On the Edge~ Japanese Waterstones

There are hundreds of new products on the market for the very important ritual of sharpening plane irons. They all work extremely well and have advantages and disadvantages in cost, time savings, durability, edge control, and level of difficulty. If we step back a bit from all the newfangled products and our fixation on what works best at the moment, we see that the desired end result is simply an extremely sharp edge.

For hundreds of years, the Japanese have used water to lubricate sharpening stones, honing very fine edges on their cutting tools. The first stones used were natural mineral deposits simply dug from the ground. The native soils of Japan had the right silicate particles to make for the perfect sharpening clay matrix. The best-known area where these very useful silicates are found is the Narutaki District, North of Kyoto. Although soft, the Japanese waterstone is nature's perfect sharpening tool. The softness is actually a good attribute because it creates a slurry and does not load up on the stone's surface. The fine particles create a natural paste that evenly distributes over the surface area of a cutting edge.

There is a certain metaphorical poetry to sharpening, and, like an athlete who needs to stretch before a long swim or sprint, the act of sharpening for the craftsman creates a pause and time to reflect on planing wood before he or she actually does it. The act of sharpening requires one to step back, handle the blade, patiently set a desired bevel, and go through the exercises of bringing an edge to life.

The sound a plane iron makes on the wet waterstone is wonderful, and the rhythm can be somewhat hypnotizing. I personally feel a certain sense of rejuvenated focus wash over me after sharpening blades. Sharpening readies me to approach my bench with a discriminating eye and a fresh start. It is rare that a woodworker can actually get his hands wet during the process of making anything, and the waterstone provides this opportunity. I run my waterstones through a waterfall bath after each sharpening pass rather than sharpening directly in a tub, so I get to splash around for a while, and yes, I do keep a dry towel close by.

I suppose in the age we live in, many people are more preoccupied with what’s easiest, faster, and most current, but the ritual that the waterstone leads me to is its best attribute. Like the trout, the waterstone always leads me back to running water for a much-needed sense of pause.

~Clint Bova