Are you a professional chef or someone who loves spending time in the kitchen cooking different meals? Are you unaware of how to use a whetstone? If that’s the case, you must be aware of how different kitchen tools such as knives can play an important part during the cooking process. If you want to sharpen your kitchen tools perfectly, then learning about whetstones can be a great thing. We cover it all from how to use a whetstone to more.  

What is a Whetstone?

A whetstone, also known as a sharpening stone, is commonly used in the kitchen to sharpen the edges of all steel tools. As a fine-grained stone, it can help sharpen many things, including knives, scissors, and plain blades. Besides sharpening kitchen tools, you can also use a whetstone to sharpen razors, chisels, hand scrapers, and scythes, an agricultural tool for mowing grass. Wondering how to use a whetstone the easy way?

Different Grits of Whetstone

A whetstone grit refers to the coarseness of the whetstone. In simple terms, different grit grades are used when sharpening different kinds of tools. The grit grades can be chosen according to your requirements for sharpening a particular tool.

1. Coarse (under 1000)

Do you have damaged or chipped knives at home that need to be taken care of? A coarse grit will help you repair the blade easily in no time.

2. Medium (1000 to 3000)

It can be quite a hassle when you want to cut a piece of chicken, but your knife won’t allow you to. Using a medium grit whetstone will have no problem sharpening your dull knives at home.

3. Finishing (4000 and above)

Ranging between 4000 and 8000 grit grades, this grit range will help sharpen and finish the knife. 5000 grit is perfect for finer finishing, while 6000 to 8000 are suitable for super-fine finishing.

Sharpening Stone Pros and Cons

Pros

When you use good-quality sharpening stones, they will provide you with a knife blade that is sharp and easy to use. Don’t know how to use a whetstone? Let us give you some good news. The best part about sharpening stones is that even if you don’t know how to use them, you can easily learn in no time. Also, they are easy to use and set up, so if you want to give your knife a quick sharpening before you get to work, it shouldn’t take much time. Moreover, sharpening stones are relatively inexpensive, so you won’t have to set aside a budget for investing in them.

Cons

While sharpening stones offer superior results, sharpening your knives with them can take a little longer compared to synthetic sharpening stones. If you want to sharpen your knives the right way, you should know how to use a whetstone.

Also, if you don’t have much experience with sharpening stones, they can be tricky to handle since they require practice and steady hands. These stones can wear out over time, meaning you’ll need to replace them. Additionally, some sharpening stones can be quite expensive, so you should choose your preferred stone carefully.

Types of Sharpening Stones

When wondering how to use a whetstone for the first time, you should know the different types of sharpening stones available. The three main types of sharpening stones include:

1. Oil Stones

Known as one of the oldest types of stones for sharpening knives and blades, oil stones are synthetic stones made of bonded particles. When these particles are bonded together, they form a stone. Before sharpening a knife, you can apply oil to the stone.

2. Water Stones

Water stones can be natural or synthetic, depending on which one you use. As the name suggests, when sharpening your knives, it’s essential to lubricate the stones with water. Only by lubricating the stones with water will they work properly.

3. Whetstones

Made with bonded abrasives, whetstones are reliable stones for sharpening knives and blades. They offer a consistent grit size, resulting in effective and sharper edges compared to other stones. Read on to learn more about how to use a whetstone.

Different Methods of Knife Sharpening

What to do when you don’t know how to use a whetstone? You could try the following methods:

1. Coffee Mug

This might sound unusual, but trust us—this method works perfectly. Turn your coffee mug upside down and run your knife across the surface. Keep doing this until you feel the blade has been sharpened.

2. Sandpaper

If you don’t know how to use a whetstone, you can use sandpaper since it’s often available. Start with the coarser grit sandpaper and then move to finer grits for maximum sharpness.

3. The Spine of Another Knife

If you don’t know how to use a whetstone, you can use the spine of another knife as a honing tool. Simply run your knife along the spine of the other blade to sharpen it and get back to work.

4. A Manual Knife Sharpener

Also known as a pull-through sharpener, a manual knife sharpener can be the easiest and most affordable way to sharpen your knife. Instead of learning how to use a whetstone, you can use a manual knife sharpener. This sharpener has two slots: a coarse grit for sharpening and a fine grit for polishing.

How to Choose a Whetstone

If you don’t know how to use a whetstone, then you might not be aware of how to choose one either. When selecting a whetstone, make sure to balance cost, quality, number of stones, and grit levels to ensure you pick a good one. For a quality whetstone, it is recommended to choose stones with 120 and 240 grit.

