When it comes to cooking and preparing food, knives are an essential tool that you certainly must have at hand. But as time passes by and you keep using these knives over and over again, the blade gets dull, and the edges get chipped that you might even end up hurting yourself while using it. Keeping your knives sharp is, in fact, keeping your knives safer since a dull blade can be unpredictable in use. So in order for your knives to stay safe, you must be ready to sharpen them on a regular basis using the best sharpening stone that is available.
Sharpening stones, also known as whetstones, are made out of natural or synthetic stones used to sharpen blades and knives. It comes in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and materials so there can be hundreds of options to choose from. It could be quite confusing and frustrating to decide which one would suit you and your knives best if you have a lot of choices that’s why we want to be of help to you.
Best Pick
The two-sided Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone by Sharp Pebble is our best pick because it is the complete whetstone package made out of high-quality materials that is really easy to use and clean afterward.
Budget Pick
“The Puck” Dual Grit Multipurpose Sharpener by Lansky Sharpeners is our budget pick because it is an extremely affordable, fits in your pocket product made with good materials that are super easy to use and maintain.
Quick Comparison: Top 10 The Best Sharpening Stones
[table id=15 /]
Highlighted Features
This premium whetstone knife sharpening stone by the Sharp Pebble brand is made from aluminum oxide, so it is ideally used to sharpen all kinds of knives, scissors, woodworking tools, cutlery, and blades. It is a superior bundle that does not only have the sharpening stone but also has a non-slip base, a sharpening angle guide, and an EBook. The stone is a double-sided premium quality whetstone that has 1000 numbers grit on one side (white) and 6000 numbers grit on the other (blue).
The base is made up of two parts – the silicone base that is used for holding the stone and the handcrafted non-slip bamboo base to keep the stone in check. The sharpening angle guide allows you to maintain a correct angle so you can steadily apply pressure on sharpening. And lastly is the detailed EBook that contains the instruction manual, techniques and style, and tips and tricks that are simple and easy to understand.
The Sharp Pebble bundle is a delightful product since it is safe to use, easy to use, and easy to clean. It is safe to use because of the angle guide and the non-slip base, so you don't have to worry about the stone going astray every time you use it. It is easy to use as the whetstone is a water stone type so you just have to soak it in water for a few minutes and it will be ready. There is no need for an expensive oil lubricant so there is no mess in the stone and you can easily wash it with water also. Then the kit (stone and base) is easy to assemble – you don’t have to follow some sort of complicated steps.
Overall, the Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone is a multipurpose professional grade sharpening stone that is extremely durable and long lasting. It even gives you an option of higher quality grains (grit), so you can get an excellent sharpening performance in no time. So if you are on the lookout for a product that is a complete package and has good value for money, this one is a good choice, to begin with.
Pros
Cons
Highlighted Features
In order to give knives a chef’s edge with the razor-sharp level of sharpness, you would need sharpening stones that has a coarse grit (less than 1000 numbers) and fine grit (4000 to 8000 numbers). That’s why the invention of 2-sided whetstones with 1000 numbers grit on one side and 6000 numbers grit on the other side is a real money saver. And this knife sharpening stone by Culinary Obsession is just like that.
The Culinary Obsession 2-sided Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone is made from professional grade corundum, also known as aluminum oxide. It is a set of 2-sided sharpening stones, non-slip silicone and bamboo base, bonus angle guide, and an illustrated PDF user guide. It also comes with an easy to follow instructional video so it would be really perfect for those who have completely no idea how to use a whetstone.
It’s a good product to try as it requires less cleaning effort since this whetstone is a water stone type so you don’t need to put a lot of oil on it before you can use it. Most of the times, oil on sharpening stones makes things messy since it leaves an oil residue that’s hard to clean on both the stone and the blade. So it’s a great advantage if the stone is a water type. If you are ready to try this one out, you would even be pleased since Culinary Obsession offers a 100% money back guarantee for one year.Pros
Cons
Highlighted Features
Knives are not the only blades that need sharpening. There is a variety of other blades that also require sharpening but is not that compatible with the usual rectangular-shaped stone. So the arrival of “The Puck” by Lansky Sharpeners is like a dream come true as it is the perfect sharpening stone for axes, lawn mower blades, shovels, hatchets, machetes, and other tools.
Lansky Sharpeners “The Puck” Dual Grit Multipurpose Tool Sharpener, as its name suggests, is designed and contoured to look like a hockey puck. This puck shape design is easy to grip and has a dual grit sides – coarse grit on one side and medium grit on the other side. It is an oil stone type, so it requires to be lubricated using a natural honing oil beforehand. So if you need a sharpening tool that is not just for knives, The Puck by Lansky Sharpeners might be exactly what you need. It even includes a limited one year manufacturer's warranty against defects in material and artistry.
