It depends on the grit, but you’re probable good using your whetstone once per month to sharpen your knife. The proper word actually is whet, when used about sharpening stones. You need something to keep the stone from sliding around while also trapping wayward water. You don’t need to invest thousand dollars to get a superb quality knife but you can make your average knife a precious one by sharpening it by a good quality sharpener. One side of the leather strop is smooth, the other side... Coarse and fine diamond stones in one compact sharpener, Sharpening groove for fish hooks and pointed tools. Here are a few common mistakes to avoid when using a whetstone: In addition to using your whetstone properly, here are some more tips and tricks: Yes. Best Hunting Knife Sharpeners Reviews: Must-have for Hunters, Best Electric Knife Sharpeners Reviews: Top 7 Reviewed, How To Use A Machete Safely: 5 Most Common Problems And Solutions [Infographic], Machete History: The Rise of a Super Tool, Different Types of Machetes: 10 Most Common Ones, How to Sharpen a Machete: 5 Most Effective Ways, Machete Care: A Definitive Guide On How to Clean a Blade. If your knife is dull, it is recommended that you begin by using the diamond side, which will restore the wedge shape of the blade's edge. While people sometimes confuse a whetstone with a water stone, or wet stone, a whetstone does not need to be wet. Actually, it’s the easiest, fastest and most effective way to sharpen knives. When using this whetstone, it helps to take a piece of wood and hammer four small nails into it, and sit the stone in between them to hold it steady, otherwise, due to it's light weight, it has a tendency to move around when you try to use it! the thickness of the blade, and start moving the knife in circular motions. Intended for sharpening all types of tools and knives. Do you have to soak all sharpening stones before use? So, let’s talk about how to use the handy kit. Today, we’re going to go over exactly how to use a whetstone, what the advantages are and some common mistakes to avoid. Whetstones are not very pricy but serve you quality work. If you have a wet stone, or water stone, it needs to be soaked 5-10 minutes before you sharpen your blade. The smaller the grit value, the coarser the stone. These types of stones are synthetic and softer than oil stones. Any stone used for sharpening purpose was called a whetstone before. Use no oil or water. If it’s not, just splash some water on it, you needn’t re-soak it. If you feel the edge is sharpened enough with the coarse side, then flip over your stone to the finer side and repeat step 5,6 and 7 for a more smooth edge. Before flip over your stone be sure the stone is still wet. A whetstone is probably the most popular way to do this. There is a variety of materials used to create whetstones, some are natural, others synthetically produced. Now that you know how to use a whetstone, it’s a good idea to start on a knife that’s not that important while you get the hang of it.Once you’re comfortable with the process, you can move on to your favorite blades! Then, draw the blade along the stone from tip to handle until sharpened nicely. It is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice and/or treatment. A certain type of whetstone, called a water stone (confusing – we know) does need to be soaked. Check your knife’s sharpness. Whetstone or wet stone which is correct? Synthetic stones perform better than natural stone but pricy. Try to know some further tips and tricks for using sharpening stones effectively and maintain safety procedure. Are you looking for more guides on how to clean, maintain or sharpen your knife? Among oil stones, you can find coarse, medium, and fine versions. Now that you know how to use a whetstone, it’s a good idea to start on a knife that’s not that important while you get the hang of it. Here are the differences I can detect: If you want to keep your knives functional and in optional condition, you can adopt the habit of sharpening. Fixed your stone in a flat surface over a towel or non-slippage base so that the stone doesn’t move while sharpening knives. Hunting knives, pocket knives, survival knives, and sport knives require an angle of 25-30 degrees. Step 7: Switch over the blade’s second side. After sharpening is done, clean both the whetstone and knife by removing metal particles and keep them in a dry place. After restoring the edge to original shape, de-burr the edge lightly with the ceramic stone in order to get a razor-sharp edge. Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone 2 Side Grit 1000/6000 Waterstone- Whetstone... Fiskars Clearing Tool Garden Machete , 15" - 385091-1002, Ontario Knife Company 6144 Military Machete - Retail Package, 18", Black, Cold Steel 97KMSZ Machete, Kukri W/Sheath, Bora 501057 Fine/Coarse Combination Sharpening Stone, Aluminum Oxide, Lansky Puck - Dual Grit Multi-Purpose Sharpener - Blade & Tool Sharpener, Corona AC 8300, Garden Tool Blade Sharpener, 1-Pack, Basic Pack. A coarse grit (a lower number) will remove a lot of particles from the blade whereas finer grit (a higher number) is used for finishing an edge smoothly. And after sharpening your blade, assure its safety. A water stone is a type of sharpening stone that does need to be lubricated, as you’ll see below. It means the stone is ready to use. IDEAL FOR SHARPENING ALL STRAIGHT BLADES: Excludes saw blades. Whether you’re working with kitchen knives or your trusty pocket knife, a whetstone will last a long time and help you get the best performance out of your most prized knives. Final Thoughts. Start by laying the blade flat on the stone, raise the blade spine approx. The word “whet” means to sharpen. Place your blade at an angle of 30-35 degrees on the stone if you are sharpening your machete or kukri. Arkansas sharpening stone and Japanese whetstone are prominent natural stones. Share this guideline with your friends! Small grit means a coarser stone. But nowadays, the terms sharpening stone or honing stone have largely replaced by whetstone, but you will still hear it used occasionally. How to Choose Between Machetes for Your Intended Use? In order to get the best performance and most longevity out of your knife, you’ll want to adhere to certain maintenance practices. Shorter, more packable version of the original, Fine edge tackles brush and vines while saw cuts limbs and small trees, Gator Grip keeps tasks comfortable and securely in hand, Tempered-steel blade for greater strength and long service life, Heat treated to achieve maximum blade flexibility, Tempered steel blade for greater strength and longer service life, Use For Clearing & Cutting Back Thick Brush, Fast Growing Vegetation, Vines, Palms, Fronds & Ornamental Grasses In Your Yard & Garden, Curved Blade Profile Helps Prevent The Blade From Sticking In Dense Growth, 18 inch blade is ideal for clearing thick brush, chopping roots, cutting branches and palms and more in your yard and garden, Axe-like blade head provides powerful, controlled chopping and splitting, Blade curve offers pull-cutting great for removing suckers and clearing vines, Okc has been making machetes in the USA for over 70 years, Steel: 1055 carbon steel w/black baked on anti rust matte finish, The Bora 6-inch aluminum oxide sharpening stone is a 2 sided stone: one coarse grit and one fine grit, Measures 6" x 2" X 1", ideal size for bench work, Coarse 150 grit side and fine 240 grit side. Below, we take a look at the most common types of stones. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); There are various methods and tools available for knife sharpening. Among those stones listed above, another variation is the range of grits. Whet means to sharpen. Proper use of whetstone will save your precious time and help you to do the job smoothly with great ease. Are a whetstone and a water stone the same thing? NON-SLIP GRIP FOR EASY USE: Rubber grip helps prevent slipping, keeping you safe while sharpening. Your email address will not be published. Whereas natural stones are typically formed of microcrystalline quartz such as novaculite. SOG SOGfari Kukri Review: A Multi-Purpose Machete! If your knife is highly dull, then start sharpening with the coarse side … Natural stones perform better after soaking but synthetic whetstone can shorten its lifespan if you soak it for long times. Knife maintenance, including regular sharpening, will keep your blades in great shape. Regardless of how much you spend, a whetstone is a great investment. Actually, they are different, and this is a common source of confusion. Repeat the actions several times. Dunno if it helps , but it sure hasn't harmed it. It should keep in mind that; all types of water stones or oil stones are whetstones but all whetstones are not water stone or oil stone. You need a whetstone, a knife, stone base or towel, paper, water and cloth to clean the blade. Received the Dianova FNDC4 today, and at first glance it's nearly identical to my Fällkniven DC4 diamond/ceramic whetstone, up to and including the leather pouch bearing the Fällkniven logo, the clear plastic packaging with flap, and the minimalist black-print-on-white cardstock insert. Firmly hold your knife with first hand and apply suitable pressure by the off-hand.