Customer Reviews

Woodstock SteeleX D1130 1000 Grit and 6000 Grit Japanese Waterstone

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I bought this stone for $30. It is more expensive compared to typical oil stones which only cost $3-10. However, a waterstone grinds more uniform and the resulting edges are more polished.

This combination 1000 + 6000 grit Japanese waterstone is 2" wide, 8" long and 1" deep. It is an artificial water stone. A waterstone works fast and consistent because it constantly reveals new grinding surfaces. This also means it wears out fast and one must keep its surface flat by lapping the stone frequently. This stone is fairly soft even for a waterstone, so I need to lap the stone once per knife, unless I am doing a compound bevel edge, then I may do one more when I switch the angle. I recommend getting a diamond stone for lapping, like this: DMT W6FP 6-Inch Diamond Tabletop Whetstone, Fine Grit, DMT W6CP 6" Diamond Whetstone Sharpener - Coarse With Plastic Box or others. A diamond stone not only can work as a lapping stone, but it functions as a coarse sharpening stone. The real important point is not what you use to keep this stone flat, but the fact that you must have a mean to do so. You do not have to get a diamond stone.

I have one criticism. I wish the 1000 and the 6000 grit surfaces are not equally thick. Because the 1000 grit surface wears out much faster than the 6000 grit surface, it would have been nice if the 1000 grit surface is twice as thick as the 6000 grit surface.

***A short explanation of waterstone for those unfamiliar with it***
Japanese waterstones are known for its unique performance. Water is essential for the sharpening performance of these stones, thus their names. They are quick to work with. This is because waterstones are made with small abrasive particles which are loosely held together. During sharpening, the surface particles easily come loose and revealing new layer of particles for fast and consistent sharpening. The loose particles are then carried away by the surrounding water and form a slurry which also assists the sharpening process. The disadvantages of waterstones are that the stones wear out fast and the slurry can be messy.

*Update on Jun 08, 2010*
I have worn the 1000 grit side down to 1/8", while the 6000 grit side is 3/8". I have upgraded to a 2000 grit and a 5000 grit Naniwa Super stones. In comparison, the Naniwa Super stones are more expensive, but higher performance and larger. Although I have out grown this combination stone, I don't regret buying it. It was relative inexpensive and it is soft, which is a good stone to learn. Although a softer stone requires frequent lapping, it has a nice feel to it and provides decent feedback.

I'm a novice at woodworking and I didn't go for five stars here only because I am not able to see, for lack of anything much to compare it to, that the product is really superlative.

I used it only with the Robert Larson 800-1800 Honing Guide that I also got from Amazon, and I first read the relevant portions of The Complete Guide to Sharpening and The Handplane Book [Illustrated]. (Those all seem to be good-to-very-good items too, by the way.)

With all of that preparation, how could I go wrong? Well, I didn't. I managed to do a pretty good job on a Stanley plane iron that, as purchased, was not only unsharpened but never properly ground.

Tip #1 (unless you know more than me, and you well may): if you have to grind a bevel flat and the 1000 grit side of this waterstone is too fine for that, tape a cheap sheet of wet-and-dry 600-grit sandpaper down to a flat surface (I simply used a Formica tabletop) and grind first with that. This will conserve your waterstone for the better licks.

Tip #2: If you have the Larson guide you don't need to remove it when you flip the iron over to hone the flat side (it had looked at first to me as though that would be necessary).

I rated this stone 4 stars. First of all i like the fact it had 2 grits on both sides. It sharpened to a mirror like finish. However waterstone tend to wear very easily, and the thickness of each grits is only 1/2 inch. The overall stone was 1 in so each side has 1/2 inch of the stone. The waterstone wore out very quick resulting in my lapping my stone every 3-4 chisel or plane irons.

The stone is significantly smaller than advertised. A smaller stone is harder to sharpen on, and because waterstones wear out, the volume of the stone determines how long it will last.

Amazon description claimed size: 2.5" x 8.4" x 1.2" = 25.2 cubic inches
Actual size: 2" x 8.125" x 1" = 16.25 cubic inches

So, you're getting screwed to the tune of ((25.2 - 16.25) / 25.2) * 100 = 35.51%

I'm not amused. It's going back to Amazon at their expense.

I have resisted hand tools and chisels in general because I could never get them sharp enough and it took forever. A friend showed me how easy it was to tune one up on a water stone (once they have been hollow ground) and I was amazed at how little time and what good results came from it. Now, I use chisels and feel it slice the fiber instead of tear it. The combination 1000/6000 stone may not last overly long, but I'll get dedicated thicker ones when the time comes because water stones are the way as far as I'm concerned.

Edit as of Dec 2010: While I don't use this particular stone because it finally wore out, I definately have stuck with waterstones. Many people don't like them because they are messy, but with the polishing stones, you only have to spritz with water right before use. To avoid the soaking of lesser grit stones, I did move to a DMT diamond 1200 stone for the shaping which also only requires spritzing, but still have an 8000 for polishing. Keeping it flat is as simple as a 1'x1' tile and a 220 grit sanding screen. Draw a quick pencil grid on the stone, turn it upside down and rub on the sanding screen and when the pencil marks dissapear, your done. It takes far less than a minute. I don't see myself ever switching - fast and very effective.

This whetstone is great for typical knife sharpening and polishing maintenance. It is especially good if you have a great set of knives that you want to maintain, like Henckels, Wusthof, Shun, etc.

It can be used in about 5 - 10 minutes after being soaked in water. However, it takes about a full day to dry completely.

For typical knife sharpening maintenance, you first sharpen on the 1000 grit side, followed by some honing & polishing on the 6000 grit side.

Alternatively, you can skip the 6000 grit side and hone the knife on your steel rod instead. However, the 6000 grit gives the knife blade a polish that cannot be matched by the rod.

Note that this stone will not fix damaged knife blades. This stone is also not good for dull knives; I recommend sharpening a dull knife on 240 grit first, followed by sharpening on 1000 grit, then a hone & polish on 6000 grit (or hone on your steel sharpening rod).

If you are not concerned with polishing your knife blade, then skip the 6000 grit and get a dual-sided whetstone with 240 & 1000 grits instead.

I am extremely happy with the product. I am a complete novice at sharpening knives manually and this put a very keen edge on my crappy Henkel (not 4 star or Pro-S, just the stamped steel) knives in a very little while. I did not use a honing guide, I did it manually, so the knives arent "stupid sharp" but that is due to the operator. Watch the videos on you-tube to see how the experts do it. I did buy this packaged with the stone holder, and it really worked well in keeping the work from sliding around on the counter top. Overall an excellent product. I need to buy a strop and a diamond plate to reset the stone surface, but that is another story...

This whet stone is great. I used to use a fine wet stone and it would leave my blade dull and kind of sharp but with this japanese whet stone, its very sharp and makes it look new.

This is my first time using one and i used a lower grit stone to get rid of chipped edge of the blade and then i use the 1000 grit to give it good sharp edge. Finally finish it with the 6000 grit to give it a mirror finish and leave it smooth and very sharp

Best stone i have bought.

The product works great... with wet surface creates that nice "schmeer" as supposed to be. I have still to hone in my technique but gave a very fine sharpening. It does it up the stone, but that's ok for my home use and 12 or so knifes. I like the whole "ritual" anyway. Only con, it should come with a base for that price point.

it will make your knife razor sharp. Just the tool for good knife, two sides: one for sharpening, one for polishing or honing. Keep in mind that the stone is fine an very very fine, so if you have dull knife then get rough stone (300), with that one it will take you forever to finish the job. from other side my knifes need just small touch. now my Katana sharpened as new, LIKE NEW!!!