A good blade can be used in a multitude of ways, including cooking, hunting and protecting yourself from danger. However, a blade is only as good as its edge. In order to keep your knife, razor or sword as edgy and effective as it can be, you can use a sharpening stone.
With that in mind, this guide will go over five of the best sharpening stones on the market. In addition, it will provide useful information about sharpening stones in general.
Hopefully, this information will help you choose the right product for your particular needs.
The Best Sharpening Stone Reviews
1. Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife
This sharpening kit includes a double-sided water stone that can be used to give blades of all types a fantastic edge. Made of superior artificial materials, this stone is incredibly durable and effective. It is also remarkably practical: Soaking it for a few minutes before using it will give it all the lubrication it needs.
In addition to the stone, this kit includes a useful bamboo base that can help you keep everything in place while you sharpen. Apart from that, the kit includes a guide and an instruction manual. Both books can help you refine and improve your blade-sharpening abilities over time.
2. Diamond Machine Technology DMT W6EFC Three 6-Inch Diamond Whetstone
Including three stones with different grit sizes, the Diamond Machine Technology DMT W6EFC Three 6-Inch Diamond Whetstone kit is amazingly practical. These three stones were crafted from materials of the highest quality, ensuring effectiveness as well as durability. What is more, in order to guarantee complete smoothness, these stones use micronized monocrystalline diamonds. These miniature diamonds are precisely the same size, ensuring total uniformity.
Apart from being made of high-quality materials, the Diamond Machine Technology DMT W6EFC has been reinforced using a special type of coating. This proprietary procedure is called HardCoat, and it makes the surface of the stones a lot harder and durable. Meanwhile, the design of the stones allows sharpening details and points with great precision. Without a doubt, all these features make this one of the best diamond sharpening stone options available on the market.
3. Dan’s Whetstone Company Inc. Genuine Arkansas Soft Pocket Knife Sharpening Stone
If you are looking for the best knife sharpening stone on the market, you would be remiss not to take a look at this product. Compact, portable and very effective, Dan’s Whetstone Company Inc. Genuine Arkansas Soft Pocket Knife Sharpener is great for knife users who are always on the move. Despite its compact size, however, this stone is remarkably coarse and powerful. With it, you can quickly and easily get an initial edge on dull, neglected or damaged blades.
Without a doubt, Dan’s Whetstone Company Inc. Genuine Arkansas Soft Pocket Knife Sharpener is a useful, efficient sharpener. That is not all it has got to offer, though. It’s also very stylish and sleek. It comes in a wonderful little leather pouch that fits perfectly in most pockets. The stone itself comes in a variety of colors that you can choose from according to your personal taste. All these are reasons why this product is considered to be one of the best sharpening stones for knives on the market.
4. KNIFEPLANET Knife Sharpening Set
Featuring an expert construction and made of high-quality materials, the KNIFEPLANET Knife Sharpening Set may be the best knife sharpening stone ever made. This great kit includes two different stones, four different grits and two non-slip rubber bases that can help keep you safe during the sharpening process. All these components allow you to perform a complete sharpening session in only a few minutes. The finer grit allows you to smooth out and refine the edge of the blade with total precision.
Made using advanced technology, the stones included in the KNIFEPLANET Knife Sharpening Set are capable of maintaining their shape even after many sharpening sessions. Largely, this has to do with the manufacturing process. This process uses 200 tons of pressure and no additives in order to get the stone to optimal levels of compression. If the shape begins to become deformed, however, you can use the flattening stone included in the set to return it to its original, flat and even shape.
5. Dianova Fallkniven Diamond-Ceramic Whetstone Sharpener
Made of a combination of diamond and ceramic, the Dianova Fallkniven Diamond-Ceramic Whetstone Sharpener is an effective, durable option for knife users. It is covered with fine diamond stones (25 microns) that are incredibly resistant to pressure and heat. Meanwhile, the ceramic stone features synthetic sapphires that help maintain uniformity throughout the sharpening process. In particular, it can be a great option for cooks and chefs. In fact, its portability, practicality and effectiveness make it one of the best sharpening stones for kitchen knives on the market.
The combination of materials used to make this tool, in addition to the high-quality materials it is made of, allow it to sharpen even the hardest steel blades out there. Amazingly, the device is capable of achieving the sharpest edges you have ever seen without using any type of lubrication. At this point, it should be mentioned that, initially, this stone may feel a bit too coarse for regular use. However, it smooths out very quickly, reaching a perfect grit rather quickly. It’s also worth noting that the Dianova Fallkniven Diamond-Ceramic Whetstone Sharpener comes with a leather pouch.
