In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleOur Top PicksReviewsThe Bottom LineChoosing a WhetstoneOur TestsWe Also ConsideredCommon QuestionsOur Trusted Expertise
In This ArticleView All
In This Article
View All
Our Top Picks
Reviews
The Bottom Line
Choosing a Whetstone
Our Tests
We Also Considered
Common Questions
Our Trusted Expertise
Photo:EatingWell / Nick Simpson
EatingWell / Nick Simpson
“Dull knife, dull chef” is a common refrain in culinary schools. It sends a clear message: By neglecting your tools, you’re setting yourself up for failure. For home cooks who don’t have a chef challenging their every move, it is easy to take your knife for granted, even though it’s probably one of the most-used utensil in your kitchen. Aside fromkeeping it out of the dishwasherandstoring it correctly, many cooks don’t know what it takes to maintain this kitchen essential properly.
The whetstone, also called a water stone or sharpening stone, is a true chef-maker. Constructed of either natural or synthetic materials and presented in varying grit levels, a good whetstone can resurrect your knife’s edge from almost any damage. A quick session using a high grit is great for touchups, while a more extended session using progressive grit levels can completely restore a damaged blade. This act of maintenance not only shows respect for an essential kitchen tool but also enhances its effectiveness and safety: A properly sharpened knife will cut precisely, with little pressure and a reduced chance of a slip. (Plus, it makes cutting or chopping much more enjoyable.)
Our Top PicksBest Overall:SALEKing Whetstone Starter Set at Amazon$50$39Jump to ReviewAlso Great:SharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone Kit at Sharpeningsupplies.comJump to ReviewBest Set:Cangshan 7-Piece Kitchen Knife Care & Sharpening Kit at Amazon$120Jump to Review
Best Overall:SALEKing Whetstone Starter Set at Amazon$50$39Jump to ReviewAlso Great:SharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone Kit at Sharpeningsupplies.comJump to ReviewBest Set:Cangshan 7-Piece Kitchen Knife Care & Sharpening Kit at Amazon$120Jump to Review
Best Overall:SALEKing Whetstone Starter Set at Amazon$50$39Jump to Review
Best Overall:SALEKing Whetstone Starter Set at Amazon$50$39
Best Overall:
SALE
Also Great:SharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone Kit at Sharpeningsupplies.comJump to Review
Also Great:SharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone Kit at Sharpeningsupplies.com
Also Great:
Best Set:Cangshan 7-Piece Kitchen Knife Care & Sharpening Kit at Amazon$120Jump to Review
Best Set:Cangshan 7-Piece Kitchen Knife Care & Sharpening Kit at Amazon$120
Best Set:
Best OverallKing Whetstone Starter SetPHOTO: Amazon$50$39 at AmazonView on Oishya.comWhat we like:This compact set is great for home cooks and professionals looking to touch up their knives often and quickly.What to know:This set does not include a grit plate for repairing a damaged knife blade.The King Whetstone Starter Set features a single ceramic whetstone that rests in a plastic base with small silicone feet for stability. The dual-sided stone has a 1000 grit and a 6000 grit side—a good combination for sharpening and polishing blades. The set comes with an angle guide that clips to the spine of the knife to ensure the blade is held at the correct angle during sharpening, as well as a nice soft cloth for wiping down the blade when the job is done.We were really impressed with how well this set took our knife from a dull rolled edge to a “new, high-end cutlery” level of sharpness. We liked the plastic base included with the set because it stayed firmly in place thanks to silicone attachments on the feet. We found this set made a superior edge on our knife during sharpening and left very little mess from excess slurry (a combination of particulate and liquid from the whetstone). This set did, however, not have stones large enough for our knife to pass from heel to tip in a single pass, requiring us to sharpen in sections.Overall, this set was a great performer for sharpening and polishing our knife blade and was a great value for the price. The edge was razor-sharp, cutting paper cleanly, slicing tomatoes in one pass and chopping carrots in various cuts with ease. The set does not include a repair-level coarse grit plate, though, so remaking an edge will require a different stone.Grit:1000/6000 |Weight:16 oz. |Type:Synthetic |Accessories:Plasticbase, angle guide, wiping clothPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonAlso GreatSharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone KitPHOTO: SharpeningSupplies.comView on Sharpeningsupplies.comWhat we like:The wide range of grits and large flattening stone make this a truly complete set.What to know:The set does not come with instructions, though the website is rich with helpful information for beginners.The SharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone Kit features two synthetic stone plates with grit levels ranging from 220 to 8000. Each side has a different grit, and they are color-coded for easy identification. The kit includes a large double-sided flattening stone with 120 and 320 