How to Use a Whetstone

Step 1: Soak Your Stones

Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to use a whetstone. When working with whetstones, the first step is to soak your stones in water. Leave them in water for a few minutes before use. Coarse grit stones need 15 to 20 minutes, while fine grit whetstones only need a few minutes.

Step 2: Set Up Your Station

Once soaking is done, set the whetstone on a towel on the kitchen counter. You can also keep a container of water nearby if needed during sharpening. Make sure the stone is placed correctly.

Step 3: Sharpen the First Side

When you begin sharpening, start with your lower-grit stone. Place the heel of your knife on the far edge of the stone and gently drag the knife over the surface. Keep the same angle as you move toward sharpening the tip.

Step 4: Check the Sharpness

After sharpening the first side, check the sharpness again. Run your thumb across the blade edge to feel the burr from handle to tip. If the side is sharp enough, you can move to the next side.

Step 5: Sharpen the Second Side

Maintain an even angle of 15 to 20 degrees as you work on the second side. Make sure your hand is firm but gentle. Continue repeating the strokes until the second side is sharp enough.

Step 6: Fix the Stones

After sharpening both sides, your stones might develop grooves that obstruct sharpening. To fix the stones, use a low-grit stone fixer and move it back and forth to create a flat, new surface.

Step 7: Clean Up  

Use the same towel to clean your knife and stones after sharpening. Allow the stone to dry for a day, then wrap the clean stone in a good fabric cloth.

Step 8: Hone and Test Your Blade

Once you have sharpened your knife, you can hone the blade to align it. After honing, check the blade for sharpness as well. You can even try slicing a tomato to see for yourself how well the knife works after sharpening. If you can easily cut through the tomato, it means your knife is as good as new.

How Do I Know When to Sharpen My Knife?

If you run your fingertips down the knife blade, the knife should feel sharp with distinct edges. If the blade is well-defined with a clear edge, then you are good to go. However, if you feel the blade is dull or rounded, you might need to sharpen the knife.

How to Store and Care for Whetstones

After using and cleaning your whetstones and learning how to use them, store them in a safe place to prevent damage. Wrap your whetstones in a cloth and keep them somewhere secure in your kitchen.

Alternatives to Using Whetstones

1. Electric Knife Sharpeners

Using electric knife sharpeners lets you finish sharpening your knives in just a few minutes without any trouble. Electric sharpeners are known for sharpening knives without flaws or damage.

2. Professional Service

If you don’t have enough time or don’t know how to use a whetstone, professional service can be the best choice. With professional service, you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself; someone else will handle it for you.

FAQs

1. Can You Use a Dry Whetstone?

When you use a dry whetstone, it will quickly slow down and become ineffective. Also, a dry stone requires more effort to clean afterward. Using a wet whetstone allows you to wipe everything off easily.

2. How Do I Polish My Kitchen Knife?

Want to polish a kitchen knife at home? Take your knife and rub the blade with a rag soaked in white vinegar. Then, dry the knife with a dry microfiber cloth.

3. What Are Other Ways to Sharpen My Kitchen Knife?

If you don’t have a whetstone to sharpen your kitchen knife, you can use several other methods. These include using a ceramic mug, choosing a professional service, using an electric sharpener, using sandpaper, or using the spine of another knife.

4. How Do I Maintain My Kitchen Knives?

To maintain your kitchen knives, always keep them clean and dry after use. If the knife gets dirty, wash it regularly with warm soapy water without delay.

5. Can I Use Oil with My Whetstone?

If you choose to use oil with your whetstone, it can be an excellent and effective lubricant. Using oil will improve efficiency and make the sharpening process much better. This is important to know if you want to learn more about how to use a whetstone.

6. Does a Whetstone Need to Be Wet?

The sharpening process improves automatically when you use lubricants like water or oil on a whetstone. Compared to a dry whetstone, a wet whetstone helps wash away the swarf, keeps waste material off, and prevents the stone from clogging.

7. How to Maintain a Whetstone for a Longer Lifespan?

Maintaining your whetstone is essential because when you take care of it, it will last a long time and provide better sharpening. Make sure to sharpen knives at the correct angle, avoid sharpening bulky tools with thick edges, level your stones before sharpening, flip your stone end to end before use, and use enough oil or water during each cleaning.