Accessibility Statement

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SHARPENING BY HAND



Sharpening is one of the most important woodworking skills. Sharp tools are safer than dull ones, as they behave predictably and require much less effort. Getting your tools sharp isn’t difficult, and you don’t need much equipment – what you need is an efficient, repeatable method that works well for the tools you use and the way you work. From the vast array of choices available, we’ve put together a selection of tested, dependable sharpening media and equipment. We’ve also put a lot of effort into explaining them clearly and accurately to help you choose the combination that’s best for you. A key to success in the workshop, a good sharpening regimen ensures your tools are always performing at their best.


VERITAS HONING GUIDES
SHAPTON SHARPENING STONES
WATER STONES
CERAMIC STONES
OIL STONES
DIAMOND STONES
OTHER SHARPENING MEDIA
TO STROP OR NOT TO STROP?
GRIT CHARTS

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Veritas Honing Guides

Regardless of the sharpening media you choose, the easiest way to get quick, consistent, repeatable results when sharpening is to use a guide to hold the blade at the correct angle. The MK.II honing guide system is a versatile choice that works with a wide variety of tools. The side-clamping honing guide offers a simple way to sharpen most chisels and plane irons. For holding small blades reliably, the short-blade honing guide is an effective solution.

Choosing a Honing Guide
Using the Veritas Side-Clamping Honing Guide to sharpen a plane blade

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Veritas Side-Clamping Honing Guide

$57.50

Using the Veritas Short-Blade Honing Guide to sharpen a spokeshave blade on a water stone

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Veritas Short-Blade Honing Guide

$79.00

Using the Veritas MKII standard honing guide to hone a plane blade

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Veritas Mk.II Standard Honing Guide

$89.00

05M0920 - Veritas Mk.II Deluxe Honing Guide Set

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Veritas Mk.II Deluxe Honing Guide Set

$179.00

05M0910 - Veritas Mk.II Narrow-Blade Honing Guide

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Veritas Mk.II Narrow-Blade Honing Guid...

$124.00

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Grit Charts

Comparing sharpening media can be confusing, as manufacturers around the world follow various grading standards. To help make sense of it all, we compiled grit information for all sharpening stones and sheet abrasives that we sell. In addition to listing their grits according to the specific industrial standard relevant to each, we also listed the grit particle sizes in microns, providing a common frame of reference to compare the relative coarseness/fineness of all sharpening media. We also assigned each item a range code to pinpoint where it belongs in the sharpening process, from shaping and grinding to honing and final polishing.

Learn More

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Shapton

With several types of abrasive media in an extensive range of grits, this line of premium sharpening equipment lets you develop a sharpening system tailored for a particular steel, application or workflow. Requiring only a quick spray of water before use, these durable stones cut quickly and yield consistent results.

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Sliding a RockStar stone into the stainless-steel case

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Shapton RockStar Stones with Stainless...

From: $82.00

61M0505 - RockStar 3000x Stone

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Shapton RockStar Stones

From: $52.00

61M0500 - Stainless-Steel RockStar Stone Case

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Shapton Stainless-Steel RockStar Stone...

$34.50

Shapton GlassStone (GS) Series HR Stones

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Shapton GlassStone (GS) Series HR Ston...

From: $59.50

Shapton GlassStone (GS) Series HC Stones

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Shapton GlassStone (GS) Series HC Ston...

From: $89.00

Shapton GlassStone Seven Series (GS7) Stones

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Shapton GlassStone Seven Series (GS7) ...

From: $42.50

Freehand honing a knife edge on a GS7 stone

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Shapton GlassStone Seven (GS7) Knife S...

$399.00

61M0101 - Shapton 120x White Ha-No-Kuromaku Ceramic Stone

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Shapton 120x White Ha-No-Kuromaku Cera...

$59.50

61M0102 - Shapton 220x Moss Ha-No-Kuromaku Ceramic Stone

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Shapton 220x Moss Ha-No-Kuromaku Ceram...

$59.50

61M0103 - Shapton 320x Blue-Black Ha-No-Kuromaku Ceramic Stone

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Shapton 320x Blue-Black Ha-No-Kuromaku...

$59.50

61M0104 - Shapton 1000x Orange Ha-No-Kuromaku Ceramic Stone

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Shapton 1000x Orange Ha-No-Kuromaku Ce...

$61.50

61M0105 - Shapton 1500x Blue Ha-No-Kuromaku Ceramic Stone

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Shapton 1500x Blue Ha-No-Kuromaku Cera...

$69.50

61M0106 - Shapton 2000x Green Ha-No-Kuromaku Ceramic Stone

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Shapton 2000x Green Ha-No-Kuromaku Cer...

