You will get your blades a lot sharper with a whetstone than you would with other honing gear, for example, an electric sharpening machine. Furthermore, due to the finely angled blade after sharpening with a whetstone, the knife will hold its sharpness for longer than it would with other honing strategies. Great examples of whetstones are the Shun whetstone 300 1000 and Shun whetstone 6000
Using a whetstone to fine-tune your blade likewise ensures that your blade stays slim, and this is similarly as significant as the sharpness of your blade to guarantee superb cutting execution.
Types of whetstones
1) Low-grit stones
A low-grit stone has a grit number under 1000. It is ideal for obtuse blades and apparatuses and ordinarily has different sides - one for honing and the other one for eliminating chips or scratches from sharp edges.
-
Use the low grit stone for knives that have completely lost their edges
-
It can help to restore damaged knives which have nicks and chips
-
They cannot be used for general sharpening because they leave a coarse finish
2) Medium-grit stones
A medium-grit stone has a grit number of between 1000 and 3000. They are the best with regards to normal sharpening and honing to straighten obtuse edges. All things considered, this stone delivers sharpening results that are a tad superior to the low-grit stone.
-
Use the medium grit stone for both sharpening and restoring a damaged knife
-
Using a medium grit stone, you won't have to sharpen your knives often as this may thin the edge
-
Medium grit stein lead to finer edges than low grit stones
Shun Kai Michel Bras 1000/3000-Grit Combination Whetstone
3) High-grit stones
A-high grit stone is a finishing stone and has a grit number of between 4000 and 8000. These stones will give you the excellent cutting edge that you need for meat cutting and vegetable cutting.
-
The high-grit stone is a polishing stone that will restore the shine to your blade
-
They are hard, strong, and finely abrasive for detailed finishing
-
Polishing your knife regularly between the sharpening routines can help to preserve the blade
-
High-grit stones work best for western knives
Tojiro Pro Non-Slip Finishing Whetstone #8000
4) Oil Stones
Oil stones are the customary Western stones that you might've grown up using. These stones are produced using either Aluminum Oxide, Novaculite, or Silicon Carbide. Oil stones use oil to remove little bits of metal in the sharpening process.
Typically, oil stones are produced using Novaculite, mined in Arkansas, and prepared to make what's sold as Arkansas Stones. They are further graded based on thickness and the finishing a stone produces on a cutting edge.
The coarsest of them are called Washita. The softer grades are called Soft Arkansas.
5) Water Stones
Water stones are new in the Western world of knives but are loved because of their numerous benefits. Like the oil stones, the water stones are accessible in both natural and human-made materials.
Manufactured water stones are commonly made of Aluminum Oxide. Water stones are finer than oil stones, and they use water to remove the metal bits in the sharpening process. The only caveat is that they wear unevenly.
6) Diamond stones
These whetstones contain little diamond rocks fabricated on the surface of a metal plate. These little diamonds are a lot harder than any of the other honing stones. The diamond stone's two greatest benefits include the resilience of the stone to wear and fast sharpening.
The Best Medium Grit Stone
Shun Kai Combination Whetstone #300/1000
This is your go-to whetstone when your blade is very dull. The medium grit stone can help you to sharpen and polish the knife since it's a harmonious balance between low grit and moderately high grit whetstone. Its low grit side, the 300-grit edge is ideal for honing and rectifying chips and nicks on the blade.
The opposite side of the stone is a 1000 grit surface ideal for smoothing the edge. If you want a cleaner and more refined edge, this side of the Shun Kai Combination Whetstone # 300/1000 can help. You'll get the best results if you soak this stone before use.
Compelling features
-
A rougher side for sharpening and finer side for polishing
-
A water stone that will serve you durably
-
Incorporates elastic plate for stability when sharpening
The Best High Grit Stone
Shun Kai Combination Whetstone #1000/6000
Suppose you are looking for a polishing stone. The Shun Kai Combination Whetstone #1000/6000 is an excellent buy. Additionally, there a rougher side, a 1000 grit surface, and a smoother side, a 600-grit surface. You get two functionalities in one whetstone; sharpening and finishing.
Don't let your knives get excessively dull before sharpening. This stone lets you put a sharp edge on your knife with ease, using the 1000-grit side. You can polish it in between your sharpening schedules using the 6000-grit side. Please wet this whetstone before use.
Compelling features
-
Multifunctional whetstone for sharpening and finishing
-
It will serve you reliably for a long time.
-
It has an elastic plate for steadiness while sharpening.
How to Use a Whetstone
Using a whetstone is pretty straightforward. The stone is made out of rough material, and the general principle is that the softer the stone is, the finer the sharpening results.
During sharpening, you move the blade over the stone, eliminating steel and uncovering another blade layer. It requires physical effort, but you end up with extraordinary results.
Why You Should Use a Whetstone
Most people may prefer electric sharpeners because of its effectiveness and ease of use. There is no manual labor involved. In any case, electric sharpeners are costlier than whetstones. A whetstone helps you save money.
Electric sharpeners may undoubtedly harm the blade because you don't have control over the sharpening process. If not used well, the machines could cause scratches on the blade. Working with a whetstone enables you to have control over every little movement in the sharpening process.
Further, a whetstone has no maintenance costs. It's a simple device, and it occupies less space in the kitchen. Quite often, even people that own an electric sharpener also buy a whetstone when they need sharper and precise edges.
A whetstone is a highly versatile tool for maintaining and improving the performance of your knives. Shop now to enjoy the benefits!
