Waterstone sharpening methods

M

MTHall53

Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
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Trying to find some info on this. Now that I want to try waterstones I need to get a better idea of what I'm doing.
I have watched several Sushi chefs sharpen their knives with Japanese waterstones. (IN my job I get to watch if I want to)
Everyone I watched rubbed back and forth applying a lot of pressure while the water was running on the blades/stones.
I don't mind soaking stones, but don't want to have the water running the whole time. Kitchen sink is was too crowded.
Any thoughts on this?
 
MTHall53 said:
Trying to find some info on this. Now that I want to try waterstones I need to get a better idea of what I'm doing.
I have watched several Sushi chefs sharpen their knives with Japanese waterstones. (IN my job I get to watch if I want to)
Everyone I watched rubbed back and forth applying a lot of pressure while the water was running on the blades/stones.
I don't mind soaking stones, but don't want to have the water running the whole time. Kitchen sink is was too crowded.
Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

If it's in a restaurent the reason they were pushing so hard, and using a back/ forth method was because they're pressed for time. In reality you'd just want enough pressure the push the stone through the water. Also they're using a different kid of water stone. There are 2 types
Some use Nagura stones.
Some don't.
A nagura stone is used to create a slurry when sharpening. It's another stone that your rub against the waterstone with water on top the water becomes a slurry of suspended abrasives that do the sharpening action.
This video should be helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQN4jcXDjbE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a2Jm3pkXqk&feature=related

Watch them in order.
I personally believe he didn't use enough strokes, but he's just maintaining a sharp knife not doing a total sharpen.
 
Thank you. Is there a type of stone you only need to soak in water, and then use, rather have continually running water?
 
MTHall53 said:
Thank you. Is there a type of stone you only need to soak in water, and then use, rather have continually running water?
Click to expand...

None of them need continually running water. If you just leaven them in a bucket full ofw ater and take em out they're ready to use. No running water needed.
 
thanks just now watching video recommended. Excellent.
You have any online resources with good prices?
 
MTHall53 said:
thanks just now watching video recommended. Excellent.
You have any online resources with good prices?
Click to expand...

Hmm Shop around, but from what I've heard.
sharpeningsupplies.com is pretty good, but there are tons. If you can go with the higher end water stones. Also I'd advise against CONTINUALLY running water, as that will put more wear on the stone, and stop it from achieving a good slurry.
Continually running water is just removing more and more material off the STONE and going to waste.
 
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