Water stone or oil stone?

Many stones are effective with both water and oil. However, once the decision for oil is made for a stone, it can no longer be used with water. The mineral oil used is not exactly healthy for the skin, which is why I prefer water stones. Due to their outstanding qualities, Japanese water stones are increasingly gaining popularity.

The soft Japanese water stones should only be used with water. They allow for effective sharpening, as the loose binding continuously releases new grinding particles. It is sufficient to soak them in water for five to ten minutes before sharpening. It is less advisable to leave them constantly in water, as a slimy layer will form on the surface, or, in some cases, the surface will decompose.

However, these stones wear down faster than hard stones and therefore need to be reflattened regularly. This can be done quickly with the following method: You need waterproof sandpaper with a grit of 80 and finer, a smooth surface as a base, preferably a glass plate, and – if you want to go even faster – a can of silicon carbide powder. A puddle of water on the glass plate to soak the sandpaper, a little more water, and a teaspoon of silicon carbide powder on the paper, move the stone on it with light pressure – and within a few minutes, it will be perfectly flattened.

As basic equipment, it is recommended to have: a sharpening stone with a grit of 700 – 1200, a honing stone with a grit of 3000 – 6000, and a sharpening guide. Additionally, a roughing stone with a grit of 120 – 400 is recommended. If the sharpening guide is also used for plane irons, the stone should be a few millimeters wider than the widest iron. Sharpening stones and honing stones are also available as combination stones.

It is known that many stainless steels, especially knives made of stainless steel, are very difficult to sharpen. Japanese water stones occasionally reach their limits here and can clog. This is not a problem, as they can be quickly cleaned using the aforementioned method of flattening. If you have such knives or chisels, a visit to the Missarka art stones is worthwhile.