# Obtaining a matching whetstone - same abrasiveness etc

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-a-matching-whetstone-same-abrasiveness-etc/950181>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 6, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-a-matching-whetstone-same-abrasiveness-etc/950181 "2021-09-06T18:41:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-a-matching-whetstone-same-abrasiveness-etc/950181/1 "2021-09-06T18:41:29Z")

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I have a small whetstone that I like, and I wish to get another of the same ilk. I like them small – I like to hold the whetstone in my hand and move it against a stationary knife instead of moving a knife against a large motionless whetstone. But that does mean they wear down more quickly (since there’s less of them to begin with).

I live on Long Island. Where might I find a store with competent personnel who can match the general abrasiveness and coarseness etc of an existing whetstone? Is that something I should assume any store that sells knives and sharpening stones would do, or do I need to seek out some kind of specialist store (or a professional knife grinder or whatever)?

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**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-a-matching-whetstone-same-abrasiveness-etc/950181/2 "2021-09-06T21:31:43Z")

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Lee Valley is a good place to start and they deliver to your door. Very handy if you know what grits you run already.  
[https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/search#q=whetstone&t=product-search-tab&sort=relevancy&layout=card&numberOfResults=25](https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/search#q=whetstone&t=product-search-tab&sort=relevancy&layout=card&numberOfResults=25)

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**Author:** ![PB\_J](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6de8d8/32.png) [@PB\_J](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PB_J)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-a-matching-whetstone-same-abrasiveness-etc/950181/3 "2021-09-06T21:45:58Z")

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Probably not the best deals, but both Sur La Table & Williams-Sonoma carry them. There should be one or both stores in your area.

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**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-a-matching-whetstone-same-abrasiveness-etc/950181/4 "2021-09-07T01:26:09Z")

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> [@swampspruce](#):
>
> Very handy if you know what grits you run already.

This is exactly what I _don’t_ know. I want to bring it in to someone and have them say “Aah, yes, this is an 800-coarseness whetstone, and I can show you the ones we have that have approximately that abrasiveness”.

I don’t know how to find out.

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**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-a-matching-whetstone-same-abrasiveness-etc/950181/5 "2021-09-07T02:04:28Z")

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If you have a store near you they are pretty helpful.

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-a-matching-whetstone-same-abrasiveness-etc/950181/6 "2021-09-07T02:24:55Z")

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I think the knife grinder idea is probably a good one. Anyone who’s been doing this professionally for a while can probably identify the coarseness by sight.