You’ve probably heard of sharpening stones and what they do. Some people might also think that they’re just an old way of sharpening knives and that they were used by cavemen. This only goes to show how little people actually know about the subject. If you ever intend to cook, you must be prepared to see your knives become dull, so dull that they might not even be able to cut a tomato in half without making a terrible mess.
Luckily for you, sharpening stone technology is at an all-time high with so many different types and varieties that it could be overwhelming for some.
Fear not, however, as we’ve compiled a list of the five best sharpening stones for you to make your life a tad bit easier and your kitchen experience that much more fun with sharper blades.
No need to get a new Bread Knife, your old one will be as good as new using one of the recommended sharpening stones.
Sharpening Stone Review Center 2021
| Image | Sharpening Stone | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | #1 - Premium Knife Sharpening Stone 2 Side Grit 1000/6000 Waterstone | 99% |
 | #2 - Whetstone Sharpening Stone Shapton Ceramic Kuromaku #12000 | 95% |
 | #3 - BearMoo Whetstone 2-IN-1 Sharpening Stone 3000/8000 Grit Waterstone | 91% |
 | #4 - KING KW65 1000/6000 Grit Combination Whetstone | 85% |
 | #5 - Lansky Puck - Dual Grit Multi-Purpose Sharpener | 78% |
Want to learn more?
Now that you’ve seen our top 5 recommendations, we’ll give you more detail on each of them, including why we liked them. When you’re ready, click the yellow button to get the best price on Amazon!
#1 – Premium Knife Sharpening Stone 2 Side Grit 1000/6000 Waterstone
This is a double-sided sharpening stone. It provides both a 1000 medium grit stone on one side and another 6000 fine grit stone on the other side. Another thing to mention is that it comes with an entire sharpening bundle.
What’s super awesome about this product is how it relieves you of buying two separate stones as it provides you with both a medium grit stone for sharpening and a fine grit stone for the finishing touch to ensure that your blades are in top-notch condition.
Another great thing about this product is that it has no base, rather it has two stands. The rubber base goes inside the bamboo one, ensuring user safety by preventing the stones from slipping while you sharpen your knives.
In fact, this is not only meant for knives. You can sharpen any blade you might have on it, be it razors, scissors or even axes, believe it or not. This definitely grants it bonus points for versatility.
It’s also important to note that the bundle comes with a detailed guide on sharpening. However, it also says it comes with an eBook, but in our experience, we haven’t been able to find it or get access to it. There’s no information on how to access it.
With all that said, this is an incredibly great product that deserves your attention, and while there’s no ebook to be found, the user manual is more than enough to offset this minor inconvenience.
What we like about it
First, this is not a single Knife Sharpener, as the set Includes two stones to form one of the best all-in-one packages in this category, which comes with a detailed guide on how to use the set effectively. Add that to the extreme versatility, and you’ve got yourself a package that will last you a lifetime.
Just keep in mind that the stones require being put in hot water for 10 minutes before being put to use to ensure longevity. Besides, don’t expect the world as the 6000-grit stones make it tough to get a perfect polish, but they’re definitely worth it for the price. Just get you one of these stones, and you’ll turn any knife into a Pineapple Corer.
#2 – Whetstone Sharpening Stone Shapton Ceramic Kuromaku #12000
This ceramic sharpening stone does wonders when it comes to restoring otherwise worn out knives. The 12000-grit stone is not only great with dealing with incredibly dull knives, but it can also restore knives that are worn out by reshaping their blades.
When it comes to 12000-grit stones, this is by far the best one on this list; we definitely recommend it if you have heavily damaged or extremely dull knives.
Unlike the other sharpening stones, this one feature a “splash and go” kind of system, where instead of soaking it in hot water for 10 minutes before using it, you just put ‘splash’ it, and it’s ready to ‘go. It’s all there in the name.
With that said, it’s not as reliable as the rest of the sharpening stones mentioned in this list, so be careful when using it, just be gentle, and it won’t fail you. Take care of it, and it’ll take care of you.
One other thing that isn’t that great about it is the steep price. For a sharpening stone of its kind, it sure is not for everyone. However, it’s definitely is worth the price if you can afford it. Yes, that’s how effective it is.
What we like about it
Whether you’re trying to put your Carving Knife or restore your Cheese Knife to its previous glory, the Whetstone Sharpening Stone will surely exceed your expectations as it’s excellent at restoring damaged knives and sharpening dull knives. Besides, the Splash and go feature makes for quick use, and it doesn’t require a lot of pressure to give good results. Those merits don’t come cheap though, as the stone has steep price compared to the other recommendations, but if you’re looking for quality, spending a few extra bucks is worth it.
