA) are especially wear-resistant and are famous for their perfectly smooth surface. DiaSharp 220 COARSE (Coarse) DMT D8X stone is recommended as a complement to water stones. It's great for finishing the backs of flat chisels, chisels, or leveling water stones. Warning: Avoid cheap products that are usually made from (short-lived) polycrystalline diamond dust.

Grain

The most important parameter that determines the nature of work with a sharpening stone. The larger the granules included in the bar, the more metal it will remove in one pass of the blade across the surface. Accordingly, finishing stones are almost smooth to the touch - tactile sensations simply do not provide information about the size of the grains.

What type of sharpening stone do you have at home?

NaturalArtificial

The grit measurement scale differs in countries that produce knife sharpening materials. Thus, in the USSR the size in microns was adopted, which, however, is still used today as an equivalent. But Western manufacturers use a system of conventional units called grit, that is, the degree of roughness. This quantity is dimensionless.

The general rule is this: the lower the grit value, the larger the particles and rougher processing await the owner of the knife. Large values ​​of several thousand grit indicate finishing, grinding and even polishing stones.

Today there are several standards in force:

• FEPA (for European manufacturers of sharpening stones);
• JIS (Japanese products are labeled according to it);

• ANSI (adopted in the USA and applies to American products).

Expert opinion

Levin Dmitry Konstantinovich

Grit roughness values ​​are not exact values ​​and values ​​may vary among different standards. Therefore, you need to purchase a stone for a knife based on your experience and needs, trying different options.

Natural water stones

Natural stones, including the Belgian Brocken or the Slovakian Rozsutec, are sedimentary or calcareous rocks with embedded corundum, oxides, quartzites or semi-precious stones (such as garnets). Due to their slightly heterogeneous structure, they combine particularly well with hand-forged steel.

Arkansas Novaculite sharpening stones are very dense and wear-resistant. They are well suited for straightening chisels for wood carving and turning tools. ATTENTION : It is not recommended to combine oil (ordinary abrasive) and water stones together, as oil reduces the effect of the stones. Look at natural stones Nagura, ARKANSAS

Natural oil stones

When combined with oil, some stones form a lubricating suspension that increases their effectiveness. Porous stones, for example Norton (India). The stone is usually pre-oiled, requiring only a few drops of honing oil on its surface before sharpening. Closed-cell stones only absorb small amounts of oil. A few drops of honing oil on their surface are enough. Unlike water, oil does not wash the stone, so it clogs faster. It can be cleaned by wiping it with oil. Check out Oil Stone Suehiro

Sharpening whetstone - the age-old companion of knives

With the use of the first bronze weapons, it became necessary to maintain them in good condition. The introduction of new metal tools into primitive everyday life also dictated the need for artisans capable of giving the blade the required sharpness.

It was in those days that the ancestor of whetstones for sharpening knives appeared. The first touchstones were oblong-shaped stones made from sandstone and silica rocks. Later, each warrior had with him a small whetstone for sharpening his weapons.

Which sharpening stones to choose

Basic level:
As a basic equipment for manual sharpening, it is recommended (recommendation of the manufacturer DICTUM) a combination of stones with grits of 1000 and 6000 grit. This combination is minimally sufficient for editing and optimal for beginners. Purchasing a combined stone 1000/6000 with these grits will save money.

For advanced users:

• Coarse whetstone 220 grit (No. 711999) for chipping, dressing, etc. Japanese abrasive stone 220 King 711999
• Sharpening stone with grit 1000 - 1500 - for normal sharpening. For example Natural Japanese water stone Jyo-Haku 1000-1500 711620
• The correct stone with a grit of 6000 is for polishing and straightening edges. Example Sharpening abrasive 6000 Suehiro with nagura Suehiro white MT 6000 M00014380
• Nagura Cleansing Stone

For grooved chisels - cutters - you will additionally need:

• Shaped stone with 4000 grit - for straightening the inside. Example Abrasive water stone PETROGRAD BREEZE 4000 M00015241
• Nagura Cleansing Stone

For all:

• Straightening block for precise dressing of uneven water stones (Strutting stone 100 grit 711299)
• Whetstone holder

See everything for sharpening from Dictum

Bottom line

The most recommended sharpeners for household (kitchen) knives are water-based. In addition to the order of magnitude superior speed of the process (relative to other types), these stones provide delicate processing of the cutting tool. It is important to consider the material of the knife. If the device is made of metals that are vulnerable to rust, it is worth considering other types of sharpeners. When using a non-water-based type of stone, sharpening will take longer, but the knife blade (not resistant to corrosion) will last longer.

Speaking about the grit of stone for household knives, it is recommended to consider specimens with an indicator of 1500 grit or more. A large fraction can damage the integrity of the blade, especially with frequent use.

