How To Sharpen A Knife With A Whetstone

Having a sharp knife is one of the culinary skills that are more of a necessity rather than just an aesthetic. Whether you are using a chefs knife or paring knife, you want your knife to slice through food cleanly and effortlessly.

A dull blade requires more force to cut through food, meaning you are more likely to lose your grip. A sharp knife is  much more efficient, especially when it comes to dicing carrots for a salad or slicing potatoes for home fries.

A sharp knife makes for exact precise cuts. When your food is cut to the same size, it cooks more evenly at the same rate. This is whether you are roasting, sautéing, or boiling it. This consequently leads to better looking and better-tasting food.

Whetstone

This is a piece of a rectangular block of stone/rock that is used to sharpen and hone the edge of knives. Also other metal tools such as machetes, chisels, or axes. There is a variety of materials used to create whetstones; some are naturally formed, and others synthetically produced.

Synthetic stones perform better than natural stones, but pricey, natural stones perform better after soaking. However, synthetic whetstones can shorten its lifespan if you soak it for long times. 

How to sharpen your knife with a whetstone

  1. Place the whetstone on a cutting board or countertop with the coarse grit faces up. Place a wet paper towel underneath the stone to help keep it from sliding.
  2. With one hand, grasp the knife by the handle and hold the edge of the knife against the stone, point -first, with the cutting edge meeting the stone at around a 22-degree angle. You can stabilize the blade with your other hand.
  3. With moderate pressure, slide the blade forward and across the whetstone covering the blades entire length. Do this keeping the blade flush against the stone at a constant 22-degree angle.
  4. Do this ten times then flip the knife over and give the other side of the blade ten strokes on the whetstone.
  5. Flip the whetstone over to the fine grit side and give each side of the blade ten strokes.
  6. Finish by using a sharpening steel to hone the blade. Then rinse and wipe the blade dry to remove any metal particles .

Tips while using a whetstone

  • Use gloves or cloth to avoid frictional heat and chips

    Be Careful with both sides
  • Be careful; otherwise, you may cause injuries to yourself.
  • Use the same amount of care for both sides of the blade. If youre right-handed when sharpening the first side it should be at the left end of the stone with the remaining part of the blade cantilevering the stone.
  • Maintain same angle and the same pressure as you maintain the correct angle
  • Maintain the same direction for sharpening whether front to back or back to front
  • Use whetstone and knives manual for better results 

How to maintain a whetstone for a longer working life

  1. Avoid sharpening bulky tools with thick edges using your expensive whetstone.
  2. Ensure that the stone is leveled before use. The easiest way to do this is to lay a straight-edged ruler across the cutting surface of your stone and hold both up to the light. If you see a space between the edge of the ruler and edge of the stone, know that your stone has to be leveled.
  3. Flip your stone end to end before use. This should be done to help counter the fact that it is likely you lean heavily on one side of the stone as you sharpen .this technique ensures that the stone wears evenly on all three dimensions hence will keep it working better for longer
  4. Please keep it clean and use sufficient oil or water. Apply the correct amounts of water or oil so that the whetstone is lubricated correctly throughout its duration. Likewise, after use, it is crucial to clear the lubricants stone as well as any metal shavings and other contaminants. This will make things easier next time you come to use it. It will also ensure an extended working life.

Best Whetstones To Get

Sharp pebble premium knife sharpening stone two side grit 1000/6000 waterstone|whetstone

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Sharp Pebble Complete Sharpening Stone Set- Dual Grit Whetstone 1000/6000 - Bamboo Leather Strop - Waterstone Knife Sharpener with Non Slip Bamboo Base, Angle Guide & Green Polishing/Honing Compound
  • ✅ Superior Bundle: Are you tired & frustrated with dull knives? You don't need to be a Pro to sharpen your blades all you need is the right tools & technique. Your complete knife sharpening kit comes with dual grit whetstone #1000/ #6000, nonslip bamboo base for holding the stone, knife sharpening angle guide, classic bamboo leather strop with honing green compound, a simple instruction manual & detailed Ebook with lots of Tips & Tricks which will appeal at every skill level.
  • ✅ Unmatched Performance: Not all sharpening stones & strops are created equal! Our Whetstone's aluminum oxide & Leather is sourced from the highest quality material. Which is then formulated for Japanese grit precision for Grit #1000/6000. With this professional-grade knife sharpener stone, you can get Sharp Edge with ease. After Sharpening use the leather strop made from genuine cowhide leather along with the honing/polishing compound included in the kit to put a True Mirror Polish
  • ✅ Easy To Use: We understand the importance of safety when dealing with sharpening tools. Our sharpening stone & leather strop comes with an elevated non-slip bamboo rubber base which provides an Easy, Safe & User Friendly way of using them. The knife sharpening angle guide allows you to maintain the Correct Angle and safely apply consistent pressure while sharpening the blade. Our whetstone is designed to use water for sharpening, so you dont need expensive sharpening/honing oils and No Mess
  • ✅ Multipurpose: Our professional-grade knife sharpener kit is highly durable & long-lasting. This Whetstone & Strop can sharpen & hone Any Blade out there, be it any kitchen knife set, chef knife, steak knife, sontoku knife, paring knife, sushi knife, cleaver knife, kitchen knives, Japanese knife, butcher knife, Barbecue knife, Hunting Knife, Pocket Knife, Scissor, straight razors & it can even sharp a Sword
  • ✅ Premium Quality: Not all sharpening stones and strops are created equal. We only import & source premium quality material for the manufacturing of our Whetstone & Strop which will provide superior cutting performance. No Compromise on quality. Get this simple yet unparalleled tool, used by everyone from stay at home moms to various professionals

