What is a Sharpening Stone?

A sharpening stone is a tool which is designed to help people restore the sharp edges of bladed tools. Sharpening stones for all sorts of tools from knives to axes are available, with varying degrees of hardness and grit which are customized for specific metals. Many hardware stores carry sharpening stones, and kitchen supply stores typically carry sharpening stones which are designed specifically for knives; kitchen stones are also called whetstones. There are a number of ways to utilize a sharpening stone, but all of them rely on the principle that a blade can be ground into sharpness by being rubbed against a coarse surface. Traditionally, sharpening stones were literally made from stone, although modern sharpening stones may be made from carbon steel, diamond, and a variety of other substances, depending on what they are designed for. It is possible to break sharpening stones into two basic categories: handheld stones and stones which are mounted on electric grinders. Handheld ...  more