Stones That Are Used to Sharpen Cutting Tools

Knives require periodic sharpening

The most common types of sharpening stones are natural stones, oil stones, water stones and diamond stones. Each of these stones has its own characteristics that can help users sharpen almost any tool that uses a cutting edge. For example, to sharpen a dull knife, use a coarse grit stone to get the edge first, then a fine grit stone to even out any rough spots.

Oil Stones

Oil stones have hard surfaces so they usually last a long time and require less flattening. Aluminum oxide is the most common material they are made of, which makes them fairly inexpensive. Oil stones can be a bit messier than others due to the oil needed to remove metal filings after use. These filings, known as swarf, are the result of the sharpening process and need to be removed between uses. Natural oil stones tend to sharpen slower than man-made stones but are cheap and plentiful. They get the job done if you have enough patience.

Water Stones

Water stones are available in both natural and synthetic materials. They can sharpen an edge faster than an oil stone but are made of softer material. This causes the stone to wear out faster and unevenly. This means the stone must be flattened periodically to get it back into an effective shape. A nice attribute of this stone is that it uses water instead of oil to remove the swarf.

Diamond Stones

Diamond stones are the hardest of the sharpening stones. They contain small diamonds attached to a metal surface. They last a long time and are very effective at producing a fine edge. They come in different grits and retain their flat shapes. In fact they are so rugged they are used to help flatten the other stones into shape. You can use this stone dry or wet with water or a water-based honing oil. Do not use petroleum-based oil for this stone as this could damage it. This is the most expensive stone but its ruggedness and longevity will pay off in the long run.

Natural Stones

There are other natural stones such as Arkansas Washita which is made of genuine silica from Arkansas. Although not as common as other stones they have other qualities that make them standout. They can be used wet or dry and with different grits and abrasive surfaces sharpen edges faster than water stones or oil stones. However they work best when wet with either water, petroleum-based honing oil or water-based honing oil.

References

• Buck: Knife Sharpening
• C.B. Schauntz; Red Rock Sporting Goods, 700 South Haynes Avenue Miles City, MT
• Cutting Edge Sharpening Service, 510 4th Street W, Billings, Montana