grits for reshaping the water stones after use.The wide range of grits included in the set allows for everything from repairing a damaged blade to polishing a newly sharpened edge. The grits worked well, but the narrow width of the stones made it challenging to sharpen the knife fully—we had to sharpen the blade in sections, adding more time to the process and creating the added challenge of maintaining the correct angle with each section. Also, this kit does not include a base, making it tricky to keep the stones stable during sharpening.That said, the flattening stone was a real plus, allowing us to reshape the stones after use, and the dual sides made flattening easy. This set is not exactly beginner-friendly due to the lack of instructions, but we think it would benefit someone with damaged blades that need restored to their former glory, or the home chef dedicated to keeping their collection in top shape.Grit:220/1000/3000/8000 |Weight:16 oz. |Type:Synthetic |Accessories:Flattening stonePHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonBest SetCangshan 7-Piece Kitchen Knife Care & Sharpening KitPHOTO: Amazon$120 at AmazonView on Cangshancutlery.comWhat we like:This all-in-one set comes with a lot of accessories and a handy case to keep it all together.What to know:The base is unstable when wet, and we had to use a towel to keep the unit in place.This Cangshan Cutlery set comes with more than just whetstones. Packaged in a compact case, the kit includes a dual-sided synthetic stone with grits suitable for sharpening and polishing, plus a base, an angle guide, blade oil, a leather strop with polishing compound, a cleaning cloth and cut-resistant gloves. However, we did notice that this set did not include a low-numbered grit for repairing a damaged blade.This set is very striking because of all the useful accessories. The acacia wood base is very attractive, but it did slip during sharpening as we wet the stones, requiring us to place a towel underneath for stability. The strop was one of the best items included in the set, making it possible to put a striking shine on any knife.The Cangshan did a great job of sharpening our knives. The slurry formed quickly, and raising the burr (the waste metal that forms during sharpening) took fewer strokes than with other stones. While the included instructions did a good job of explaining the contents of the set, they didn’t outline the process of sharpening very well.The extra accessories make this a terrific set for someone truly enthusiastic about all the steps in keeping their knives in good working condition. However, because there is no stone with a grit level suitable for repair work, this set is better for maintaining knives than fixing them.Grit:1000/6000 |Weight:6 oz. |Type:Synthetic |Accessories:Acacia wood base, knife angle guide, blade oil, leather strop, polishing compound, microfiber cleaning cloth, cut-resistant gloves, storage bagPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick Simpson
Best OverallKing Whetstone Starter SetPHOTO: Amazon$50$39 at AmazonView on Oishya.comWhat we like:This compact set is great for home cooks and professionals looking to touch up their knives often and quickly.What to know:This set does not include a grit plate for repairing a damaged knife blade.The King Whetstone Starter Set features a single ceramic whetstone that rests in a plastic base with small silicone feet for stability. The dual-sided stone has a 1000 grit and a 6000 grit side—a good combination for sharpening and polishing blades. The set comes with an angle guide that clips to the spine of the knife to ensure the blade is held at the correct angle during sharpening, as well as a nice soft cloth for wiping down the blade when the job is done.We were really impressed with how well this set took our knife from a dull rolled edge to a “new, high-end cutlery” level of sharpness. We liked the plastic base included with the set because it stayed firmly in place thanks to silicone attachments on the feet. We found this set made a superior edge on our knife during sharpening and left very little mess from excess slurry (a combination of particulate and liquid from the whetstone). This set did, however, not have stones large enough for our knife to pass from heel to tip in a single pass, requiring us to sharpen in sections.Overall, this set was a great performer for sharpening and polishing our knife blade and was a great value for the price. The edge was razor-sharp, cutting paper cleanly, slicing tomatoes in one pass and chopping carrots in various cuts with ease. The set does not include a repair-level coarse grit plate, though, so remaking an edge will require a different stone.Grit:1000/6000 |Weight:16 oz. |Type:Synthetic |Accessories:Plasticbase, angle guide, wiping clothPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick Simpson
Best OverallKing Whetstone Starter SetPHOTO: Amazon$50$39 at AmazonView on Oishya.com
Best OverallKing Whetstone Starter Set
Best Overall
King Whetstone Starter Set
PHOTO: Amazon
$50$39 at AmazonView on Oishya.com
What we like:This compact set is great for home cooks and professionals looking to touch up their knives often and quickly.
