Herbert Miller
Buying a new tool or knife every time your blade becomes blunt is not a wise option at all. Instead, hone the blade. Sharpening stones are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and material compositions, depending upon the tool whose blade is to be stropped. The finishing on the sharpened surface is reliant on the spatial density of the stone particles.
Stropping tools/knives using the sharpening stone is not much of a hassle. There are several stones available in the market for serving the purpose. Which one will be best for you? Let’s find out.
To start with, we have the winners of three specific categories – overall performance, budget-friendly, and premium sharpness.
Disclaimer – This article may contain affiliate links, this means that at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission for qualifying purchases.
Best Overall
Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Sharpening Stone
- Safety tools included
- Pocket friendly
- Versatile use
- Premium sharpness
Premium Sharpness Winner
Cali Valley Knife Sharpening Stone
- Best-in-class performance
- Complete kit included
- Stable weight and grip
- Premium finish
Budget-Friendly Winner:
Kota Japan Diamond Knife Sharpener
- Affordable price
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Lifetime warranty
- Sharp results
We talked about the best stones in respective categories. Now, let’s take a look at the ten best sharpening stones available in the market. You can easily find these on Amazon US as well.
Here are the ten best picks:
1. Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone
Whetstones are mostly used for stropping steel tool edges. One can sharpen items such as razors, knives, scissors, chisels, and hand scrapers. Our overall winner had to be the one that is neither an extreme cost-cutter nor a premium product. We needed the perfect balance between these two parameters, and the Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone maintains this balance.
This stone is made up of Aluminium oxide. Aluminum oxide makes the stone coarser as it has a minimum particle size of 1 micron. It comes at a fair price – not too cheap, not too expensive. The finishing is way above average and too good for this price point. It gives a premium sharpness to your knives and your blades.
The stone comes with dimensions 7.25” x 2.25” x 1” and weighs 2.12 lbs (~ 962 g).
Pros
- Premium quality
- The bamboo case for safety
- Silicone base to hold stone inside bamboo case
- Knife sharpening angle guide
- Can be used for sharpening any blade
- It only requires water for lubrication.
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- The bamboo case can crack if exposed to water for long.
- The 1000 grit side is soft.
2. Cali Valley Knife Sharpening Stone
When it comes to the performance of whetstones, the Cali Valley Knife Sharpening Stone secures the top place.
Cali Valley is a family-run business in California. You can certainly feel the generations of research on this kit in your first use. The Cali Valley whetstone can be used to sharpen all your knives, razors, axes, and other tools.
The double-sided 1000 | 6000 gritstone is easy to use. The 1000 grit is helpful in removing dullness. The 6000 grit is helpful in honing the edges. With the stone, you get a classic bamboo case with an anti-slip bottom and a silicon base under the stone. You get a standard knife angle guide and an instructional ebook.
Apart from this, you get two important tools. First, you get a flattening stone that helps you to flatten your stone after every use. Second, you get a leather strop that polishes your knives and removes additional burr.
It has a size of 7” x 2.25” x 1”. This 2.49 lbs (~ 1.13 kg) kit is heavy enough to stay in place while using it. It is priced higher than other competing products, but it really is worth the price.
Pros
- Best performance
- Complete kit
- Knife angle guide and instructional ebook included
- Flattening stone and leather strap included
- Stable weight and good grip
- Versatile use
- Cons
- Slightly expensive
- Little hard to sharpen serrated blades
Cons:
3. Kota Japan Diamond Knife Sharpener Stone
When it comes to affordable prices with premium quality, Japanese products always ace the race. The Kota Japan Diamond Knife Sharpener continues this legacy. It is a Waterstone you can use to sharpen your kitchen knife, hunting knife, swords, scissors, pruning tools, razors, or any blade.
It is a double-sided 2000 | 5000 grit Waterstone. The 2000 grit helps you to reduce dullness and bluntness from a used or damaged edge. The 5000 grit helps sharpen the knife while adding polish to the surface. The stone has a very convenient size of 7.25″ x 2.25″ x 1″, with a weight of 1.4 lbs (~ 635g). It easily fits into your palm, making it easy to carry.
