Water stones or oil stones? If you're chatting with a group of woodworkers about sharpening, you’re going to hear a number of “this is the only way” pitches. Water stones, oil stones, diamond stones, sandpaper on float glass, sandpaper on granite slabs, pastes, compounds, strops, grinders, buffers, differing grit progressions, bevel angles, micro-bevels, jigs upon jigs upon jigs and arcane rituals involving the blood of a yearling calf under a gibbous moon. The options are overwhelming, especially when you just want your chisel sharpened! While all the techniques are valid (yes, even the last one, I dare you to prove me wrong) there really isn’t one “right” way to sharpen. Whatever works best for you to make your tool perform better than it did before is probably the best way for you to sharpen.
Personally, I've tried almost all of them, ranging from a cheap grinder from the big box store to a Tormek, and a variety of stones. With the exception of the cheap grinder I still pretty much use all of them, depending on what I’m sharpening. I’ve spent a huge amount of money over the years listening to experts instead of just trying to get a handle on one method! Don't be intimidated by the experts. Just figure out what works well enough to satisfy your needs. That’s why I’ve always liked water stones — and these Suehiro stones are some of my favorites.
Cerax Stones, manufactured by Suehiro in Japan, have a reputation for performing as well or better than much higher priced stones. These are great stones to start with, as they provide a decent amount of feedback, and provide you with a good feel for where you are while sharpening. This is important because it helps you develop muscle memory and become comfortable with technique. Some tools just don’t work well with jigs, and eventually you’ll need to do a bit of freehand sharpening.
Although these water stones require soaking, they are not particularly “thirsty” — the manufacturer recommends only a few minutes of soaking before use, and says the stones should not be left soaking for any great length of time. If you hate taking the time to sharpen, shortening the preparation time of the stones is a great benefit of the Suehiro stones.
Japanese stones are a bit softer due to the type of bonding agent used in the stones’ manufacture. This aspect makes it so fresh grit is continually being exposed on the surface, cutting more quickly with less loading than harder stones. The included Nagura stone can be used to dress the surface of the stone and helps create a slurry by revealing new grit and bringing the water out of the stone prior to sharpening.
One of my favorite features with the Suehiro stones is the plastic storage box that doubles as a stand! Each of the Cerax Stones comes mounted to a stand with skid-resistant rubber feet, so no stone holder is necessary. And each stand has a storage spot for your Nagura stone.
Don't think of me as a sharpening expert. Think of me who's spent the time and money to find a good sharpening system so you don't need to. The Suehiro line of water stones provide excellent “feedback” which helps you to intuit your progress. They're easier to prepare and maintain and give you faster cutting so you can get back to work. Even better, these stones provide top shelf performance with a price tag that won’t give you a heart attack!