What to know:This set does not include a grit plate for repairing a damaged knife blade.
The King Whetstone Starter Set features a single ceramic whetstone that rests in a plastic base with small silicone feet for stability. The dual-sided stone has a 1000 grit and a 6000 grit side—a good combination for sharpening and polishing blades. The set comes with an angle guide that clips to the spine of the knife to ensure the blade is held at the correct angle during sharpening, as well as a nice soft cloth for wiping down the blade when the job is done.
We were really impressed with how well this set took our knife from a dull rolled edge to a “new, high-end cutlery” level of sharpness. We liked the plastic base included with the set because it stayed firmly in place thanks to silicone attachments on the feet. We found this set made a superior edge on our knife during sharpening and left very little mess from excess slurry (a combination of particulate and liquid from the whetstone). This set did, however, not have stones large enough for our knife to pass from heel to tip in a single pass, requiring us to sharpen in sections.
Overall, this set was a great performer for sharpening and polishing our knife blade and was a great value for the price. The edge was razor-sharp, cutting paper cleanly, slicing tomatoes in one pass and chopping carrots in various cuts with ease. The set does not include a repair-level coarse grit plate, though, so remaking an edge will require a different stone.
Grit:1000/6000 |Weight:16 oz. |Type:Synthetic |Accessories:Plasticbase, angle guide, wiping cloth
PHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick Simpson
Also GreatSharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone KitPHOTO: SharpeningSupplies.comView on Sharpeningsupplies.comWhat we like:The wide range of grits and large flattening stone make this a truly complete set.What to know:The set does not come with instructions, though the website is rich with helpful information for beginners.The SharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone Kit features two synthetic stone plates with grit levels ranging from 220 to 8000. Each side has a different grit, and they are color-coded for easy identification. The kit includes a large double-sided flattening stone with 120 and 320 grits for reshaping the water stones after use.The wide range of grits included in the set allows for everything from repairing a damaged blade to polishing a newly sharpened edge. The grits worked well, but the narrow width of the stones made it challenging to sharpen the knife fully—we had to sharpen the blade in sections, adding more time to the process and creating the added challenge of maintaining the correct angle with each section. Also, this kit does not include a base, making it tricky to keep the stones stable during sharpening.That said, the flattening stone was a real plus, allowing us to reshape the stones after use, and the dual sides made flattening easy. This set is not exactly beginner-friendly due to the lack of instructions, but we think it would benefit someone with damaged blades that need restored to their former glory, or the home chef dedicated to keeping their collection in top shape.Grit:220/1000/3000/8000 |Weight:16 oz. |Type:Synthetic |Accessories:Flattening stonePHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick Simpson
Also GreatSharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone KitPHOTO: SharpeningSupplies.comView on Sharpeningsupplies.com
Also GreatSharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone Kit
Also Great
SharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone Kit
PHOTO: SharpeningSupplies.com
View on Sharpeningsupplies.com
What we like:The wide range of grits and large flattening stone make this a truly complete set.
What to know:The set does not come with instructions, though the website is rich with helpful information for beginners.
The SharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided Water Stone Kit features two synthetic stone plates with grit levels ranging from 220 to 8000. Each side has a different grit, and they are color-coded for easy identification. The kit includes a large double-sided flattening stone with 120 and 320 grits for reshaping the water stones after use.