Pros
Cons
Highlighted Features
The King brand is known and recognized for their quality Japanese style sharpening stones. The King KW65 1000/6000 Grit Combination Whetstone is made out of ceramic stones which are best used to sharpen stainless steel knives and stain resistant carbon knives. It also has a dual-sided stone with a medium grit (1000 numbers) on one side and fine grit (6000 numbers) on the other side.
It is easy to use, and it even includes a sturdy plastic base so you can keep the sharpening stone in check. This is a water stone type, so you just need to soak it in water for a few minutes and keep it wet while being used for efficiency. It is also easy to clean since you only need to rinse the stone in water, let dry, and then store.
Pros
Cons
Highlighted Features
BearMoo Whetstone 2-in-1 Sharpening Stone is a high quality double sided sharpening stone made from professional grade white corundum (also known as white aluminum oxide) that is corrosion and heat resistant. One side of the stone has medium numbers grit of 3000, and the other side has fine numbers grit of 8000. This dual side allows you to make your knife’s blade sharp like a razor while giving it a polished edge that is nearly perfect it reflects light well. It is the perfect sharpening tool for kitchen knives, kitchen shears, pocket knives, chef knives, butcher knives, precision tools, and garden tools. Do not use it with serrated blades and ceramic knives though.
This whetstone is a water stone type like most of the products we have listed. A water stone type sharpening stone is considerably easy to use and clean since you literally just have to soak it in water before using and then rinse with water afterward. This one also comes with a non-slip silicone rubber base that would help secure the sharpening stone in place. It’s one safety guarantee so you won’t have to worry about the stone slipping off the counter while in use.
It is a good product that is reasonably priced for its value. So if you are on the lookout for a sharpening stone that you can use without breaking the bank, the BearMoo sharpening stone is a great find. They even have a no risk 100% satisfaction guarantee for 30 days. It means that if anyway you find the product you got unsatisfying, you can contact them and return the product then they will give you a full refund, no questions asked.
Pros
Cons
Highlighted Features
Another product from Sharp Pebble has made it into our list. The Sharp Pebble Premium 400/1000 Grit Whetstone Sharpening Stone is made from highly durable silicon carbide that is perfect for restoring the sharpness of dull and damaged knives. It is a dual-sided premium whetstone that has a coarse grit of 400 numbers (dark green) on one side and a medium grit of 1000 numbers (light green) on the other side. It comes as a set together with a knife sharpening guide EBook and a flattening stone for fixing the uneven surfaces of the sharpening stone due to constant use.
It also includes a non-slip rubber base to help keep the sharpening stone in place when in use. It’s easy to use and clean since it is a water stone type. There is no need for expensive honing oil that is applied to the stone before you can use it and would even leave a messy oil residue afterward.
Pros
Cons
Highlighted Features
DMT or Diamond Machining Technology is popularly known as a worldwide leader for diamond knife sharpening stones. They have a diverse line of patented and award-winning products with a good reputation for superior quality and innovation. Each product is made to be durable so you can have a device that gives consistent and reliable service of proper tool maintenance that would last for a long time.
That’s why the DMT W6FP 6-Inch Diamond Whetstone Sharpener has made it into our list. This versatile tool is made out of perforated steel molded into a plastic base and has a surface that is encrusted with minute pieces of diamond to form fine diamond grit with a mesh of 600. The combination of these two materials makes it a great device for achieving a razor sharp edge on any blade that reduces sharpening time and resists wearing over time.
It also comes in a durable plastic case with mounting capability and a non-skid rubber feet base. Sharpening with this diamond stone is fast and easy as it does not require oil and it will work just fine whether or not soaked in water. The rubber feet also prevent the stone from sliding during sharpening. They even have a product replacement policy that is guaranteed unconditionally and free as long as the product was found to be defective.
Pros
Cons
Highlighted Features
The King Deluxe Sharpening Stone is a classic design that has a medium grain grit of 1000 grits. It is a water stone type of sharpening stone that is made and manufactured in Japan. Although it does not come with a non-slip base, a kitchen towel would work fine to keep it in place while in use.
This sharpening stone is an affordable and economical choice that is perfect for first-time sharpeners. It is easy to use, maintain and clean as you literally just need to add water. It comes with a written instruction of how to use the stone properly, but the instructions were written in Japanese so unless you know how to read and understand Japanese then you can just rely on online search.
Pros
Cons
Highlighted Features
DMT W8EC-WB is a diamond type sharpening stone with a surface made from micronized monocrystalline diamonds. The stone has two sides with one being an extra fine grit to help polish and refine knives to a razor sharp edge and the other is a coarse grit used to sharpen dull and damaged knives. It comes with a bench style base that holds the stone in place so no need to worry about the stone slipping off.
This diamond sharpening stone is perfect for sharpening all kinds of blades such as home and kitchen tools, garden tools, outdoor and sports tools, and woodworking tools. It is also easy to use and clean as you don’t need to apply oil beforehand. You can still use it to sharpen blades whether it’s dry or soaked in water. Both the stone and the bench base were constructed with sturdiness and durability in mind, so this product can stay for quite a long time. They even offer a commitment of product replacement guarantee in case you get a defective product.
