Japanese whetstones were originally used by samurai to sharpen weapons. Modern whetstones combine ancient traditions and new processing technologies. The name of the water stones speaks for itself: they are immersed in water before use. It is impossible to use them using or with oil. Despite the large selection of modern sharpening devices, whetstones remain the best tool both for sharpening blunt knives and for constantly maintaining the cutting edge in perfect condition.
Japanese whetstones differ in terms of granularity. This indicator is always shown on the packaging and on the product page. Stones of 220 grit and below are used to repair damage or sharpen very blunt knives. It is necessary to handle such stones carefully, they are suitable for people already familiar with the skills of sharpening. Stones from 300 to 600 grit are also very coarse. They will easily sharpen any tools that are difficult to sharpen.
1000 grit is the optimal grain size for sharpening European knives. For sharpening Japanese knives, stones with a grain size from 1000 to 3000 grit are suitable. Water stones with an index of 8000 units are used for finishing the blade. Our store also offers special stands that are convenient to put in the sink. The stone is fixed on them with special fasteners. Also, most of the japanese whetstones have a plastic stand included. Over time, after repeated use, the surface of the water stone may deform. Special stones are used to correct it, for example, Tojiro F-421 or Naniwa A-102. Our assortment also includes stones that must be used without water, diamond and other sharpening tools.