The wide range of grits included in the set allows for everything from repairing a damaged blade to polishing a newly sharpened edge. The grits worked well, but the narrow width of the stones made it challenging to sharpen the knife fully—we had to sharpen the blade in sections, adding more time to the process and creating the added challenge of maintaining the correct angle with each section. Also, this kit does not include a base, making it tricky to keep the stones stable during sharpening.
That said, the flattening stone was a real plus, allowing us to reshape the stones after use, and the dual sides made flattening easy. This set is not exactly beginner-friendly due to the lack of instructions, but we think it would benefit someone with damaged blades that need restored to their former glory, or the home chef dedicated to keeping their collection in top shape.
Grit:220/1000/3000/8000 |Weight:16 oz. |Type:Synthetic |Accessories:Flattening stone
Best SetCangshan 7-Piece Kitchen Knife Care & Sharpening KitPHOTO: Amazon$120 at AmazonView on Cangshancutlery.comWhat we like:This all-in-one set comes with a lot of accessories and a handy case to keep it all together.What to know:The base is unstable when wet, and we had to use a towel to keep the unit in place.This Cangshan Cutlery set comes with more than just whetstones. Packaged in a compact case, the kit includes a dual-sided synthetic stone with grits suitable for sharpening and polishing, plus a base, an angle guide, blade oil, a leather strop with polishing compound, a cleaning cloth and cut-resistant gloves. However, we did notice that this set did not include a low-numbered grit for repairing a damaged blade.This set is very striking because of all the useful accessories. The acacia wood base is very attractive, but it did slip during sharpening as we wet the stones, requiring us to place a towel underneath for stability. The strop was one of the best items included in the set, making it possible to put a striking shine on any knife.The Cangshan did a great job of sharpening our knives. The slurry formed quickly, and raising the burr (the waste metal that forms during sharpening) took fewer strokes than with other stones. While the included instructions did a good job of explaining the contents of the set, they didn’t outline the process of sharpening very well.The extra accessories make this a terrific set for someone truly enthusiastic about all the steps in keeping their knives in good working condition. However, because there is no stone with a grit level suitable for repair work, this set is better for maintaining knives than fixing them.Grit:1000/6000 |Weight:6 oz. |Type:Synthetic |Accessories:Acacia wood base, knife angle guide, blade oil, leather strop, polishing compound, microfiber cleaning cloth, cut-resistant gloves, storage bagPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick Simpson
Best SetCangshan 7-Piece Kitchen Knife Care & Sharpening KitPHOTO: Amazon$120 at AmazonView on Cangshancutlery.com
Best SetCangshan 7-Piece Kitchen Knife Care & Sharpening Kit
Best Set
Cangshan 7-Piece Kitchen Knife Care & Sharpening Kit
$120 at AmazonView on Cangshancutlery.com
What we like:This all-in-one set comes with a lot of accessories and a handy case to keep it all together.
What to know:The base is unstable when wet, and we had to use a towel to keep the unit in place.
This Cangshan Cutlery set comes with more than just whetstones. Packaged in a compact case, the kit includes a dual-sided synthetic stone with grits suitable for sharpening and polishing, plus a base, an angle guide, blade oil, a leather strop with polishing compound, a cleaning cloth and cut-resistant gloves. However, we did notice that this set did not include a low-numbered grit for repairing a damaged blade.
This set is very striking because of all the useful accessories. The acacia wood base is very attractive, but it did slip during sharpening as we wet the stones, requiring us to place a towel underneath for stability. The strop was one of the best items included in the set, making it possible to put a striking shine on any knife.
The Cangshan did a great job of sharpening our knives. The slurry formed quickly, and raising the burr (the waste metal that forms during sharpening) took fewer strokes than with other stones. While the included instructions did a good job of explaining the contents of the set, they didn’t outline the process of sharpening very well.
The extra accessories make this a terrific set for someone truly enthusiastic about all the steps in keeping their knives in good working condition. However, because there is no stone with a grit level suitable for repair work, this set is better for maintaining knives than fixing them.
