A knife sharpening stone makes the use of a knife easy, enjoyable and fun. Sharpening stones have been in existence for a long time, used by both artisans and ordinary people. Sharpening stones or whetstones are used to grind and hone the edges of steel tools and implements. Examples of items that may be sharpened with a sharpening stone include scissors, scythes, knives, razors and tools such as chisels, hand scrapers and plane blades.


Knife sharpening stones come in various materials, shapes, and sizes. Flat or curved, natural or synthetic, the sharpening stones work to achieve a single objective: to sharpen knives. Users need to know how to choose and use a stone that can enable them to achieve their sharpening goals.


How to Select a Sharpening Stone
Selection of a sharpening stone depends on intended use and individual preference. The stones exist mostly in three common materials: oil stones, water stones, and diamond stones. Each has specific advantages. Users need to know each material and its qualities to select one that can best meet their needs.

Oil Sharpening Stones
These materials originated from traditional Western stones such as Novaculite, aluminum oxide, and silicon carbide. They use sharpening oil to remove iron fillings during sharpening and are grouped in different grades based on density and the finish they produce on a blade. Popular stones in the Novaculite family include Washita, which is the coarsest, and finer grades such as soft, hard, and hard black Arkansas stones. The aluminum oxide family produces India stone in coarse, medium, and fine grits. The stones are often orange. The silicon carbide family produces Crystolon stones, which have coarse, medium, and fine grits. Crystolon stones are often gray.

Water Sharpening Stones
Water stones are available in both natural and synthetic materials. However, because of the diminishing trend of natural stones, only synthetic versions of water stones are popular. These stones, made from aluminum oxide, share the same material with India stone. The difference, however, is that water stones cut faster, are soft in nature, and use water to clear metal fillings during sharpening.

Diamond Stones
Diamond stones are made from a hard metal plate that contains small diamonds attached on its surface. The presence of diamonds makes the stone harder than the other two types of sharpening stones.
Two types of diamond stones exist: one with holes on the diamond surface to capture iron fillings during sharpening and another one with a running diamond surface. Both stones cut faster, but the continuous surface works well with blades with points that may be trapped in the diamond stone with holes.

Sharpening Stone Types Available Overall Advantage
Oil Sharpening Stones Arkansas stones, India stone, and Crystolon stone Have overall performance, are less expensive
Water Sharpening Stones Mainly synthetic, made of aluminum oxide Faster cutting, use water rather than oil to clear metal fillings
Diamond Sharpening Stones Continuous diamond surface, diamond surface with holes Resilient, lasts longer than other types of stones

Different types of sharpening stones exist to enable users to select a combination that can best meet their sharpening needs. However, all the categories are ideal for sharpening a wide variety of pocket and kitchen knives.


About Sharpening a Knife
To achieve best results with a sharpening stone, users need to understand the process of sharpening a knife. First, a user selects a sharpening stone, most of which have both the coarse and fine-grit sides. Users can tell the coarse side simply by looking or testing by thumb. A coarse grit side is rough. Alternatively, users can test the sides by pouring water or oil on the stone. The side that drinks water or oil faster is the coarse side.

The Sharpening Process
Sharpening depends on the nature of the blade. For a completely dull blade, users need to start with the coarse side to cut most material from the knife first, and then progress to medium grit and finish on fine grit stone. With the knife's blade flat on the stone, users raise the knife to an angle of 20 degrees and make a forward stroke applying medium pressure. They do 10 to 12 strokes on one side, and change to another with different levels of coarseness until the desired level of sharpness is obtained.

Caring for Stones
It is important for users to take care of sharpening stones. They do this by not dropping them, protecting the surface during and after use, and by using a little extra lubricant to clean the sharpening. They clean the sharpening with a mild brush after use.

How to Buy a Knife Sharpening Stone on Amazon
A wide selection of knife sharpening stones is available on Amazon. To start your search, simply type "knife sharpening stone" in the search box. You can refine the search further based on condition of the product, specification, brand name, and delivery options. Read the specifications of the product you are interested in, and verify the seller's credibility by checking the rating. In case of any additional information, or if you want more photos of the product you have chosen, you can ask the seller to provide more information.

FYI: HornTide Combination Whetstone
HornTide combination whetstone is a traditional way to keep your knives in peak cutting condition. Made from professional grade Corundum (Aluminum Oxide) to give you even and consistent sharpening. Double sided sharpening. No expensive oil required – works best with water! Included is a non-slip base which holds your stone in place while sharpening. Perfect for the beginner or advanced chef, in the home or restaurant.

Sharpen Like a Pro, Achieve Razor Sharp Blades Now!