SHARPENING STONE & END - KUMAMOTO - GRAIN 1000 - 1 STONE
Magnificent natural Kumamoto sharpening stone, 1000 grit, this is the essential grit for sharpening all your blades.
The "nagura" (rubbing stone) is rubbed against the stone with water to create an abrasive slurry, making the stone even more effective. The "nagura" also serves as a mini sharpening stone, easy to take with you on your outdoor excursions.
This natural stone comes from quarries in the Kumamoto region of Japan. It is cut and polished by hand by the 1STONE workshop in Anzin, in the Nord department. As the stone is natural, its appearance may differ from the photo.
Dimensions: 200 x 60 x 25 mm + nagura
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 stone's pores and helps create the "slurry" used for sharpening.
- Set up the stone: Find 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 two fingers from your other hand near the edge of the blade. Your fingers control the pressure against the stone during sharpening. The blade should have an attack angle of approximately 20° relative to the stone. Unless you have an eye for precision, keep in mind that the most important thing is to maintain the same angle—be CONSISTENT!
- Find the right motion: Slide the blade across 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 two fingers. Then, flip the knife and perform the same number of passes on the other side. Otherwise, your sharpening will be asymmetrical.
- If necessary, wet the stone during sharpening; the slurry created by the steel dust and water is what sharpens the blade. For natural stones sold with a "nagura," rub it against the stone to create the slurry.
- For a razor-sharp edge, switch to a fine grit, 3000 or higher. And for the enthusiasts, finish it off with a leather strop!
- Perform the paper test: the blade should slice through a sheet of paper without tearing it; if not, start over.
- Finally, if it is a carbon steel blade, dry it thoroughly and coat it with an oil, such as camellia oil, although sausage fat works just as well ;)
A former baker, Nicolas Rollin was passionate about sharpening stones. His enormous collection was surely the largest in Europe.
It was natural for him to train 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 "Moon Stones" (Pierres de la Lune), a piece of French historical heritage whose production had ceased in 1984.
He decided to start his own business to revive this forgotten treasure. The “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 mine them thanks to the village mayor, as he also wished to see the history of this unique stone reborn.
Since then, Nicolas has expanded his offering; he also works with natural and synthetic Japanese stones, renowned for their exceptional quality.