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SKU: 101-490

Suehiro Cerax Japanes Sharpening Stones

$49.90
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Grit

Cerax Stones, manufactured by Suehiro in Japan, have a reputation for performing as well or better than much higher priced stones. Although these stones are water stones and require soaking, they are not particularly “thirsty”—the manufacturer recommends only a few minutes of soaking before use.¹ I’ve found Japanese synthetic water stones are very good stones for beginning sharpeners, as they give very good “feedback” and tend to sharpen much more quickly than oil stones and other types of synthetic stones. This is important because it helps you more easily determine where you are in bringing your edge to sharp, develop muscle memory, and become comfortable with technique. Japanese stones are a bit softer due to the type of bonding agent used in the stones’ manufacture. This aspect makes it so fresh grit is continually being exposed on the surface, cutting more quickly with less loading than harder stones. Each of the Cerax Stones comes mounted to a stand with skid resistant rubber feet, so no stone holder is necessary. The included Nagura stone can be used to dress the surface of the stone and helps create a slurry by revealing new grit and bringing the water out of the stone prior to sharpening.²

Features:

  • Great Feedback, Fast Cutting, Less Loading — While these softer stones need to be flattened more often than harder oil stones, they also give you a much better feel for where you are while sharpening, and they cut much quicker and load less due to the continuously exposed new grit.
  • Minimal Soaking Required — Like all water stones, these need to be soaked, but not nearly as long as many other stones, and they also are great at holding water once soaked.
  • Pre-Mounted to Stand — acts as a skid resistant stone holder, protective storage container, and has an additional spot to store your nagura stone.
  • Nagura Stone Included — used to dress the stone and build up a slurry prior to sharpening, also helpful in clearing swarf from the stone as sharpening progresses.

¹When testing them in the Infinity Tools shop, we found that about 30 minutes of soaking maximizes performance, but we’d recommend not exceeding that by very much, and definitely do not store the stones in water. A wet stone is properly soaked when you can splash water on it and it sits on top rather than soaking in.

²Nagura stones should not be confused with, or used in place of ,flattening stones. Keeping a water stone flat is crucial to its performance, especially considering their softer nature. For flattening you should use a suitable flattening stone, diamond stone, or even wet/dry sandpaper attached to float glass. Our favorite is the DMT 10" x 4" Flattening Plate (101-455), but the DMT 10" Course/Extra Course Duo Stone (101-450), and Pride Abrasives Flattening Stones (101-446/101-447) are also great options.

Each Stone is approximately 8" x 3" x 1" (206mm x 73mm x 23mm)

Suehiro Cerax Japanese Water Stones

Keeping tools sharp is perhaps the most important factor in successful woodworking. Suehiro's Cerax line of Japanese synthetic water stones are up to the task. These stones provide top shelf performance at a price tag that won’t give you a heart attack. Cerax Stones have a reputation for performing as well or better than much higher priced stones. 

Suehiro stones are a great size for working with plane blades.
Suehiro stones are a great size for working with plane blades.

Water stones or oil stones? If you're chatting with a group of woodworkers about sharpening, you’re going to hear a number of “this is the only way” pitches. Water stones, oil stones, diamond stones, sandpaper on float glass, sandpaper on granite slabs, pastes, compounds, strops, grinders, buffers, differing grit progressions, bevel angles, micro-bevels, jigs upon jigs upon jigs and arcane rituals involving the blood of a yearling calf under a gibbous moon. The options are overwhelming, especially when you just want your chisel sharpened! While all the techniques are valid (yes, even the last one, I dare you to prove me wrong) there really isn’t one “right” way to sharpen. Whatever works best for you to make your tool perform better than it did before is probably the best way for you to sharpen.

Sharpening a chisel is a snap with a good water stone.
Sharpening a chisel is a snap with a good water stone.

Personally, I've tried almost all of them, ranging from a cheap grinder from the big box store to a Tormek, and a variety of stones. With the exception of the cheap grinder I still pretty much use all of them, depending on what I’m sharpening. I’ve spent a huge amount of money over the years listening to experts instead of just trying to get a handle on one method! Don't be intimidated by the experts. Just figure out what works well enough to satisfy your needs. That’s why I’ve always liked water stones — and these Suehiro stones are some of my favorites.

Coarse, medium and fine grit stones will cover all your sharpening needs.
Coarse, medium and fine grit stones will cover all your sharpening needs.

Cerax Stones, manufactured by Suehiro in Japan, have a reputation for performing as well or better than much higher priced stones. These are great stones to start with, as they provide a decent amount of feedback, and provide you with a good feel for where you are while sharpening. This is important because it helps you develop muscle memory and become comfortable with technique. Some tools just don’t work well with jigs, and eventually you’ll need to do a bit of freehand sharpening.

Freehand sharpening of knives is also an easy task on a Suehiro sharpening stone.
Freehand sharpening of knives is also an easy task on a Suehiro sharpening stone.

Although these water stones require soaking, they are not particularly “thirsty” — the manufacturer recommends only a few minutes of soaking before use, and says the stones should not be left soaking for any great length of time. If you hate taking the time to sharpen, shortening the preparation time of the stones is a great benefit of the Suehiro stones.

Suehiro stones don't need to soak as long as other water stones, so you'll be ready to get to work faster!
Suehiro stones don't need to soak as long as other water stones, so you'll be ready to get to work faster!

Japanese stones are a bit softer due to the type of bonding agent used in the stones’ manufacture. This aspect makes it so fresh grit is continually being exposed on the surface, cutting more quickly with less loading than harder stones. The included Nagura stone can be used to dress the surface of the stone and helps create a slurry by revealing new grit and bringing the water out of the stone prior to sharpening.

Nagura stones help prepare the surface by creating a slurry and exposing new cutting edges.
Nagura stones help prepare the surface by creating a slurry and exposing new cutting edges.

One of my favorite features with the Suehiro stones is the plastic storage box that doubles as a stand! Each of the Cerax Stones comes mounted to a stand with skid-resistant rubber feet, so no stone holder is necessary. And each stand has a storage spot for your Nagura stone.

The storage box doubles as a sharpening stand, with rubber feet for stability.
The storage box doubles as a sharpening stand, with rubber feet for stability.

Don't think of me as a sharpening expert. Think of me who's spent the time and money to find a good sharpening system so you don't need to. The Suehiro line of water stones provide excellent “feedback” which helps you to intuit your progress. They're easier to prepare and maintain and give you faster cutting so you can get back to work. Even better, these stones provide top shelf performance with a price tag that won’t give you a heart attack!