Waterstones make quick work of sharpening chisels and hand plane blades, but repeated use can wear a hollow, or dish, into the stone's surface. To maintain a consistent sharpening angle and get a sharp edge, it's important to keep your waterstone flat.
Fortunately, flattening a waterstone is quick and easy with a few basic supplies.
An Easy Way to Flatten a Sharpening Waterstone
Start with a smooth, flat surface. In the video, I'm using a piece of 3/4" white melamine with a strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) sandpaper attached to it.
Before flattening the stone, draw a few squiggly pencil lines across its surface. These marks give you a simple visual guide to your progress.
Rub the waterstone across the sandpaper, checking the pencil marks as you go. Once all the marks have disappeared, the stone's surface is flat and ready for sharpening.
It's a simple maintenance step that helps you get consistent results when sharpening your woodworking tools.
Woodsmith Tip: Check your waterstone for flatness regularly rather than waiting until it becomes noticeably dished. A few quick passes can help keep it ready for your next sharpening session.
