Real Steel Japanese Whetstone 400 Grit Sharpening Stone

The Real Steel Japanese Whetstone is a 400 grit stone measuring 5.88 by 0.75 by 0.25 inches with a non-slip base.

A Japanese whetstone is used with water rather than oil, which is the fundamental difference from an Arkansas or India stone. Water is cleaner, needs no solvent to remove, and the stone is soaked before use rather than oiled. Mixing the two ruins a waterstone permanently, since oil soaks into the porous structure and cannot be removed.

Four hundred grit is coarse, for reshaping a damaged edge or setting a new bevel rather than finishing. A full progression usually runs 400, then 1000, then 3000 or higher. The non-slip base keeps the stone still on a wet bench, which is where accidents happen with a loose stone and a sharp blade. Explore more sharpeners.

• A waterstone, used with water rather than oil
• Oil ruins a waterstone permanently
• 400 grit for reshaping, before 1000 and higher
• Non-slip base keeps it still on a wet bench