$72.50

61M0107 - Shapton 5000x Wine Ha-No-Kuromaku Ceramic Stone

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Shapton 5000x Wine Ha-No-Kuromaku Cera...

$92.50

Sharpening a chisel on a Ha-No-Kuromaku ceramic stone

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Shapton 8000x Melon Ha-No-Kuromaku Cer...

$109.00

Sharpening a chisel on a Ha-No-Kuromaku ceramic stone

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Shapton 12,000x Yellow Ha-No-Kuromaku ...

$109.00

61M0110 - Shapton 30,000x Purple Ha-No-Kuromaku Ceramic Stone

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Shapton 30,000x Purple Ha-No-Kuromaku ...

$499.00

61M0410 - Shapton Standard Lapping Plate (NAORU)

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Shapton Standard Lapping Plate (NAORU)

$239.00

61M0399 - Shapton Diamond Glass Lapping Plate (DGLP)

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Shapton Diamond Glass Lapping Plate (D...

$389.00

61M0210 - Shapton GS7 Diamond Lapping Plate

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Shapton GlassStone Seven (GS7) Diamond...

$229.00

61M0415 - Shapton Lapping Disc

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Shapton Lapping Disc

$26.50

61M0403 - Shapton Fine Lapping Powder, 120ml (4 oz)

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Shapton Lapping Powders

From: $24.50

61M0150 - Shapton Stone Holder

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Shapton Stone Holder

$89.00

61M0160 - Shapton Field Holder

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Shapton Field Holder

$69.00

61M0230 - Shapton GlassStone Seven(GS7) Holder

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Shapton GlassStone Seven (GS7) Holder

$120.00

61M0190 - Shapton Stone Pond

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Shapton Stone Pond

$259.00


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Water Stones

Most water stones are manufactured from abrasive particles bonded by a resin or adhesive binder. In use, they constantly release fresh abrasive, so they sharpen quickly but also tend to wear quickly, requiring more frequent lapping than other stones. Water stones are an economical choice, available from 200x to 8000x, suitable for putting a keen edge on a wide range of hand tools. All must be soaked in water before being used.

60M0101 - 800x Water Stone

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King 800x Water Stone

$45.50

220x/1000x Combo. Water Stone on a table next to a chisel

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Norton Water Stones

From: $52.00

60M4001 - 1000x Water Stone

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King 1000x Water Stone

$42.50

60M0201 - 1200x Water Stone

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King 1200x Water Stone

$48.50

60M0303 - Std. 4000x Stone – no Base

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King 4000x Water Stones

From: $44.50

60M1001 - 8000x Gold Water Stone

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King 8000x Gold Stone

$89.00

A plane blade held in a honing guide rests on a King 1000x/4000x combination water stone

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King 1000x/4000x Combination Water Sto...

From: $56.50

60K8230 - 140x (100µ) Atoma Diamond Plate

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Atoma Diamond Plates

From: $129.00

70M4100 - Pride Abrasive Truing Stone for Water Stones

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Pride Abrasive Truing Stone for Water ...

$42.50

08M1530 - Truing Stone for Water Stones

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Truing Stone for Water Stones

$54.50

One stone is soaking in the Stone Pond and another stone is clamped in the holder

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The Stone Pond by Veritas

$85.00

56Z8088 - No-Rust Additive, 250ml (8.5 fl oz)

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No-Rust Water Additive

$44.90

A chisel resting on a water stone attached to the Water Stone Holder, with a non-skid mat underneath

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Water Stone Holder

$32.50

60M6001 - 200x Green Silicon Carbide Stone

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King 200x Green Silicon Carbide Stone

$84.50

60M5003 - 250x/1000x Water Stone

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King Utility Combination Water Stone

$46.50


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Ceramic Stones

Ceramic stones are manufactured from abrasive bonded with adhesive at high heat and pressure to make a hard, durable stone. Like water stones, they require water as a lubricant, but are usually slower-wearing. Our line includes ceramic stones made by Bester, Imanishi, Sigma Power Select II and Pride Abrasive, and are available in much finer grits than water stones, so they can be used to produce extremely refined edges.

A chisel placed on a water stone that it held in a water stone holder

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Pride Abrasive Ceramic Water Stones wi...

From: $67.00

A ceramic water stone on a wooden tabletop with a chisel in the background

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Sigma Power Select II Ceramic Water St...

From: $95.00

60K8104 - 4000x Imanishi Ceramic Water Stone

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Bester/Imanishi Ceramic Water Stones

From: $79.50

70M4100 - Pride Abrasive Truing Stone for Water Stones

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Pride Abrasive Truing Stone for Water ...

