Knives can last a very long time, depending on how well you maintain them. Keeping knives sharp extends their lifespan and decreases the efforts that you need to put in while using them.
Whetstones are accessories that are designed to sharpen knives and they can be used at home. Knife sharpening professionals use them in order to give your knives better results while sharpening.
5 types of whetstones used for knife sharpening
Natural whetstones
Natural whetstones are typically sourced from quarries or specific geological formations, mostly from the regions of the U.S., Germany, Japan, or Belgium. Since they are natural, they vary in mineral content and possess unique properties. Given the strength of the base material (rock), they have distinct sharpening qualities and offer knives a superior polish after sharpening. Some types of natural whetstones include Arkansas whetstones, Japanese natural whetstones, and more.
Synthetic whetstones
Synthetic whetstones are unlike natural whetstones as they are engineered tools. They are made up of materials like aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, etc., enabling faster knife sharpening than natural whetstones. They have a uniform texture throughout their surface that is meant for sharpening, ensuring effective knife sharpening.
Water stones
Water stones are sharpening tools that are designed to be typically used with water to perform optimally. They are one of the most popular knife-sharpening tools around the world. They are built with abrasive materials, such as clay, alumina, or silica carbide, giving knives razor-sharp edges on sharpening. We reccomend using water stones for everyday sharpening of you kitchen and outdoor knives.
Oil stones
While water stones use water, oil stones use oil. These are knife sharpening tools that perform optimally when used with oil, a material that acts as a lubricant during sharpening. Oil stones are typically made up of materials, such as aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, or novaculite. They reduce friction due to the presence of oil, offering a smoother sharpening process throughout. Oil stones are better suited for industrial use as they are messy and hard to maintain.
Combination stones
Combination stones offer two grit sizes in a single piece. Therefore, by owning one combination stone, you can access two grit sizes that offer two different sharpening finishes. A combination stone can be made up of materials like ceramic or aluminum oxide.
Whetstones can further be categorized based on their grit size, including coarse grit (200–600 grits), medium grit (800–2000 grits), and fine grit (3000–8000 grits) whetstones.
Coarse-grit whetstones are great at removing material quickly, making them ideal for repairing chips and sharpening very dull knives. Medium-grit whetstones are apt for general sharpening, such as refining knife edges. Fine-grit whetstones leave a razor-sharp edge, making them ideal for polishing knife edges.
It’s always a good idea to keep a whetstone handy, even if you are regularly getting your knives sharpened professionally. This keeps them sharper for longer before taking them to get a professional sharpening.
Located in PEI, Canada, The Cook’s Edge is one of the top stores that offers a wide range of Japanese knives, Chinese cleaver knives, and western knives, from affordable to rare finds.
Choose from a variety of all types of whetstones to suit your needs. Invest in a genuine quality knife by visiting their physical store or shopping from their online store.