How to Sharpen With Water Stones

Maintain a sharp edge with a water stone.

If you've ever sharpened your own knives with oil sharpening stones, the process of sharpening with water stones will be familiar to you. The water used with water sharpening stones serves the same purpose as the oil used with traditional oil sharpening stones: the water acts as a lubricant for the stone, and keeps the pores from becoming clogged with metal filings. Even if you are new to sharpening with stones, it is easy to get started sharpening your knives with a water stone.

Things You'll Need

• Container
• Stone holder (optional)
• Towels, newspaper, or cardboard

Instructions

1. Lay down a towel, newspaper or cardboard to protect your work surface. Sharpening with water stones can create a muddy slurry.

2. Fill a container with water and set your water stone in a water bath for 15 minutes to saturate it.

3. Remove your stone from the bath and place on a stone holder or towel over a protected work surface. Test for sufficient water saturation by adding some water to the surface of the stone. If the water remains standing, the stone is sufficiently saturated. If the stone absorbs the water, replace the stone into the bath for additional soaking.

4. Wipe off any standing water before sharpening. Hold the knife as though you were going to cut the stone, and then rotate the blade towards you, half the distance to the stone. Rotate the knife once to split the remaining distance to the stone, and you will have reached the desired sharpening angle (about 20 degrees).

5. Gently sweep the blade across the surface of the stone in an arcing motion, keeping as much of the blade as possible in contact with the stone at all times.

6. Sharpen the blade for 10 strokes on the first side, and then flip the knife and sharpen for 10 strokes on the other side. Continue this process until no coarse scratches are visible along the knife's edge. Keep track of your strokes and sharpen both sides evenly, and gradually reduce the pressure on the stone as you work.

7. Add a few drops of water to the stone whenever the pasty slurry on the surface of the stone begins to dry, forming a thick mud.

8. Wash your stone thoroughly with clean water and allow to dry. Do not allow your stone to freeze.

References

• Woodturns: Japanese Waterstones: Their Uses and Care