Sharpening Stone Maintenance and Care

9th March 2020

Sharpening stone maintenance and care
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			Flattening a worn sharpening stone
			Sharpening stones can become worn and hollowed after repeated use. A worn stone may not work as effectively or it may sharpen a tool or blade unevenly. Hollowed stones also make maintaining a knife’s blade at a desired angle much more difficult as you draw it across the uneven face. The guide below shows you the most common ways to flatten a sharpening stone.

			Flattening stone (truing stone) There are special types of stones available that are designed to flatten an out-of-shape sharpening stone, they are sometimes referred to as “truing stones”.

			Lay the uneven face of the sharpening stone down upon the flattening stone.

			Applying pressure with your hands, rub the stone back and forth keeping it as level as possible as you do.

			As the flattening stone begins to abrade the sharpening stone, any places where the stone is uneven will begin to recede as the stone becomes closer to flat and “true” again.

			When you have finished, the stone should be perfectly flat again. Using a straight edge tool to check will help.

			Sandpaper Laying a piece of sandpaper out on a flat board or piece of glass and then rubbing your sharpening stone will work as a simple alternative.

			Diamond stones Using a diamond stone to flatten your out-of-shape oil or water stone is another alternative. Diamond stones (or plates) are often used to bring natural or synthetic stones back into true shape and function.