Whetstone Grit Guide: Which Grit for Sharpening Japanese Knives
Whetstone grit is simply how coarse or fine the stone is: a low number cuts fast and rough, a high number polishes fine and keen. For Japanese knives you work up through the grits, and for most home cooks a single 1000 and 6000 combination stone covers almost everything.
Where to start
If you buy one stone, make it a 1000 and 6000 combination: the 1000 side sharpens and the 6000 side polishes. That single stone keeps almost any kitchen knife keen.
Add a coarse 220 to 400 stone only if you need to repair chips, and a finishing 8000-plus stone only if you want a mirror edge. Most home cooks never need more than the combination stone.
Soaking and working up the grits
Most water stones need about 10 to 15 minutes in water before use, and you keep the surface wet while you sharpen; splash-and-go and ceramic stones need only a light spray.
Work up from the lowest grit you need to the highest, spending most of your time on the 1000 to reset the edge, then a shorter pass on the finer stone to refine it.
Whetstone grit at a glance
| Coarse, 220 to 400 | Repairs chips and reshapes a damaged edge |
|---|---|
| Medium, 800 to 1200 | The main sharpening grit that resets a working edge |
| Fine, 3000 to 6000 | Refines and polishes for a keener edge |
| Finishing, 8000 plus | Brings a near-mirror, razor edge |
Whetstone grit FAQ
Should I get a 1000 or 6000 grit whetstone first?
Start with a 1000-grit stone; it does the real sharpening on a dull or working edge. Add a 4000 to 6000-grit stone next to refine and polish.
What grit is best for Japanese knives?
A 1000-grit stone for sharpening plus a 3000 to 6000-grit stone for refining suits most Japanese knives. A 1000/6000 combination stone covers both in one.
How long should you soak a whetstone?
Most water stones need about 10 to 15 minutes until the bubbles stop. Splash-and-go and ceramic stones need only a light spray, not a soak.
Shop whetstones by grit
From coarse to finishing stones, find the right grit for your knives at Knives and Stones.