Sharpening a knife with a whetstone
Difficulty: Medium · Time: approx. 20 minutes
A sharp knife is safer than a blunt one because you push less and don't slip. The whetstone is the best way to get an edge truly sharp again – with a little practice it works well.
A steady angle and patience matter: coarse grit first, then fine. Don't confuse it with a honing steel – that only realigns the edge, it doesn't sharpen. Allow plenty of time the first time.
What you'll need
- Whetstone, ideally a combination stone (e.g. 400 and 1000 grit)
- Water (for water stones)
- Non-slip base or a damp cloth
- Optional: an angle guide for the start
- Cloth
Step by step
- 1
Prepare the stone
Soak a water stone for a few minutes until no more bubbles rise. Place it on a non-slip base. For oil stones, wet them with a little oil instead.
- 2
Find the angle
Hold the blade at roughly 15–20° to the stone. A rough guide: two stacked matchboxes under the spine of the blade come close.
- 3
Sharpen with coarse grit
Draw the blade across the stone with light pressure, from heel to tip, as if shaving a thin slice off the stone. The same number of strokes on both sides.
- 4
Feel the burr and go finer
When you can feel a fine burr (a tiny lip) on the opposite side, that side is sharp. Then switch to the fine grit and repeat the process.
- 5
Strop and test
Remove the burr with a few very light, alternating strokes on the fine side. Test: the knife should slice cleanly through a sheet of paper or start a tomato without pressure.
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Upload a photo →Frequently asked questions
- Which grit do I need?
- For blunt knives, a combination stone with a coarse side (around 400) for sharpening and a fine side (around 1000) for refining. Very fine stones (3000+) are only for finishing.
- What's the difference from a honing steel?
- A honing steel only straightens the fine edge between uses but removes almost no material. You can only truly re-sharpen with the stone.
- How do I keep the angle constant?
- A clip-on angle guide helps at first. Otherwise: work slowly, trust the feel and make a few clean strokes rather than many hasty ones.