$42.50

08M1530 - Truing Stone for Water Stones

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Truing Stone for Water Stones

$54.50

60K8230 - 140x (100µ) Atoma Diamond Plate

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Atoma Diamond Plates

From: $129.00


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Oil Stones

Our line of oil stones includes traditional Arkansas stones, which are mined from natural stone and flattened for sharpening, as well as manufactured stones made from aluminum oxide abrasive. All cut more slowly than water stones but also wear more slowly, so they require less frequent lapping. Oil stones require an oil lubricant, so they are a good option to keep in a shed or other locations exposed to freezing temperatures that could damage a saturated water stone.

70M4025 - Arkansas Oil Stone, Hard Black (X-Fine), 8" x 3" x 1/2"

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Arkansas Oil Stones

From: $49.50

08M0501 - 90x/600x Combo Oil Stone, x-large

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Aluminum Oxide Oil Stones

From: $46.00

08M0203 - Honing Oil, 4.5 fl oz

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Honing Oil

$8.70


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Diamond Stones

Diamond stones use manufactured abrasive bonded to a flat substrate. Diamond plates use particles mounted to a steel plate, while diamond bench stones have diamond particles mounted to a plastic substrate with perforations to carry away the filings. Fast cutting and highly durable, both are excellent choices that require virtually no maintenance.

70M1440 - DMT DiaFlat Lapping Plate, 120x

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DMT DiaFlat Lapping Plate

$259.00

60K8230 - 140x (100µ) Atoma Diamond Plate

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Atoma Diamond Plates

From: $129.00

DMT DiaSharp Stones

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3" × 8" DMT DiaSharp Stones

From: $92.00

70M0603 - 6" Diamond Bench Stone, 1200x

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Monocrystalline Diamond Bench Stones

From: $74.00

70M0430 - Plastic Stand for 6", 8", 10" Stones

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Plastic Stand for Monocrystalline Diam...

$26.90

70M0218 - Double Sided, 250x/600x (60µ/30µ)

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EZE-Lap Diamond Folding Hones

From: $28.50

A diamond paddle hone being used to sharpen a saw-tooth drill bit

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EZE-Lap Diamond Paddle Hones

From: $9.40


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Other Sharpening Media

Beyond traditional sharpening stones, many other forms of abrasive sharpening media are available. Film-based and paper-based abrasives can be mounted on glass, granite or another flat substrate and used much like stones. Abrasive film has the added benefit of flexibility, so it can be mounted on a profiled shape, such as a dowel for sharpening the radiused edge of a carving gouge. Powders and pastes come in a range of grits, from very coarse for stone flattening to the ultra-fine grits used to obtain a razor edge.

05M2007 - 90x Lapping Grit, 2 oz

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Lapping Grits

From: $6.50

05M2011 - Laminate Sheets, pkg. of 4

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Laminate Sheets

(Pkg. of 4)

$22.50

05M2012 - Glass Lapping Plate

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Glass Lapping Plate

$22.50

70M1401 - 1µ Diamond Paste

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Diamond Paste

From: $24.50

PSA Diamond Film displayed on a lapping plate with a plane blade in a honing guide

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Diamond Lapping Film

From: $10.70

54K9659 - 0.3µ 3M Alum. Oxide Film, ea.

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3M Aluminum Oxide Films for Sharpening

From: $5.90


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To Strop or Not to Strop

Stropping typically involves drawing a sharpened blade across a flat wood or leather surface to refine the edge after honing. It can also be used to tune up a dulling edge while you work, so it requires less frequent re-honing. Done with or without honing compound, it’s effective on softer steels or when using medium-grit stones to hone the edge.

Charging a stropping wheel with Veritas honing compound

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Veritas Honing Compound

$19.50

Stroping the edge of a chip carving knife on the Veritas Double-Sided Hand Strop charged with Veritas Honing Compound

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Veritas Double-Sided Hand Strop

$33.50

33K9110 - Leather Strop

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Leather Strop

$47.50

70M0358 - Leather Strop Pack of 6

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Leather Strop Pack

$26.50

Sharpen Net: A Woodworker's Resource

Sharpen-Net

While everyone has their own method for sharpening their tools, we have developed a flexible approach to help demystify this vital gateway skill. Whether you are an old hand at sharpening or trying to find your way as a novice, we are sure you will discover some useful tips in our regularly updated videos and written resources.

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Sharpening by Hand: A Woodworker’s Resource Guide

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Sharpening by Hand: A Woodworker’s Resource Guide

This resource offers a guide to sharpening woodworking tools, as well as presenting the range of sharpening products we carry, including the full Shapton line and two new Veritas honing guides. We have also created a comprehensive grit comparison chart to make it easy to compare the sharpening media we carry.

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