SHARPENING STONE 1000/6000 - PYRENEES ON BLACK SHADOW - 1 STONE x MAGASIN VIVANT!
Magnificent double-sided natural whetstone, developed in collaboration with the French manufacturer 1Stone. It has been designed to provide complete, professional sharpening in a single tool, guaranteeing a perfect edge for all your knives.
Complete sharpening is performed in 2 steps: first, the blade is restored, then the edge is refined for a razor-sharp result:
The 1000 grit side (Pyrenees): used for basic sharpening, this is the routine sharpening grit. It restores the blade's edge and gives it a very sharp, effective, and functional edge for daily use.
The 6000 grit side (Black Shadow): this is the finishing grit, the importance of the final touch to achieve a razor-sharp edge, essential for precise, absolutely perfect cuts.
This natural stone comes from French quarries in the Pyrenees and the Ardennes. It is cut and polished by hand by the 1STONE manufacturer in the Nord department in Anzin. As the stone is natural, its appearance may differ from the photo.
Dimensions: 150 x 60 x 22 mm
To maintain your knives and enjoy using them, sharpen them regularly—it's very simple! All the instructions for sharpening are below 👇🏼
- For synthetic stones: soak the stone for a few minutes. For natural stones, run them quickly under water. During sharpening, water prevents steel dust from clogging the pores of the stone and helps create the "slurry" used for sharpening.
- Set up the stone: Get into a comfortable position and place the stone on a non-slip base, such as a damp cloth or paper towel.
- Position the blade on the stone: hold the handle with one hand and place 2 fingers of the other hand near the blade's edge. Your fingers control the pressure against the stone during sharpening. The blade should be at an angle of approximately 20° to the stone. Unless you have a perfect eye for angles, remember that the most important thing is to maintain the same angle throughout—be CONSISTENT!
- Find the right motion: Slide the blade along the stone in a slight arc. Move back and forth from the base of the blade to the tip, applying very light pressure with your 2 fingers. Then, flip the knife and perform the same number of strokes on the other side. Otherwise, your sharpening will be asymmetrical.
- If necessary, wet the stone during sharpening; it is the slurry created by the steel dust and water that does the sharpening. For natural stones sold with a "nagura" stone, rub it against the main stone to create the slurry.
- For a razor edge, switch to a fine grit, 3000 or higher. And for enthusiasts, finish it off with a leather strop!
- Do the paper test: the blade should slice through a sheet of paper without tearing it; if not, repeat the process.
- Finally, if it is a carbon steel blade, dry it thoroughly and coat it with a lubricant, such as camellia oil, though sausage fat works just as well ;)
A former baker, Nicolas Rollin was passionate about whetstones. His massive collection was surely the largest in Europe.
It was only natural that he trained in the manufacturing of natural stones in Germany, where he learned cutting and polishing.
He honed his skills for several years alongside his job as a baker, then rediscovered the trail of the "La Lune" stones, a French historical heritage whose production had ceased in 1984.
He decided to set out on his own to bring this forgotten treasure back to life. "La Lune" slates are the same as those from the last century and come from the old slate quarries of Fumay in the Ardennes. Since these quarries were no longer in operation, he obtained authorization to work them thanks to the village mayor, who also wanted to see the history of this unique stone reborn.
Since then, Nicolas has expanded his range; he also works with natural and synthetic Japanese stones, renowned for their exceptional quality.