Whetstones: 5 Fast Facts

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Fact #1. A whetstone is a tool used by many consumers and professionals alike to sharpen and hone a blade. They may be used on kitchen knives, shears, or even hatchets and machetes. The whetstone's abrasive surface scrapes against the blade to remove the dull edge and give it a new, clean finish.
Fact #2. Stones are available in various grades. It refers to the grit size of the particles in the stone. Coarser stones are used for duller blades like camping utensils. Fine grit stones are usually reserved for high end kitchen knives or specialty blades. Many whetstones are actually two-sided. A coarser side is used to smooth away roughness. Then the finer side is used to refine the edge to razor sharpness.
Fact #3. The whole idea of these tools is to maintain the longevity of your knives. Mechanically sharpening knives with a belt sander takes off a lot more steel than doing it by hand. A common misconception is that a knife steel can be used to sharpen in lieu of one of these. However, a knife steel only hones the knife edge. A whetstone creates a new edge and actually makes the knife sharp again.
Fact #4.To use one of these properly, you must first soak the whetstone for 5 to 10 minutes. Water acts as a lubricant during the cutting process. The stones are porous and will absorb the liquid. Submerge the stones until they stop bubbling. As you are sharpening, it is best to run a continuous trickle of water over the stone.
Fact #5. The history of sharpening blades goes back as far as the first rudimentary tools and weapons in ancient times. The concept of sharpening a blade on a stone dates back to Roman antiquity. The Belgian Coticule stones were the preferred choice of the Roman army. Today it is still seen as the highest standard of natural whetstone.