Overcome these common mistakes to achieve sharper results!
Get Sharp Results More Consistently!
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Don’t be defeated by a sharpening stone any longer and experience the satisfaction of sharpening knives.
If you routinely end a sharpening session with new scratches on the face of the blade or just can’t seem to get the knife any sharper, make sure you read on to see if any of these reasons are preventing you from getting a sharper edge!
Note
Note: we assume that you’re using a standard whetstone knife sharpener that is flat. If your stone is starting to look warped then you may need a flattening stone. A sharp knife requires good sharpening stone upkeep!
Whestone not working problem #1 You have the wrong angle.
Anytime we’re working on getting a knife to razor sharp, we always make sure we know what angle the edge is. We often describe the cutting edge of the knife as looking like a hard V, by knowing what the V angle is we can ensure we’re holding the knife to the stone the right way.
Read More: Getting the right angle!
The best sharpening stones need the right angle. If you dont have a angle guide then you could also take a washable felt tip pen and run it along the edge. Then as you work the stone across the blade edge the marker will be taken off.
We commonly see scratches on the face of the blade when the wrong angle is used. Also if your knife remains at the same level of dull regardless of how much you work it on the stone, then a great place to start is to check you have the right angle.
If you’re using a sharpening system, the system usually will hold the angle for you, however, you’ll still need to make sure your knife sharpener is set for the right angle. Sometimes an angle guide or a digital level can be helpful in getting this part right!
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Grab our FREE proven knife care checklist, the same one used by our team every time!
Whetstone not working problem #2 You’re not moving up in grit.
Ok if you’re starting to get a sharper edge but it never seems to get past a certain level of sharpness, then this one is for you. We never recommend using only one stone, while better even three stones can often be inadequate.
Read More: Getting the Grit right
We usually talk about whetstones acting much like sandpaper. The lower the grit (also known as coarse grit) the more material it will take off, and as you move up to a fine grit stone the edge you can make.
High precision cutting requires an incredibly sharp edge, and working your way up to very high grit stones. In addition, if you’re looking to get your knife’s edge to look like a mirror you’ll need a high grit.
If you have an extremely dull knife then you may need to consider diamond stones. Diamond sharpening stones work much more efficiently at low grits given the same amount of time. If you have burrs or an incredibly dull knife then you may need to consider diamond stones and work your way up the grit levels.
Note: the grit number is usually located on the face of the sharpening stones. Even if you use double sided stones then there should be a marking for each side. Also we haven’t seen much difference from natural stones over a man made water stone when working with your metal blade!
Get a simple way of getting consistent results!
Grab our FREE proven knife care checklist, the same one used by our team every time!
Whetstone not working problem #3 Forgetting to lubricate your stones.
It seems like many times people who are new to knife care miss this one. Don’t forget, even the best sharpening stones need help! In order to get the maximum effect from whetstones and oil stones you’ll need to lubricate them.
Read More: Lubricating your whetstones and oilstones
Whetstones ( water stones) typically need to be soaked in water, and oil stones need ceramic oil applied.
When you attempt to sharpen your knives without enough lubrication your edge will typically have more burrs. If you perform the paper test this should tell you how many burrs you have and where.
Also if you get into the honing process then you may need to look into aluminum oxide or honing oil which is just as important as a fine stone!
Get a simple way of getting consistent results!
Grab our FREE proven knife care checklist, the same one used by our team every time!
Get your whetstone working, and razor-sharp results with Its Just Sharp!
If you’re one of the many who struggles with whetstones then worry no more! If you’re able to consistently work up grit levels and keep on the right angle, you should be able to get razor results every time! So grab your sharpening stones and conquer any dull knife, turning them into a sharp blade!
You dont need expensive stones to get sharp edges, but having the right knowledge can make all the difference.
Looking for a sharpening process to help you? Make sure you grab our FREE CUSH-P method sharpening guide! No matter if you’re upkeeping your pocket knives, everyday kitchen knives, or any other the sharpening process is the same and we can show you how!
Wish you had a simple way of getting consistent results?
Grab our FREE proven knife care checklist, the same one used by our team every time!
Looking for more knife sharpening tips, check out Sharpning Vs Honing!
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