Apart from the stone, you get a genuine bamboo holder and a protective rubber case. In the box, you also get a Blade Angle Guide and a bonus instructional eBook. If you’re still looking for something, it also comes with a 100% money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty. Overall, it deserves to be the best budget stone.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Gives great sharpness
- Useful for almost all kinds of cutting and chopping tools
- No oil required
- Safety tools included
- Angle guide and bonus ebook included
- 100% money-back guarantee with a lifetime warranty
Cons
- Stone can wear out quickly with the use
- Bamboo degrades with the use
- Lightweight doesn’t give much stability
4. LK-World Double-Sided Diamond Knife Sharpening Stone
The ceramic material lasts longer than Aluminium Oxide. Due to this, the LK-World Knife Sharpening Stone gives you exceptional durability. Use it to sharpen your kitchen knife, chef’s knife, boning knife, penknife, butterfly knife, shovel, axe, sword, or any other tool.
It has a dimension of 7” x 3.5” x 1.38”, making it the perfect whetstone for tools with large blades. Its larger size and durable structure make it the best fit for heavy usage. It offers a double-sided 600 | 1200 grit surface with fairly good performance. It doesn’t even need any water for sharpening your knife.
Do remember to wash the knife after sharpening. It comes with a transparent lid and a plastic molded case. It also has standard rubber feet for grip and safety.
Pros
- Exceptional durability
- Larger than usual size
- No water required
- For heavy usage
- Excellent for beginners
Cons
- Using water reduces durability
- The 600 grit is softer than the specifications.
- The plastic casing is not very strong.
5. MIKARTO Professional Knife Sharpening Stone Ware
MIKARTO is a brand known for its premium range of kitchen knives with a lifetime warranty. The MIKARTO Professional Knife Sharpening Stone Ware is an excellent product to use. The stone comes in very stylish packaging, with a premium look and feel. It has a double 1000 | 6000 grit surface in classic blue and white.
The 1000 grit is designed to deliver accuracy and precision while sharpening dull blades. The 6000 grit is developed to provide excellent factory-class shine to your household knife.
It has a standard size of 7.1” x 2.36” x 1.2”, with a weight of 2.05 lbs (~ 930 g). It comes with an aerated plastic box with holes. It prevents the case and the stone from moisture, making them last longer. This Corundum stone gives excellent performance with pretty much every tool.
Your garden scissors, hunting knife, arrowheads, razors, blades, and almost everything. It also comes with an angle guide and a lapping stone. To sum up, you won’t need anything other than this kit to sharpen all your daily cutlery and tools.
Pros
- The aerated case keeps moisture out
- Industry-grade quality
- Versatile use
- Angle guide and lapping stone included
Cons
- 1000 grit surface wears off quickly
- The case has less grip on the floor.
6. DMT Diamond Whetstone Models Sharpener
Diamond whetstones have small diamonds affixed to the face of a metal plate. These small industrial diamonds are harder than many other sharpening stones available in the market. The diamond stones sharpen your knives quickly, and the flatness usually remains the same. Some extra coarse diamond stones are often used to flatten oil or water stones.
The DMT Diamond Whetstone Models Sharpener is made up of synthetic material with dimensions 9” x 11” x 11” inches and weighs 1.8 lbs (~ 816 g). It is a three-in-one pack of Extra-fine (9 microns / 1200 mesh), Fine (25 microns / 600 mesh) and Coarse (45 microns / 325 mesh) stones.
It comes in a beautiful hardwood box for storage. It is highly-priced, but it gives professional sharpness to your knives without any hassle. The best feature is that it gives results faster than other products. Hence, not the best but surely a go-to product.
Pros
- Multipurpose three grit options
- Highly abrasive and gives a long-lasting finish.
- Less time consuming
- The weight size ratio is very less.
Cons
- With extremely rough usage, the metal plate could come off.
7. Dan’s Genuine Arkansas Soft Whetstone
A lot of us like to wander in the woods and climb mountains. Explore the hills with a tent, some water, and a pocket knife in our trousers. Such people that mostly use a pocket knife don’t want to carry a standard whetstone. Why? It’s because all the standard whetstones are almost 7″ long and 2″ wide. For these people, Dan’s Genuine Arkansas Soft Whetstone model is a great choice. It is small, it is light, it comes with a pouch, and it does the job pretty well.
It has a size of 3″ x 1″ x 0.25″, which makes it really handy for a traveler. This 1.5 oz (~ 42 g) stone adds minimal weight to your luggage while giving perfect sharpness to your pocket knife. It is ideal for small arrowheads as well if you like hunting the old school way.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Small size, convenient for travel
- Best for pocket knives
- Ultra-lightweight
- Gives surgical quality sharpness
Cons
- Not for kitchen knives or household tools
- Not to be left in water for long.
- A leather pouch is not of very good quality.
