Sharpening with Japanese Waterstone

Waterstones enable you to get the sharpest edge in an efficient and clean manner. No messy oil or grinding down your tools! In this one evening session, students will learn to sharpen woodworking chisels and plane blades, as well as pocket knifes and kitchen knifes using Japanese water stones. Tool sharpening with waterstones is a fundamental part of Japanese woodworking. It is also a very useful skill if you’re maintaining any tools that benefit from the sharpest of edges. Chefs interested in the skill for knives are very welcome in this class! Care and maintenance of sharpening stones is also covered. Discussion will address differences between grits, the optimal grit sequence to get the sharpness needed for your task, and how to maintain a flat sharpening surface on your waterstone. A sharp tool is a safe tool.

This class or equivalent experience is a prerequisite for all other classes, except for Japanese Woodworking Introduction

Prerequisites

No previous sharpening or woodworking experience necessary.

Supplies

Students should bring one or more dull blades. Each student is required to have a Japanese waterstone for class. Contact Mokuchi to assist making your selection. The recommended basic stone is a combination 1000/6000 grit Japanese waterstone (priced at $40 or $65). Mokuchi has these and other options for sale depending on student experience and intended use (three separate, specific grit stones is priced at ~$180).

Contact Mokuchi to purchase tools. As a Japanese tool retailer Mokuchi provides guidance on selecting tools and can set tools aside for you ahead of class.

Time & Location: Saturday Oct. 28, 2023, Ashland, Oregon

# of Students: 6 maximum