Grit:1000/6000 |Weight:6 oz. |Type:Synthetic |Accessories:Acacia wood base, knife angle guide, blade oil, leather strop, polishing compound, microfiber cleaning cloth, cut-resistant gloves, storage bag
PHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick Simpson
The Bottom Line: The Best Whetstones
TheKING Whetstone Starter Set(1000/6000) (view at Amazon) made sharpening our knives an easy experience, making it our top recommendation. The compact nature of the set makes it a great option for professionals touching up their knives on the go, as well as home cooks wanting to easily maintain their tools. If you tend to be harder on your knives or have some damaged ones to repair, theSharpeningSupplies.com Double-Sided 8-Inch Water Stone Kit(view at SharpeningSupplies.com) is the set for you. It’s equipped with all the grit levels you need to bring your knives back to life, along with a flattening stone to keep your grit plates in pristine shape.
Choose a Stone Type Based on Your Needs
Synthetic stones are most often made of ceramic material bound together to create the spatial density or grit required. Because they are manmade, the grit is more consistent and can be exact to the number indicated, making these stones easier for beginners trying to follow detailed instructions. Both types of stone need a cutting fluid to work properly. That can be either oil or water, depending on the stone. Though the term “whet” would seem to indicate water wetness, it actually comes from an antiquated word meaning “to sharpen,” so be sure to consult the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct fluid for your stone.
The Grit Level Matters for Repair vs. Sharpening or Polishing
The grit number on a stone is an indication of the density of the abrasive particles, and this number, or grit level, directly correlates to its application in the honing process. The three main levels are repair, sharpening and polishing. Repairing a damaged blade requires a lower-numbered, coarser grit that will remove more material from the blade and allow the edge to be reformed. It will then need to go through the higher grit levels to sharpen and eventually polish the blade, which refines the edge. Everyday wear can require as little as a few grit levels, medium and fine, to touch up any dullness and add polish. Choosing the right whetstone for your knives will depend on the level of need you anticipate.
Choose a Design Compatible With Your Knife Collection
Length and width play a role in how well the sharpening stone can be used for a particular knife. To get a good pass that will sharpen the knife from heel to tip, you’ll need a stone that is adequate to the size of the knife. A larger knife would require longer and wider stones to accommodate the entire blade in a single motion. Although with practice you can sharpen a knife well in sections, it will take more time and skill to maintain the blade angle.
An additional design consideration is the stability of the stone when in use. Some sets include a base, which can create added stability, especially if they have some grip material on the bottom. Individual stones without a base can be challenging to anchor for sharpening.
Our Whetstone Tests
For our testing, we began with equally dull knives rated at 1100 based on the BESS (Brubacher Edge Sharpness Scale) measurement. We cut paper, carrots and tomatoes with the dull knives before and after testing to compare the feel and performance of the sharpened knives. Then, we rated them on ease of use, design and performance.
Zwilling Kramer Accessories Knife Sharpening Set (400, 1000, 5000)($400 at Amazon):We loved the adjustable bamboo base that came with this set. It held each stone firmly and was stable on the tabletop when sharpening. The stones were wide enough to sharpen easily. With no instructions included, this might not be a great set for a beginner, but we think it’s terrific for a seasoned pro—though it does come with a hefty price tag. If you want the same quality at a lower cost, you may wish to try the more inexpensive Zwilling Sharpening Stone ($150 atBed Bath & Beyond) set, which we rated highly in our previous round of tests.
Shun 3-Piece Sharpening System, 1000/6000($135 at Amazon):The non-slip feet on the base were great at securing the tool during sharpening, but the angle of the base made it very challenging to maintain a proper angle and get the full range of motion needed to sharpen the entire blade. That said, the comprehensive instructions make this an optimal choice for a beginner looking to make simple touchups to newer knives.
Wüsthof Gourmet Tri-Stone Sharpener($60 at Amazon):A winner for “best budget-friendly whetstone” in our last round of testing, the Tri-Stone had the most interesting design of any set we tested. It features a triangular block housing a different grit plate on each flat side, resting in a wooden base so the grit in use was on top. Though it seemed like a stable setup at first glance, we were disappointed with the rocking that occurred during sharpening. The included grits were listed only as coarse, medium and fine with no actual number rating, and the stones were shorter than our knives, leading us to conclude that this set would be best for seasoned sharpeners looking to work with shorter knives.
