Like so many others who get into blacksmithing, I’m interested in making knives by hand. I’m just starting the whole (very complicated) process of learning with the goal to make a set of kitchen knives for myself since I love to cook and do most of it being a stay at home dad.
Knives play a critical role when it comes to food preparation. But as you use your knife over and over, the blade dulls and the edges chip away. Dull blades are dangerous because you generally need to apply more pressure when cutting and if/when a slip happens the cut can be far worse than the light nick from a razor-sharp knife moving with almost no force. So to keep your knives safe, you need to sharpen them regularly with a sharpening stone, also called a whetstone.
If you are new to sharpening
and don’t want to learn all the details of how to use a sharpening stone then I’d highly recommend going with a sharpening system designed to make it foolproof to get a razor’s edge with little effort beyond sliding the knife down the ceramic rod like you are chopping vegetables.
- Two-stage Ceramic Stick sharpener with two sets of medium grit and fine grit 5-inch ceramic rods
- Hardwood base with internal rod storage
- Easy to store in kitchen drawer, tackle box or tool box
- Two pre-set sharpening angles
- One-year warranty for materials and workmanship
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Whether you’re a housewife, househusband, a chef, or a camping buff, a sharpening stone will make your work so much easier and enjoyable. But not all sharpening stones are good for your knife or whatever blade you use. In fact, there are 4 main kinds of sharpening stones on the market today, namely water stones, oil stones, ceramic stones, and diamond stones.
Sharpening stones are available in different materials, sizes, and shapes. They may be flat or feature a complex edge based on the blade to be sharpened. All things considered, here’s a rundown of the 4 main kinds of sharpening stones out there.
Before We Get Started: A Note On Sharpening vs. Honing
Sharpening is quite different from honing even though they are often confused.
When using any of the many kinds of sharpening stones you are grinding away at the metal edge of the knife and removing steel in the process. Honing using any of the many kinds of honing steel 
or what are sometimes advertised as sharpening tools do not remove steel.
It doesn’t use grit like an oil, diamond or another whetstone abrasive but a hard steel surface to move the edge. What honing steel does is straighten or even uncurl the very fine edge of the blade so that it comes to a point rather than a bluntly rounded surface.
Types of sharpening stones
Oil sharpening stones
These are the traditional sharpening stones that many people in the West grew up using. They’re made from one of these materials: Aluminum Oxide, Silicon Carbide, or Novaculite and utilize oil for metal filing (swarf) removal.
The most common oil sharpening stones are Novaculite natural stones. They’re mined in Arkansas and used to make what are known as Arkansas stones. Arkansas stones come in different grades based on the density and finish the stone creates on a blade.
Washita is the coarsest grade and isn’t used often today as it’s very soft. Hard Arkansas, Hard Translucent Arkansas, Hard Black Arkansas, and Soft Arkansas are the finer grades. These oil stones often cut slower than synthetic stones but can leave a polished edge. Hard Translucent Arkansas and Hard Black Arkansas are rarer and therefore costlier.
Silicon Carbide oil stones are the fastest when it comes to cutting. Those manufactured by Norton are known as Crystolon stones. Silicon Carbide stones are also graded as coarse, medium, and fine grit, and are usually grey in color.
While Silicone Carbide stones won’t produce a fine edge like natural or India stones will, the fast cutting ability makes them perfect for the initial coarse sharpening. As they sharpen fast, it’s ideal to use coarse Crystolon stones, followed by a fine India stone, and finally an Arkansas stone.
Before getting to know about oil stones, bear in mind that they’re the slowest cutters of all sharpening stones. And due to oil, it’s very difficult to clear out the swarf after use. Of all the modern types of sharpening stones, Oil stones are falling out of favour for more effective and easier to use options.
Click below to see examples of each type of oil stone on Amazon.
