Condition of the whetstone

As for the use of sharpening stones, it’s often said, ‘Use the slurry from the stone for better results!’ This is because the abrasive particles that come off the stone help with the sharpening process. It’s a synergy between the stone and the slurry that boosts efficiency! This method is generally right, but there’s one exception I’d like to talk about, something many of you might have experienced.

In the case of synthetic finishing stones, I’ve found that when you try to refine the edge from the state it’s been used, the stone doesn’t perform at its best. For instance, after doing things like ‘just polishing the edge’ or ‘sharpening the entire blade’ on a finishing stone, the stone surface ends up coated with fine metal particles from the knives, not its original abrasive surface. When the stone is wet, it’s not easy to notice, but if you leave it to dry, it’ll start to shine like crazy.

When you transition from the ‘used’ state to the final sharpening, it feels like the stone doesn’t grip the knife as well. The stone and the knife can’t achieve their intended harmony! My recommendation is to lightly true the stone surface with the edge of a medium grit stone before you do the final edge refinement. If you use a real truing stone, it might become too rough, so treat it as if you’re peeling off a thin layer!

Alternatively, when you sharpen with a finishing stone, you can try running a thin stream of tap water over the stone. This should help bring out the stone’s true grit and reflect it on the edge.

This sort of preparation might be less necessary with natural sharpening stones because they naturally reveal fresh stone surfaces one after another, keeping things consistently sharp and fresh. There are varying opinions on the fineness of natural stones, but fundamentally, this might be the way to go!

These suggestions primarily cater to those who favor the Itohiki edge, but they could also have some impact on straight-edge enthusiasts. I have a lot more to share, but I’ll wrap it up for today!

hibishugyo

• 2009-05-18