The Best Sharpening Stone Buyer’s Guide
Having the right kind of information is key when it comes to choosing a sharpening stone. Take the following into account:
Types of Whetstones
There are various different types of stones for sharpening. They can be classified into two main groups: natural and artificial. In order to be more precise, however, I classify them according to their material. The resulting categories are as follows:
Oilstone
In the West, oilstones are the most common type of honing stone device. As its name implies, this type of stone uses oil in order to facilitate the sharpening process.
This substance will help get rid of swarf as the sharpening takes place, resulting in great efficiency and reducing the amount of work you have to do.
Unfortunately, this type of stone is somewhat slow. What’s worse, it can be kind of messy due to its oil usage.
However, it is known for producing fantastic results.
Water Stones
Traditionally, water stones are mostly used in the East. Japan, in particular, has a long tradition of using this type of stone for sharpening traditional swords and other types of blades.
However, water stones are beginning to gain popularity in the West as well.
Like oilstones, water stones can be either natural or synthetic.
Unlike oilstones, though, they use water in order to remove swarf during the sharpening process. They are also faster than oilstones.
However, they also tend to wear out faster.
Diamond Stones
Without a doubt, diamond stones are the most expensive and valuable among whetstones. In fact, the best diamond sharpening stone products can be very expensive. However, they are also the most effective: They can sharpen blades the fastest, and their end results tend to have a higher level of quality overall.
As if all that wasn’t enough, they produce the most durable results of all stones for sharpening.
There are two main types of diamond stones for sharpening: holed or continuous. Holed diamond stones are the most common.
However, the continuous type can help sharpen tools with points that might otherwise get caught in the holes of the diamond.
Ceramic Stones
While they are not as popular as some of the others, ceramic stones for sharpening have a few advantages. For one, they can be used without water or oil.
This makes them a great option for quick, on-the-spot sharpening. They are also very compact and portable, making them great for people who work in small, limited spaces.
Despite their size, ceramic stones for sharpening produce a very sharp blade.
How to Use a Whetstone
No matter how good your whetstone is, it will not produce satisfying results unless you know how to use it properly. Take the following into account:
Step 1: Determine the Sharpness
Before you begin the sharpening process, it’s important that you determine how dull the blade is. Depending on this, you will be able to decide the type and size of the stone you will be using.
Step 2: Determine the Grit Size
After you have determined the type of stone you need to use, mind the grit size. Most stones for sharpening have three grit sizes: coarse, medium and fine. The coarse grit size is normally used to remove chips from a damaged blade.
Meanwhile, the medium grit size is used to smooth out a rough edge. Finally, the fine grit size is used to refine and finish off the edge of the blade.
Step 3: Set Up the Stone
At this point, you should place the stone on a stable, flat surface. Before you do that, though, place a damp cloth or vice on the surface. This will prevent the stone from sliding as you sharpen the blade.
Step 4: Lubricate the Stone
Depending on the state of your blade, start with either the coarse or the medium grit size. Take into account that, if you are using an oilstone or a water stone, you should apply the right type of lubricant to the stone before starting the sharpening process.
Step 5: Begin the Sharpening Process
Hold the stone in front of the knife in a 22.5-degree angle. Use your strong hand to hold the handle of the blade. With your other hand, apply pressure to the side of the blade. Draw the blade forward and backward in a rhythmic, continuous motion. When needed, change the grit to a finer one.
Step 6: Clean Everything Up
Once the blade has been sharpened, clean it carefully using a damp cloth. Then, use the cloth to clean the stone thoroughly. Once it has been cleaned, place it in a dry place.
In Conclusion
With everything on the table, it’s easy to see why these products are as popular and well-liked as they are. Efficient, portable and easy to use, all of them can help you keep your knives, razors and swords as edgy as they should be.
However, there is one product that clearly stands out among the rest. Powerful, durable and incredibly effective, the KNIFEPLANET Knife Sharpening Set is, without a doubt, the best sharpening stone on the market in our opinion.
In the end, though, it’s up to you to decide which of these products will be a better fit for your needs. Hopefully, the information provided in this article will make that decision easier.
I’m Nebojša, a seasoned digital marketing professional with over 15 years of experience. My writing covers a diverse range of topics, from technology and gaming to app development and automobiles, all while delving into the intricacies of SEO optimization. Beyond the digital realm, I find solace in nature, inherited from my father’s love for the outdoors. His passion for hunting has influenced me, adding another layer to my appreciation for the natural world.