Pros
Cons
Highlighted Features
The Three Way Cut Premium Knife Sharpening Kit includes three items – a high quality dual-sided 1000 and 6000 grit stone, an elegant non-slip bamboo base, and a bonus angle correction guide. It is the perfect sharpening stone made out of high-quality conundrum for different tools and blades of various sizes such as chisels, kitchen knives, and machetes among many others. This stone helps you achieve a razor-sharp likeness when it comes to sharpening so you can improve your cutting experience with the help of sharp knives.
This water stone type sharpening stone is safe and easy to use as the kit can be assembled in no time. It does not need an oil lubricant which can be messy. Just soak it in water for a few minutes, and it is good to go. The non-slip bamboo base also secures the stone in place, so you don't have to worry about it while in use. If you want to try this, feel free to do so since Three Way Cut also offers a customer satisfaction guarantee wherein you can return the product within three months and get a full money refund if you find the product unsatisfactory.
Pros
Cons
Things to Consider Before Buying Your Sharpening Stone
You might be ready to purchase a sharpening stone now after reading about our product reviews. We also sincerely hope that we have been of help to keep your options open yet filtered with the information we have shared and provided.
But before you get too enthusiastic and start running to the nearest mall or click that checkout button, here are some more things that you need to consider before buying one:
Size of the Stone
The first and foremost thing you need to consider before purchasing your sharpening stone is the size of the stone. The width is not that important as the length, but you can’t just buy any of the sharpening stone that you find without a little bit of assessment.
The size of the blades you own that needs sharpening is the determining factor on how big or how small your stone should be. Imagine how horrible it would be like to sharpen a huge butcher knife that measures to 16 inches in total length with a stone that’s considerably smaller in size (or only 6 inches long).
Stone Type
There are different types of sharpening stones available in the market, and each kind was made specifically for a purpose. Oil stone, water stone, and diamond stone are chiefly the three sharpening stone types. They also have their own categories based on the material used such as natural, synthetic, and ceramic. You have to be fully aware of what type of sharpening stone you need to have to maximize its usage.
An oilstone will last the longest and is the most common one you can find. This stone needs to be lubricated with oil before using in order to reduce friction. While a water stone is quite new in the market and just like the oil stone, you need a pre-requisite (soaking it in water for a few minutes) before you can use it.
Water stones are comparatively easier to use and clean than oil stones. Meanwhile, a diamond stone can still be used whether or not you lubricate it in oil or soak it in water. A diamond stone is harder than the two because as its name implies it has these small industrial diamonds attach to its metal plate.
Grit Number
Sharpening stones are available in a variety of grits or that number you see on the surface side. This is divided into three categories – coarse, medium, and fine – and each category has a different purpose. If your blades are extremely dull and damaged, you will need a coarse grit or those with a number that is less than a thousand.
If your blades are not that far from saving and you just want to sharpen them from time to time casually, a medium grit is more suitable. This stone is the one whose number ranges from the basic number of 1000 all the way up to 4000.
Then there’s the fine grit that ranges from 4000 to 8000 that is also known as the finishing stone used to attain a super polished edge. A fine grit stone will give you razor-sharp knives, and it is best used for thin knives.
Ease of Usage
Sharpening is not only about grinding the blades to the stone; it also requires techniques that oblige you to focus in order to avoid hurting yourself.
Before you buy your sharpening stone, always check if the one you are purchasing needs effort to be constantly flattened, soaked, and cleaned. You also need the knowledge to identify if the stone you are purchasing takes a long time to create an edge in the blade as this can be really frustrating especially for beginners in sharpening.
Take into consideration your disposition to perform regular maintenance before you buy.
Price and Durability
We personally think that quality goes before quantity. If you are going to buy something and you intend to use it multiple times in your lifetime, as such is the case with sharpening stones, it would be better to invest in one that is sturdy and will surely last for a long time.
But at the same time, we don't want you to break your budget so keep in mind to purchase a sharpening stone that is durable and has an amazing value for the money you paid. Make sure you will be able to say ‘it was worth it’ in the end.
Conclusions
Always remember that sharp knives are safe knives. And the same thing applies to blades and other tools like axes, machetes, etc. You must keep your equipment sharpened on a regular basis so that they work efficiently without any unwanted accidents as dull blades are very erratic and can hurt you more.
It is essential that you have a sharpening stone available and ready for use. These sharpening stones have a wide range of options when it comes to grit numbers, material, and type so it could give you a headache if you don’t know which one to choose. That’s why we listed ten of the best and shared a review of each product.
We also gave information on the things you need to consider before you buy one. Now, we can only hope that you were able to find the best sharpening stone that would suit your needs.