#3 – BearMoo Whetstone 2-IN-1 Sharpening Stone 3000/8000 Grit Waterstone
Yet another 2 faced sharpening stone. It comes with a 3000-grit sharpening stone on one side, and an 8000-grit one on the other. It’s also very affordable which is a huge plus.
It’s very reliable given that the stones are of high quality. It’s important to note that it also resists corrosion and heat. This makes it suitable for all the situations where it could be needed, be it inside or outside your home. It can be used for both kitchen knives and gardening equipment. Not only that, but it’s also very effective at what it does.
Just like the first sharpening stone we featured, this one makes sure you’re safe by not letting the stone slip during the sharpening process.
However, its biggest setback is its size. It makes sharpening bigger blades harder than it’s supposed to be. Basically, it’s not optimal for edges that are longer than 8 inches.
With that said, this is still a great product that is best suited for kitchen knives and will surely keep them in pristine condition.
What we like about it
Durability-wise, no tool can rival the BearMoo Whetstone 2-IN-1 Sharpening Stone, especially that it Includes both a 3000-grit stone and an 8000 grit stone, both of which effectively resists corrosion and heat.
Not only that, but the stones can be used on various types of blades be it a kitchen Japanese Knife or a gardening tool, as long as they don’t exceed 8 inches. The stones also excel when it comes to safety as they have a slip-resistant base. All those features and merits come for a reasonable price, which makes this tool one of the best investments that you can make.
#4 – KING KW65 1000/6000 Grit Combination Whetstone with Plastic Base
As you can tell, double-sided sharpening stones tend to be king in this list, no pun intended. This one feature a 1000 grit sharpening stone on one side and a 6000-grit stone on the other. It’s very cost effective too. It’s quite affordable and gives exquisite results.
When it comes to using it, it can be finicky at first, but once you learn how to use it, it couldn’t be easier. One thing to keep in mind is that the user manual is written in Japanese with no English translation, but don’t worry, there are a plethora of videos on the internet that show you how to use it so that shouldn’t be an issue.
Another thing to note is that it comes with a plastic base. While it is safer than just hold the stone with one hand and sharpening it with the other, it isn’t really great compared to the other bases that come with the stones mentioned on this list as it can be a bit slippery.
What we like about it
This Cost-effective set includes both a 1000 grit stone and a 6000-grit stone that can provide excellent results and that are easy to use once you get the hang of it. That may prove to be quite the challenging task for some people though as the instructions are in Japanese only. I guess it’s time to grab your Japanese Cookbook and start practicing your ninja cooking skills, right?
#5 – Lansky Puck – Dual Grit Multi-Purpose Sharpener – Blade & Tool Sharpener
Like we said at the beginning of the article, this is the pocket sharpening stone that we’ll be featuring here. It’s one of the best of its kind for outdoor use; we wouldn’t really recommend using it indoors though as there are way better alternatives listed here.
Don’t be fooled by its small size; looks can be deceiving as this little bad boy is exceptionally effective at its job. Believe it or not, you can actually use this on any type of blade, axes, knives and multiple tools. Truly a godsend for those who like camping a lot.
This is also the only coarse grit stone we’ve featured on this list, with a 120 grit stone on one side and a 280 grit stone on the other. The size and shape of the stone also make it comfortable to hold and easy to use.
One thing to keep in mind though is that you should be careful as to how you hold it. Its small size will make it so that your fingers will be too close to the blade you’re sharpening, so be very wary when using this stone as it might injure you if you’re callous.
What we like about it
Lansky Puck’s Dual Grit Multi-Purpose Sharpener Includes both a 120 grit stone and a 280 grit stone that are suitable for axes and various tools, which makes them perfect for camping trips. Add that to the ease of use and the low price, and you won’t resist taking this sharpener with you everywhere you go. Just remember to wear your gloves, or Oven Mitt if that’s your thing, to keep yourself safe
What Should You Look For When Picking A Sharpening Stone:
Seeing that not a lot of people are knowledgeable about the subject of sharpening stones, it could be a daunting task to buy one as there’s a lot of new information to digest in order to make the right choice for you.
We’ll be discussing the different characteristics of sharpening stones, different types, sizes and all that jazz. We’ll try to keep it as concise and digestible as we can.
And now, without further ado, let’s take a deeper dive into the subject of sharpening stones.
The Three Main Types Of Sharpening Stones
This might come as a surprise for some, but sharpening stones have different types that differ from each other. As said earlier, we don’t just use natural stones anymore for our blade sharpening endeavors. Here are the three main types:
Diamond Plates
These are the most expensive of the bunch.
On the other hand, their steep price is warranted by the fact that they’re incredibly durable. Once you buy one of these, it’ll be years before you even begin to think of buying a new one. This alone has made them rise in popularity as they can save the user money and time.