It is designed to sharpen almost any type of blade: kitchen knives, hunting knives, pocket knives, scissors, and chisels. The durable water stone whetstone is made of aluminum oxide, which is imported from Japan.

For stability and extra safety, the stone is securely held in place inside the non-slip bamboo sturdy base with strong silicone. Also the base is extra high, which makes the sharpening process quick and easy.

The whetstone is easy to use. If you have never used a sharpening stone before, you can use the e-book manual. It contains step-by-step instructions and extra tips on how to use the stone effectively.

Poseidon stones sharpening stone set-premium two-sided Japanese style 1000/4000 whetstone

Premium Sharpening Stone Set - Japanese Style 1000 4000 Whetstone For Kitchen and Outdoor Knives - Bonus Flattening Stone and Angle Guide Included with Safe Non-Slip Bamboo Base
  • ★ MOST COMPLETE SET ON AMAZON - Our Sharpening Set is the only kit that comes with both a Flattening Stone and Angle Guide in addition to a Bonus E-Book (for sharpening tips and tricks) and Detailed Instruction Guide. Providing amazing value at a lower price than other sets. A Flattening Stone is a MUST have since all whetstones eventually become uneven and need to be flattened. This set completely eliminates the need to buy one later.
  • ★ SHARPEN ANY EDGE - THE PERFECT GIFT - Our professional grade knife sharpener doesnt only work its magic on Kitchen and Chef Knives, its versatility extends to virtually any blade! Sharpen Fillet Knives, Sushi Knives, Pruners, Straight Razor Blades, Scissors, Chisels, Pocket Knives, Axes, and Hunting Knives! With so many of these things used in our daily lives, it makes a thoughtful gift for any family member or friend.
  • ★ EASY AND SAFE TO USE - We designed this honing stone with the upmost attention to detail when it came to ease of use and safety. Your kit is super easy to assemble and comes with a Silicone Base that holds the stone within the Non-Slip Bamboo Base so there is absolutely no slippage while you work. The Bonus Knife Sharpening Angle Guide will put your blade on the optimal angle for you and protect your fingers throughout the sharpening process.
  • ★ FAST SHARPENING AND NO OIL REQUIRED - Nobody wants to spend all day sharpening their knives and then cleaning up afterwards. This sharpener set will sharpen all knives and tools quickly and will make them sharper than the day you bought them. Since our stones dont require oil, only water, there will be no messy cleanup and no need to worry about purchasing oil.
  • ★ 1 YEAR GUARANTEE - We know that you're going to love this global sharpening stone but if you're not satisfied for any reason, take advantage of our money back guarantee. We put customer service and satisfaction above all else. Just let us know youre issue and we will send you a replacement or full refund, no questions asked!

This whetstone is perfect for specific sharpening tasks like repairing an old dull and damaged knife. Also creating a razor-sharp edge. The whetstone does not need any oil. For best sharpening results, soak the stone in water for 5 minutes first.

A whetstone will eventually require flattening as unevenness forms over time. Hence Poseidon has included a special flattening stone to keep your quality whetstone in optimal condition. The angle guide helps you maintain the right angle for your knives or cutting tool.

King KW65 1000/6000 grit combination whetstone

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KING KW65 1000/6000 (with nagura stone)
  • knife chisel tool sharpening stone japanese waterstone whetstone sharpener edge honing kitchen woodshop chef

King is a trusted name in sharpening stones. Their Japanese style combination whetstone is made from quality ceramic, specially designed for stainless steel and carbon knives.

The dual-sided stone has a 1000 grit side that hones the blade. The 6000 grit can be used to apply finishing touches. Therefore this will transform your dull knife into a sharp and smooth blade edge that is ready for all types of cutting applications.

To keep the whetstone securely on the kitchen countertop, it has sturdy light brown plastic base