Water sharpening stones
Water stones come in natural and synthetic forms, but synthetic varieties are more common. While water stones are comparatively newer in the market, they’ve become very popular these days snd are often in the bestseller spot on Amazon. Moreover, sharpening experts consider them one of the best sharpening stones.
They’re very easy to use and come in different grit levels. They only need to be soaked in water for around 5-15 minutes before use.
Like India stones, man-made water stones are made from Aluminum Oxide. But there’s a difference between the two. As water stones are the softer of the two, they cut faster than India stones.
Water stones are easier to clean as well, and won’t leave oil residue on tools. Owing to the increased use of water for sharpening and improved performance, many people now sharpen their kitchen knives, other blades and other household tools with water stones.
However, water stones do require maintenance and they can become brittle when soaked in water so be careful after soaking. But contrary to older style oil stones, this type of sharpening stones have been getting ever more popular because of ease of use and cost. That said, what I’ve put below is a very reasonably priced all in one kit that you can’t really go wrong with.
- ✅CHOOSE THE MOST COMPLETE KNIFE SHARPENING KIT TO SAVE YOUR TIME AND MONEY - All the sharpening tools you need are here: 400/1000 grit water stone to sharpen dull knives, 3000/8000 grit water stone to refine the edge, coarse Flattening Stone to keep your water stones flat all the time, Non-slip Bamboo Board to keep the stones safely in place while sharpening, Angle Guider holds the knife on the correct angle, Leather Strop to polish knife and removing burr.
- ✅THIS VERSATILE KNIFE SHARPENING STONES CAN SHARPEN ALL KINDS OF FLAT BLADE AND LET THEM SHARP AGAIN - The 4 kind grit is accurate, choose the appropriate grit stone according to your knife blade. Whether expensive Wusthof or cheap stainless steel kitchen knife, include Scissors, X-acto Blades, Pocket Knives, Hunting Knives, Chisel, Axe, Razor, Sword or even Machete, the knife sharpening stone set can sharpen it like new. You will get a great sense of accomplishment in this sharpening process!
- ✅YOU CAN GET STARTED QUICKLY EVEN IF YOU HAVE NEVER SHARPEN ANY KNIFE - Whoever you are professional or amateur, the water stone set is the best for you. Compare to arkansas stones or slipstone grinders, our knife sharpener kit just need to been soaked in water for 10 minutes and no need expensive sharpening oil! Experiments prove water truly works better and makes clean-up easier! Sharpening your knife with the knife stone sharpener, you will be a professional sharpening master in a short time!
- ✅BUILT TO LAST AND IDEAL GIFT FOR YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS - Our water sharpening stone are made from professional grade Corundum which is Aluminum Oxide, each piece water stone for sharpening was HAND STICKY not like other machine suppression, so our stone not only have a much more precise grit but also very durable. Besides, we REINFORCED bamboo base and package to prevent damage during transportation, THICKEN non-slip mat and leather strop to provide better friction.
- ✅REAL 24/7 AFTER-SALES SERVICE AND 30 DAYS NO REASON TO RETURN SERVICE - Our whetstone sharpening stone was inspected by third inspection company under a durability and functionality test before shipped to you. We have been doing our best to make our products satisfy every customer, but there will always be some unexpected situations, so if you have any questions or dissatisfaction with our products, please feel free to contact us, we will definitely solve your problem in the first place!
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Diamond sharpening stones
Diamond stones are fast becoming the most popular types of sharpening stones and are now the go-to option for many experts and chefs. They’re made of synthetic diamonds attached to a metal plate in a process known as electroplating. The diamond bits are implanted in nickel plating, giving them their incredible durability.
Diamond stones work extremely fast, are very durable, and will sharpen anything with a blade quickly, including stainless steel, ceramic, and high carbon knives.
Diamond stones can come with both an interrupted and solid surface. They quickly remove steel, require minimal maintenance, and are unlikely to be worn out by the average user.
Diamond stones usually have perforated surfaces to hold ground metal (swarf), but some models don’t have that. They’re also available in a variety of grades and abrasion levels.