8. KING KW65 Grit Combination Whetstone
The King KW65 Grit Combination Whetstone comes from a company having 60 years of experience. This stone is a deluxe product for people who like to keep their knives and arrowheads sharp.
It comes with a 1000 | 6000 grit combination on two sides of the stone. It has an iconic brown color of the ceramic material. It weighs roughly 1 lb (~ 454 g) and has a very convenient dimension of 7.25” x 2.5” x 1”. With a reasonable price and fairly good performance, this can be the next whetstone for your daily use.
The stone also comes with a standard plastic case. The case holds the floor more firmly than in other cases.
Pros
- Impressive sharpness
- Works on almost all tools
- Quick results
- Lightweight
- Affordable price
- Stable plastic case
- Made from natural stones
Cons
- Exposure to the sun reduces the quality of the case.
- Natural stone turns out to be slightly radioactive.
- Stone is soft, may break or crack under high pressure.
9. Chefic Whetstone 2-in-1 Premium Sharpening Stone
It is one of the remarkable bench stones available in the market. Chefic Whetstone 2-in-1 Premium Sharpening Stone is made from professional grade white corundum stone, which gives it a beautiful white-green color.
This two-sided stone comes with two grit specifications – 400 and 1000. The 400 grit surface is for sharpening effectively, and the 1000 grit surface is for giving elegant finishing touches.
The overall size of 7.09” x 2.36” x 1.18” makes it worth the price. It is suitable for most of the daily use of equipment – kitchen knives, hunting knives, kitchen shears, pocket knives, razor tools, art tools, or garden tools.
The non-slip silicone base provides an amazing grip. This stone is not for beginners as it doesn’t come with a manual.
Pros
- Suitable for most blades and knives
- Industrial-grade corundum
- Excellent performance
Cons
- 400 grit surface smoothens with rough use
- The case may develop cracks if overexposed to water
10. Fallkniven Double-Sided Ceramic Sharpener
We have another stone for the people who love outdoor adventures. The Fallkniven Double-Sided Ceramic Sharpener fits easily in your pockets. It is designed for smaller tools like your pocket knife, arrowhead, or your army knife. It fulfills your camping and trekking needs while adding almost no weight to your pockets. It has a weight of about 0.18 lbs (~ 82 g).
With a size of 3.94″ x 1.26″ x 0.01″, this Chinese ceramic stone does the job of a whetstone remarkably. It has a double-sided 1000 | 2000 grit surface. The gray surface is made up of synthetic sapphire, with a grit of about 1000. The white surface is a ceramic stone with a grit of about 2000.
Pros
- No lubrication needed
- Compact design
- Fast sharpening
- Durable leather pouch included
Cons
- Wears off quickly
- Not for larger blades and knives
- Water damages the white surface fast
Sharpening Stone Buying Guide
Buying a sharpening stone can be a tedious task. You must pay attention to all the specifications of a stone before buying it. For selecting the best sharpening stone, various parameters are to be considered. Let’s have a look at the primary parameters!
Grit number / Stone grade
There are many ways of defining the quality of a whetstone. The most used ways are grit number and stone grade.
If the grit number is higher, it means a finer abrasive. This type basically provides finishes that are much smoother. Lower grit numbers, on the other hand, signify coarser abrasives. That is the ones that are responsible for scraping off materials much quicker.
Some stones are classified using grades. There are four grades – Soft, Hard, Translucent, and Black. Each grade is based on the density or the specific gravity of the mineral.
Size and Weight
The size and weight of the product should always be considered. If you need a stone for your camping needs, you should get one around 3” long. If you need a stone for your household or workplace, you should buy a 7” stone. The stone should be handy and convenient to carry.
Usability
The tools that a stone can sharpen should always match your requirements. The stone suitable for an ax may not be suitable for a knife, but there are stones that work effectively on almost all tools. Find the stone that perfectly fits your needs.
Accessories
The accessories that come in a whetstone kit might be very helpful for you. If you’re a beginner, you should look for a stone that comes with a manual. If you want perfect angles, you should definitely have an angle guide included in the stone. Whereas, if you want to give your knives a premium shine, look for a leather strop in the kit.
Material
The material of the stone is very crucial. If you choose the wrong stone, you might end up not using it ever. There are some natural stones that show radioactive nature. If you work at a place where this could cause problems, you need to look for it. There are some stones that degrade in water. If this could be challenging for you, look for this as well.
Summing up
Having a sharpening stone not only saves you from this hassle but also gives your knives an industry-grade shine. Choosing the right whetstone can be a task, but we have made it simple for you. Pick the one that best suits your needs!
