Shapton is one of the most reputable and highly-recommended whetstone makers in the world, and that's a testament to their quality. The Shapton Kuromaku series (often called "Shapton Pro" in the west) are versatile, professional-quality whetstones that are also suitable for beginners.
The Shapton Pro Kuromaku 5000 grit whetstone is especially popular for sharpening woodworking tools. This is because it cuts fast, leaves a very sharp edge, and a good polish - but it doesn't get to the mirror-like polish that a finer grit would. If you're sharpening chef knives, you might want that mirror polish (mainly for aesthetic reasons), so you'd be better off using a finer grit stone. However, finer grit stones cut a lot slower than this 5000 grit from Shapton.
If you want a sharp blade, with a decent polish, but don't want to spend all day working up to that mirror finish, this whetstone is for you. That being said, this stone is suitable for all blades you might need to sharpen: chisels, planes, saws, axes, and - yes - even kitchen knives. This will get knives extremely sharp, to the perfect level for cutting meat without risking damage.
- Soak the stone for 5 minutes before the first use.
- Soak for 30 seconds before subsequent uses (optional).
- Finish your knife on the stone, occasionally sprinkling water to keep the stone wet.
- Wash and dry your knife.
- Gently rinse your whetstone under clean water and air-dry completely before storing.
- Model: K0704
- Size: 210×70×15mm
- Grit: 5000
- Made in Japan
