I've been using whetstones for about a year now. Recently stopped soaking stones in water. I seem to be getting good or better results sharpening. Am I wrong in doing this?
I've been using whetstones for about a year now. Recently stopped soaking stones in water. I seem to be getting good or better results sharpening. Am I wrong in doing this?
Are they waterstones? Those should be soaked for a bit, it helps break down the stone so it will abrade the steel better. If you don’t, the surface of the stone will tend to “gloss over” for lack of better term. It will give a smoother edge, which could be what you’re experiencing. The stones will get clogged and need to be surfaced to be useful again. I would soak them properly, and buy a finer grit one to finish the edge, rather than using the coarser ones “dry”. If they are Arkansas stones, then no, definitely don’t put them in water.