Ceramic Stones
Ceramic stones are usually used as a replacement for natural stones. It’s important to note that ceramic stones vary a lot from each other so picking the one that’s best for you might take a bit more research than the other types. They’re fantastic for sharpening ceramic knives.
Synthetic Stones
While nothing beats mother nature, these synthetic stones are optimal for dealing with straight and traditional stainless steel blades.
Water Vs. Oil
When it comes to choosing which of the two to choose, it usually depends on the circumstance and personal preference. Some sharpening stones require using water, and others require oil before they can be put to use. However, there are some things to keep in mind before you make your choice.
When it comes to how each option differs from the other, to keep it simple, water stones usually offer better sharpening quality blades at the cost of more damage to the stone. Oil stones, on the other hand, are less effective at sharpening blades as compared to their water counterpart, but they do a better job at protecting the stone from wear and tear.
Picking The Right Grit
While the name of each grit type is in Japanese, that’s the only place where you’re going to see Japanese language, so you can rest assured, you don’t have to learn the language to be knowledgeable about which grit to choose. However, it never hurts to know both the Japanese and English names; it goes a long way into making you sound like a pro.
Coarse Grit (Ara-to)
Sharpening stones of this variety are the most common type compared to the rest. They usually range from around 200 grits to about 800 grits. These are what you’ll be using if you want as little hassle as possible for excellent results. With that said, it’s impossible to note that stones with a coarse grit usually leave scratch marks on your knives, so use at your own discretion.
Fine Grit (Shiage-to)
These Sharpening stones are the polar opposites of their coarse grit counterpart. They are great for adding the final touches to your blade. These stones produce the sharpest edges when used as a finishing touch. Fun Fact: Shiageto actually means finishing stone, so it’s all in the name. Anything about 1500 grits is considered fine grit.
Medium Grit (Naka-to)
These stones offer the middle ground among both stones mentioned above. They’re great for quickly doing the job; they also don’t leave scratches that are as visible as the coarse grit stones do. They usually range between 800 and 1500 grits. This is generally what sharpening steel grit is.
Picking The Right Size Of The Sharpening Stone
The logic is simple, The size of the sharpening stone you plan to buy should depend on the size of the blades you own in your kitchen.
To give a simple example, kitchen knives, such as your Kitchen Utility Knife, require a stone that is roughly 6 inches long while bigger knives need bigger stones that range around 8 and 12 inches in length.
However, there are always more compact alternatives on the market for you to use. These are most useful when out in the wild and you hauling large and heavy equipment isn’t practical. So keep that in mind when picking out a sharpening stone. Don’t worry as we’ve included one in our list so you can use that as a reference point for that type of stones.
With that being said, you should only use those when you’re out in the wild camping, if you’re in the comfort of your home, it’s best to go for the afore-mentioned stones in accordance to the types of knives you might have.
The main thing to take away from all this is the following: Always pick a sharpening stone that is wider than the blade you plan to use it on.
And the Winner Is
We decided to go with the KING KW65 1000/6000 Grit Combination Whetstone With Plastic Base as the ultimate sharpening stone as its affordable price and excellent results, it easily takes the crown as the KING of sharpening stones, again, no pun intended. If you want to explore a Mediterranean Cookbook, this is the stone for you.
We’ll leave the link to the Amazon pages to all of the products mentioned above, and we’re eager to see which stones you use for your knives!
How To Maintain Your Sharpening Stones For Optimal Performance:
While sharpening stones are used for maintaining your knives, they should also be maintained. It falls on you to keep them in good shape. If you want to get the most out of the money you spent, it’s essential that you keep them in excellent condition.
When used for an extended period of time with no maintenance, sharpening stones can lose their flat surface and start to become more concave over time. Not only is a concave sharpening stone useless, but it can also potentially put you in danger if you choose to follow through and still sharpen your knives on it.
How should you maintain your sharpening stone then? Well, it couldn’t be simpler, you just need to make sure it stays flat in order to get the most out of it, and that’s it. I wish taking care of Garbage Disposal was that easy.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your kitchen? I bet it’s your Flatware Set, Egglette, or Grilling Tools, correct? Well, no one can deny the importance of such tools in every cook’s arsenal, but getting a sharpening stool is equally crucial if you want to cut your food the right way. The above guide illustrates everything you need to know about these tools, and all of our suggestions are efficient and can get the job done properly. Go ahead, get your Cutting Board, it’s time to cut some meat!
While you’re here, check out some of our other kitchen accessories and knives! As always, we recommend you keep your knives safely kept in either a knife block or on a magnetic knife strip held safely in your kitchen pantry or kitchen island.
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