About natural whetstones

Natural whetstones always seem a bit daunting, don’t they? I mean, when you think about finishing with a natural whetstone, it usually comes with a hefty price tag…
And there’s such a variety out there that it’s hard to find accurate information on each one.
If you really want to know, it’s best to talk to the owners of well-established shops specializing in natural whetstones and tell them exactly how you want to sharpen.
They can help you choose the right one. But I’ve heard that traditionally, these stones were mainly sold to carpenters, who preferred softer stones for their tools, so recommendations tend to lean that way.
I’m thinking the next feature should be all about the ins and outs of natural whetstones! I remember talking about their characteristics and properties before, but this time, I’m thinking of focusing on things like how to handle them…
You know, like, once you’ve picked one out and bought it… do you just start using it? How should you store it? Stuff like that.
It might be too much for just one feature, but I’m considering it for future ones. Maybe I’ll try to make natural whetstones more accessible somehow!
I mean, who knows? Maybe I’ll head to the mountains of Kyoto to dig some up… (Lol)

Hibishugyo

2008-06-02