Shun Combination Whetstone - 300/1000

The Shun Combination whetstone offers a coarse side (300 grit) for grinding and a fine side (1000 grit) for sharpening and finishing. Shun recommend a grinding angle of approximately 15°. Complete with non-slip base and instructions.

Measurements:  184 x 62 x 28mm (L/W/H).

Using your whetstone

What grit whetstone is best?

Typically a coarse whetstone, 220 to 400 grit, will remove material quickly. This is useful for repairing chips or other imperfections.

A medium grit whetstone, typically 1000 to 2000, is suitable for sharpening most knives that have a blade in reasonable but dull condition.

A fine to very fine whetstone, around 4,000 to 8,000 grit is used for finely sharpening, finishing, and polishing your blade to a mirror like finish.

Soak your whetstone

The whetstone should first be soaked in water for about 10 to 20 minutes before using it. Thereafter place on a slip free surface and ensure the stone is kept slightly wet during the grinding process by dribbling some water on the surface.

How to sharpen with your whetstone

Double bevel blades (e.g. Shun Classic, Premier)

Grind the knife with a 15° angle to the whetstone, moving the blade with light pressure toward and away from your body. Repeat this process until you can feel a fine burr. This should be repeated proportionally on all parts of the blade. It is important to grind both sides of the blade equally to regain a symmetrically sharpened knife. To remove the burr formed along the blade as a result of sharpening, place a piece of newspaper on a flat surface and holding the knife at a similar angle used on the whetstone, swipe the blade sideways left and right across newspaper.  Once the burr is removed, you will feel a smooth edge along the blade. After sharpening carefully wash, dry, and safely store your knife.

Single bevel blades (e.g. Kai Wasabi)

Place the ground side first on the whetstone. Make sure that you use the angle recommended by the manufacturer. Grind the knife with a 45° angle to the whetstone, moving the blade with light pressure away from and toward your body. Repeat this process until you feel a fine burr. Once the ground side is done, turnover the knife and repeat the process as described above on the hollow-ground side but less often – 1/10 will do. To remove the burr formed along the blade as a result of sharpening, place a piece of newspaper on a flat surface and holding the knife at a similar angle used on the whetstone, swipe the blade sideways left and right across newspaper.  Once the burr is removed, you will only feel a smooth edge along the blade. After sharpening carefully wash, dry, and safely store your knife.

From the legendary samurai swords, said to contain the soul of the warrior who wielded them, to the handcrafted kitchen knives of today the exquisite craftsmanship of Japanese blades is admired worldwide. Since the13th century, Seki City has been the heart of the Japanese cutlery industry. For more than 100 years, it has also been home to Kai Corporation, the makers of Kai Shun (pronounced “shoon” and rhymes with “moon”) fine knives. Inspired by the blade-making traditions of ancient Japan, today’s highly skilled Shun artisans produce blades of unparalleled quality and beauty.