Mr. Zowada,

I would like to get your opinion on different sharpening stones.  I need to buy a set and want to get the best that I can.  

The options that I know of are:

1- Japanese water stones
2- Arkansas stones (I found a good supply of large [3-1/2" x 14"] best quality Arkansas stones)
3- Norton stones

I like the water stones, as they are very clean.  I am leaning toward the water stones and getting a black (surgical) Arkansas stone for finishing the edge prior to stropping.

I am also thinking about getting a 2" x 72" leather belt for finish honing (using 10,000 grit "powder" supplied with belt).


Thank you for your question. The subject of sharpening and stones is one where you will find many different opinions. The tools and techniques used will vary depending on the type, steel, hardness and edge geometry of the knife. This is really a subject better covered with an entire article. Here, I will just stick to my preferences for sharpening stones.

For most uses, I generally prefer Spyderco ceramic stones. The three available grits are useful in everything from repairing a badly damaged edge, to fine finish work. Spyderco calls their three stones medium, fine and ultra fine. I'm not sure why this is. The medium stone is really quite aggressive. The fine grit stone still removes metal quite well, while leaving a fine micro tooth. The ultra fine stone puts a very fine micro tooth on carbon steels.

Which stone you finish with will depend on the specifics of the knife. For many stainless steels you are best to finish on the medium grit. Simple steels, such as 1095 will benefit from the ultra fine.

The ceramic stones last quite well. My set has never needed flattening. That is probably due to the fact that I put the initial edge on my knives with a belt sander. These stones are used dry. When they need cleaning you simply scrub them with detergent and a Scotch Brite pad.

I still use my Japanese water stones, once in a while. They work and cut very well. My only complaint is the hassle of using them. Since the stones are porous. They should be soaked in water before use. You work in the slurry of material that develops as the stone wears. Since the stone wears so quickly you will need to flatten them frequently. This isn't hard to do; it is just a pain. I find that I mostly use the 6000 and 8000 grit stones for very fine work after using the Spyderco ultra fine stone.

I haven't used Arkansas stones in years. I'm sure they would work fine. I just don't have any recent experience with them. I do remember that the black hard stone seemed to polish the metal rather than cut it. I would avoid that one in favor of the Spyderco ultra fine stone or 6000-grit water stone.

I don't have much experience with Norton stones either. Many knife makers tout the India stone as one of the very best finishing stones ever. Rumor has it that Norton is coming out with a line of water stones. I look forward to trying them.

These days, I rarely use a strop in sharpening. A strop is wonderful for developing a polished edge. Yet, my experience is that a finely polished edge is best for shearing type cuts. Since knives are mostly used with a slicing type action, I prefer to leave most of my knives with a very fine micro tooth on the edge.

I hope this helps. Remember that there are as many different ideas on sharpening, as there are knife makers. These are just my current preferences. They are bound to change as I learn more.


Please send questions and comments to:

Tim Zowada
4509 E. Bear River Rd.
Boyne Falls, MI  49713

E-mail: tim@tzknives.com