The key benefits of diamond stones are that they sharpen very fast and keep their flat shape more easily than any stone, which may become hollowed or curved because of the sharpening process.
Ceramic sharpening stones
Ceramic stones have a different quality as they’re synthetic. They’re made from extremely tough materials and thus are long-lasting. They can be used without water or oil. In fact, using water or oil is optional.
Ceramic stones require a higher maintenance level as they can very easily break. As with other stones, you need to clean them after every use. Most people don’t know much about ceramic stones. And as they’re very tough, they’re usually used in the refining or honing stages of sharpening.
If you are just starting out these might not be the best choice for a first sharpening stone. However, if you are curious you can see what is available on Amazon for ceramic kinds of sharpening stones. .
Summary of the types of sharpening stones
Different blades require different kinds of sharpening stones, which come with an array of grit levels. If you’ve never used a sharpening stone before, you can begin with man-made water stones or pick your own stone. But be sure to choose the right stone for your blade.
When deciding what kind of sharpening stone you might need it seems clear that there is more to consider than just what grit to choose. You need to decide what kind of stone you need based on what steel your knife is made from and where you will be sharpening it.
Oil whetstones are great for use in the shop or at home. But if you are out in the bush you are probably better off with a whetstone that only needs to be soaked in water since that will likely be easier to come by. You can even find portable all-in-1 sharpeners like this one
- COMPLETE KNIFE SHARPENER - field, home or shop use designed for sportsmen who need a complete, compact field sharpening solution. The diamond plates can be easily removed to expose a broad head wrench to speed sharpening in the field. Diamond plates can be attached with the abrasive exposed or flipped over during transport in your gear bag.
- DIAMOND PLATES, CERAMIC RODS, LEATHER STROP, & SHARPENING GUIDES - provide a fast, easy & consistent sharpening solution for knives & camp tools. The ceramic honing rod rotates to expose coarse & fine honing surfaces, as well as a grooved surface for sharpening fish hooks. A second, small ceramic rod is used for sharpening serrations
- CONSISTENT BLADE EDGE ANGLES - purpose built 20° angle guide for sharpening with the diamond plates, & 25° angle guide for honing a strong micro-bevel. Five abrasive steps provide a complete sharpening solution: coarse & fine diamond sharpening plates, coarse & fine ceramic hones, & a leather strop.
- COMPACT & DURABLE - maintain your edge while out hunting, fishing, camping or anywhere you need a sharp edge. All elements are self-contained & require no tools, assembly, or set-up
- PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN COMPANY - This tool was engineered and assembled by hard working Americans. Work Sharp is part of Darex, a 4th-generation family owned company in Ashland, Oregon. For over 40 years we have been creating industry-leading sharpening tools here in the USA.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
that are made to be carried on a belt.
Diamond types of sharpening stones are great for being super long life and able to sharpen even the hardest steel however they are not usually made in the easiest to carry sizes except in the above all-in-1 which usually leaves them in the shop or at home.
As far as Grit choices I personally use a 200/1000 grit for most of my every day carry knives. 200 grit is great for apexing if there are nicks and chips out of the edge. 1000 grit is my go to for just maintaining an already established edge. Sure you can apex with a 1000 grit but it will take you FAR longer than on a more aggressive grit.
Some will say that 1000 is not high enough but with 1000 grit and a quick stropping I get my knives sharp enough to shave easily without grabbing hairs. For me, that is more than adequate for a knife I use every day for a multitude of tasks.
Happy sharpening!
If I had to pick one for a beginner looking to use a proper whetstone for sharpening knives it would be the kit I mentioned earlier. It has everything you need to get razor sharp edges with a little practice. Knife Sharpening Stone Set – 400/1000 and 3000/8000-Grit Professional, Safe Knife Sharpener Set – Whetstone Set Includes Flattening Stone, Bamboo Base, and 2 Nonslip Rubber Bases
