SUEHIRO Suehiro Pack

This two-stone set from Suehiro features some of the best in its class. In terms of price-to-performance ratio, these are among the top Japanese stones. I classify them as semi-soakers. They are excellent for both carbon steel and stainless knives.

The set includes the Cerax 1010 stone. This #1000 grit stone offers great tactile feedback right from the start. It requires soaking for about 15–20 minutes and produces a pleasant and effective slurry early in use.

The Rika 5000 is ideal for finishing and is surprisingly efficient. It forms a thin, slick slurry on the surface, making the final sharpening stage a smooth and enjoyable process.

By adjusting the amount of water, you can achieve different sharpening results with these stones. For example, soaking the stones overnight makes the surface softer. While this may result in a messier session, the sharpening feel changes so much that it’s definitely worth trying.

For flattening, the set includes the durable Suehiro #280 flattening stone. Its extra length makes it especially effective for both surface prep and maintenance.

A high-quality Naniwa stone holder ensures a stable base for sharpening.

NOTE!

This whetstone is a so-called semi-soaking stone. It works best after 5-10 minutes of soaking. Do not store the stone in a basin of water. After sharpening, immediately wipe the stone clean with a towel. This will give the stone a clean look and start the drying process. Place the stone to dry in a position where it does not touch a solid surface. For example, place the stone on top of a pencil. Allow the stone to dry slowly, without additional heating. Do not place the stone in direct sunlight. Do not allow the stone to freeze when wet. It takes more than 24 hours to dry. Store the stone protected from dents, for example, in its box.