No one likes their tools to be in a poor state and the same can be said for your knives. To keep them clean and sharp means you value them and see your cooking as a way of leaving a good impression on people. Because of this, a dull knife is never a good thing as it not only makes for poor cuts it's also quite unsafe. This is where whetstones come into play, pieces of either synthetic or natural materials made to keep the blade of your knives sharp but not in the way you think.
They are somewhat different from regular sharpening stones since they're made to keep your sharpening equipment, sharp. By doing so you also keep your knives in good condition Also known as flattening stones, whetstones offer the best way to keep knives sharp as they allow for a more precise sharpening action to take place.
Types of Flattening Stones
Coarse
If you have extremely dull or even damaged knives a coarse whetstone is what you should be looking for. These flattening stones are less than 1000 grit which makes them ideal for chipped blades. A 1000-grit stone flattening plate is not meant to be used for everyday sharpening as the rough surface can actually cause your sharpening stones to damage a well-maintained knife.
Medium
With a medium knife flattening stone, you can do general sharpening with stones that are blunt but not dull. This is because a medium whetstone comes with anywhere from 2000 to 3000 grit. There are some that start as low as 1000 grit but they are not meant to be used as frequently as higher grit flattening stones.
Fine
When you want to have knives with razor-sharp edges then you'll want to go for a fine whetstone. A fine flattening stone starts at 4000 grit and it goes up to 6000 grit. These flattening stones will give the refined finish a whetstone needs to make a knife keep its sharpness for as long as possible. Some fine flattening stones can go even up to 8000 grit which can help make whetstones that are ideal for knives that will be used to cut seafood, vegetables and fruits.
Combination
If you're completely new to whetstones you should be looking at ones that combine different grit levels. Combination flattening stones are made so that you get a 1000 grit surface on the top and say a 3000 or 4000 grit surface on the bottom. Once you get the hang of this type of whetstone you can then move on to dedicated whetstones that come only with one grit level. This is a more versatile solution that can make your job easier even as someone who already knows a thing or two about flattening stones.
Materials of Flattening Stones
Silicone Carbide
The affordable way to get into whetstones is to go for one made of silicon carbide. These types of whetstones are made for damaged and dull knives to the point where they are close to being damaged, as they range between 400 and 1000 grit.
Diamond Plate
A diamond plate whetstone is much more expensive since it's made for regular sharpening and for getting that perfect edge. Diamond plate flattening stones are also more durable and are considered to be a long-term investment since they can also be used to restore whetstones.
How to Use a Flattening Stone
Prepare
Preparation is key when using a stone flattening plate and the preparation process in this case will take at least 15 minutes. This is because first, you need to clean the whetstone(s) properly as a contaminated one can damage your knives. Once the stones are cleaned, you'll need to soak them anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes.
Draw
Once the soaking time has passed, you then need to take the stones and mark the top layer of each. This way you'll be able to tell when the top layer of a whetstone has been peeled off since that's what needs to happen for a successful sharpening session. This is best done with a pencil and the lines you'll draw need to be both horizontal and vertical.
Rubbing
You should start by laying the coarse side of a knife flattening stone which should be on top. Then rub in the whetstone in a circular motion and repeat that motion until you see the pencil marks disappear. You should stop only when both the vertical and horizontal pencil lines are completely gone as doing so beforehand is just not going to be enough time for the flattening stone to do its thing.
Final Words
No knife flattening stone is the same but you have to remember that no whetstone or knife is either. This is why knowing what to look for and which flattening stone to get can make your investment in one worthwhile. Just make sure to get exactly what you need and you won't regret making a choice.