Belgian Blue Whetstone

Belgian Blue Whetstones (BBW) are used for finish sharpening on Hapstone knife sharpeners. BBW stones are available in 6 mm thickness and are mounted on high-quality aluminum blanks.

Belgian Blue Whetstone is mined in the Ardennes mountains in Belgium. BBW is a natural slate with a high garnet content.

BBW stones are universal and can be used to sharpen knives of any steel.

Specification

• Product size: 160 x 25 x 9 mm (6" x 1" x ⅓")
• Working surface: 150 x 25 x 6 mm (6" x 1" x ¼")
• Weight: 100 g (3.5 oz)
• Abrasive material: Slate
• Extra materials: Aluminum Blank, 3M PSA

How to use

Belgian Blue Whetstones should be used with water. All that is required is to wet the BBW surface. There is no need to immerse the stone. During the sharpening, a slurry with garnets is released from the BBW surface. The more garnets are released, the more abrasive the grinding compound becomes. Try to keep slurry on the stone surface.

BBW stones do not have any minor defects. BBW stones always have a color pattern; this is not a defect.

BBW stone does not require any preparations. It is naturally lapped to extra-fine grit.

Q & A

• What grit do these natural stones have?

  Grit terminology is not applicable to natural sharpening stones, including slates. The behavior of a natural stone depends on its density and how well it was lapped. However, experts estimate BBW as 3000 - 4000 JIS.