Mizuyama Sharpening Stone (1000/6000)($79 at Korin):This double-sided stone brought our knives to a sharp edge. However, the included nonslip mat proved to be less stable than we would have liked, and the size of the stone makes sharpening 8- and 10-inch blades a challenge. While this set worked well with shorter knives, these limitations ultimately kept this sharpening stone off of our best-of list.
How do you sharpen a knife with a whetstone?
Sharpening a knife with a whetstone involves time, patience and a steady hand. You first want to soak your stones (if they require water). You should then create a sharpening station where the stones can be used safely—whether your set has a base or not, ensuring the stone’s stability is key. Next, you’ll want to choose which level of grit you’ll want to start with; what you choose will depend on your knife’s level of dullness or damage. Set your stone vertically and work in a fluid motion from the heel to the tip of the knife, focusing on one side at a time and pulling toward yourself with your knife at an angle.
After a fair number of passes, you will begin to see a slurry form. This is a combination of the sharpening fluid and displaced stone material, which, when combined, do the legwork of grinding down the blade. You may need to make up to 70 or 80 passes on each side of the knife with a single grit depending on the level of honing your blade needs to raise the “burr” on the knife’s cutting edge. Throughout the process, you will sprinkle water on your stone or add oil to maintain a moist surface. After the burr is raised, you can shift to a higher grit for polishing the edge of the stone. This will remove less of the edge while adding that razor-sharp quality.
How do you clean a whetstone?
After you have finished sharpening your knife, you’ll need to thoroughly rinse your stones, brushing them lightly with your hands to remove any slurry and loose filings, and then place them on a clean towel to dry for a few days. Once they are completely dry, grab some honing oil (do not substitute other oils for this as they can clog your stone’s pores) and a toothbrush. Then, working in a circular motion, brush the entire surface of the stones with the oil to dislodge any additional grit and filings from the pores. Wipe the stones with a cloth, then rinse the stones again for a few minutes and dry them completely before storing them.
How frequently should you sharpen your kitchen knives?
Once you start to pay attention to your knives, you will find they have been talking to you all along. The decline in the performance of a knife is the number one indicator that it needs some attention. If you notice your knife needs more pressure to make common cuts, or if it snags on a piece of produce, you definitely need to sharpen it. Taking the time to sharpen your knife will ensure a consistently sharp knife—and a safer experience for you.
What is a honing rod, and what does it do?
How long do sharpening stones last?
Sharpening stones can last for years, but only if you maintain them properly. Over time, the surface of a whetstone can become uneven with use or clogged with metal particles, reducing its effectiveness. To keep your sharpening stones in top condition, you’ll want to clean them after each use and flatten them regularly (how often depends on the grit; low or medium-grit whetstones wear more quickly than harder stones). As with any kitchen tool, regular maintenance will be your key to keeping your sharpening stones in top shape.
How do I flatten a whetstone?
Flattening a whetstone is something you should consider after several uses. Over time, you stones can wear unevenly. Without a level surface, it becomes harder to sharpen your knives, as it becomes more challenging to keep them in contact with the sharpening stone. A simple way to check if your stone needs flattening is to hold an object with a straight edge, like a ruler, across the length and width of your stone. If you see any gaps, it needs to be flattened. Many sharpening stone kits come with a flattening stone (also known as a lapping plate) just for this purpose.
To start, you’ll need your flattening stone, running water (your sink is perfect), and a pencil. Using the pencil, make a series of lines widthwise across your whetstone. No need to be precise; this is just a way for you to measure your progress. Next, turn on your faucet, place the flattening stone underneath the tap, and start rubbing your whetstone across its surface in a circular motion, pencil-mark-side-down. As you work, the water from your faucet will help remove debris.
After several strokes, lift your stone and check your progress. Once all your pencil marks are gone, you know that your sharpening stone has been flattened. Repeat on the opposite side as needed. You can also use the ruler test to double-check your work. With regular flattening, your whetstones will sharpen your knives for years to come.
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