The sharpener should be maintained taking into account the characteristics of the type of stone:

1. The water type implies the presence of a vinyl box. These boxes prevent moisture evaporation, which has a beneficial effect on such sharpeners. It is also unacceptable to contain waterstone at low temperatures. If you break this rule, the stone will certainly burst.
2. It is recommended to keep sharpeners of other types in conditions that prevent excessive formation of dust. A box that closes securely is suitable for this. If such a sharpener becomes contaminated with dust, the particles will become clogged and the tool will lose effectiveness. It is not recommended to allow the stone to come into contact with other surfaces; before placing it in the box, it is necessary to wrap the tool in paper. Wrapping in a cloth napkin is also allowed.

The modern market offers an abundance of sharpening stones; it is not uncommon for an inexperienced user to be at a loss when choosing. In order not to make a rash purchase, it is necessary to take into account the parameters of the grit and material of manufacture, as well as the form factor of the product and dimensions. Stones with a strong reputation will last an impressive period of time if the user does not neglect the basic rules for maintaining the sharpener.

Sets of sharpening stones

To provide you with the best basic equipment for different tools and steels, we have collected various sharpening sets for you. You can choose a set of sharpening stones that suits you.

How to choose whetstones for sharpening knives

At all times, the main quality of a knife that was most valued was how long it could remain sharp without additional sharpening. But the world does not stand still and is constantly evolving, so humanity has already come a long way from using flat stones to sharpen the first, primitive knives, to today's variety on the market.

Today, the market segment of whetstones for sharpening knives has the maximum variety. The materials, shape and other parameters of the bars make it easy and simple to select a device for proper sharpening. However, this process has its own nuances that require detailed analysis.

How to use sharpening stones

During use, stones must be placed firmly on a non-slip surface or stand. To ensure stability, use a whetstone holder with non-slip rubber jaws, a rubber pad or a non-slip mat.

And Camellia oil 705281 will help you further protect carpentry, carving, and kitchen tools from corrosion.

Question answer

How to clean the bar when it gets dirty?

Under running water using a not very hard brush. Many people wipe off traces of the suspension after drying with a regular eraser.

What else can you sharpen and trim stones besides knives?

Relatively speaking, everything that is less hard and preferably plastic (metal): scissors, chisels, manicure tools, axes, scythes and sickles (if you are making a film about the harvest in pre-revolutionary Russia).

What oil should I use when sharpening with Arkansas?

In general, this is not important, since any oil will give the desired effect. Considering that knives can be used for cooking, you can take edible vegetable oil - olive, linseed. For tourist and technical knives, a spindle or ballistol is better suited.

Using a stone to sharpen knives indicates that a person loves knives and does not mind spending a few minutes (or tens of minutes) on sharpening and finishing. Well, a good sharpening stone pays its owner with good results.

Leveling the stones

When sharpening tools with straight cutting edges, it is very important that the whetstone itself is completely flat. You can check this by pressing the end of the ruler to its surface. If light penetrates through the gap, then the stone is uneven and must be polished in one of the possible ways. The simplest of them is dressing using a diamond lapping plate. You rub the well-watered stone in circles on a lapping plate until the surface is smooth. Light surfaces show smooth areas of stone, while darker areas have not yet come into contact with the leveling stone. Repeat the operation. Process until the surface becomes completely light, constantly washing off the paste. Alternatively, you can use kits with 100 grit sandpaper (soaked with water) placed on a flat granite stone slab (gabrodiabase). A specialized mesh for leveling abrasive stones functions in a similar way.

Recommendations for sharpening

High-quality sharpening of a knife with a whetstone is an entire art. For this reason, working with a block will require some preliminary preparation. First of all, it is necessary that the surface for sharpening is flat. You can check how flat it is by soaking the block in water and then placing it on a sheet of paper on a flat surface. If roughness is visible on the print, then you need to level the working surface by rubbing one block against another.

The knife to be sharpened should be positioned with the cutting edge facing away from you and moved forward along the working surface. It is important that the knife remains in the same position relative to the block; this feature is the key to successful sharpening. The angle at which the knife should be positioned should be from 15 to 45 degrees. This variability will allow you to achieve the best results. In any case, you need to practice and see how the chosen angle affects sharpening.

For primary sharpening, a stone with a large grain is used. If the blade is as dull as possible, this will give the blade a shape that will later be refined by using a fine-grained whetstone. The key to sharpening knives is practice.

Storing sharpening stones

When storing synthetic stones, it is IMPORTANT to differentiate between those that must be kept dry and those that can be kept permanently in water, it is best to use a lidded plastic tub in which the stones can be kept permanently in a water bath. Stored in water: King, Solar Tiger, etc. A little vinegar or disinfectant should be added to the water to prevent algae growth. Household detergents should not be used - they destroy the bond of the stone. To prevent cracking, sharpening stones should never be exposed to frost! When using highly calcareous water, do not let the stones dry out too often; otherwise, lime will accumulate and reduce the effectiveness of the stones.

Dry storage: Shapton, Suehiro, Naniwa, Jinzo sharpening stones, etc.

Oil sharpening stones should be handled with care. Keep them clean and free of oil, as oil prevents the stones from absorbing water, limiting their abrasive effect.