FAQs
FAQ · 24 questions · 6 groups
Questions, answered plainly.
Short answer first, details beside it. Several of these are sharpening myths we hear often. If yours isn't here, write to [email protected].
- $100+Free shipping. A flat $3.99 below
- 1–3 daysBusiness days to dispatch
- 30 daysReturns on unused stones
- 1 yearLimited warranty on every product
01
Choosing a stone
- 01.1Do I need a whole set of stones?Myth
- No. Two grits do most of the work.
- A #1000 to sharpen and a #6000 to finish cover nearly every home edge. A Duo combination stone has both on one stone; our kits add a holder and a flattener if you'd rather buy once.
- 01.2Soaking stone or splash-and-go?
- It depends on how often you sharpen.
- Mizu soaking stones need 10–15 minutes in water, cut quickly and build their own slurry. Kasumi splash stones only need a wet surface, wear more slowly and suit little-and-often sharpening.
- 01.3Which size should I choose?
- Standard 210×70 mm for most people.
- Large stones (230×80 mm) give long strokes and room for wide tools such as plane irons. Pocket stones and diamond paddles are for tools you can't bring to a bench, like garden shears.
- 01.4Is a higher grit always better?Myth
- No. Fine grits polish; they don't fix a dull edge.
- A #6000 or #12000 stone will barely touch a dull edge. Start on #1000 — or #400 if the edge is very dull or chipped — and move up only once the edge is sharp.
02
Grit & stone types
- 02.1What do grit numbers mean?
- The size of the abrasive. Higher is finer.
- Grit numbers on our synthetic stones follow the Japanese (JIS) scale: #220–#400 is coarse, #1000 medium, #3000–#6000 fine and #8000+ polishing. See the stone table.
- 02.2Diamond plate or water stone?
- Diamond for speed and flattening; water stones for finish.
- Kongo diamond plates cut very hard steel quickly and never dish, so they also flatten water stones. Water stones give a finer, more even finish and more feedback as you work.
- 02.3Are natural stones better than synthetic?Myth
- Not better — different.
- Natural Arkansas novaculite cuts slowly and leaves a fine, even finish. Synthetic stones are more consistent from one stone to the next and cut faster. Many people sharpen on synthetic and finish on natural.
- 02.4Oil or water?
- Water for our synthetic stones and plates.
- Mizu, Kasumi and Duo stones and Kongo plates use water only. Arkansas stones work with honing oil or water — pick one and stay with it, because an oiled stone shouldn't go back to water.
Our stones, side by side
Grits and preparation are from our product specifications. Speed and finish are general characteristics of each stone type, written in plain words, not lab test results.
| Stone | Grits | Preparation | Cutting speed | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mizu soaking stones | #220–#6000 | Soak 10–15 min | Fast | Medium to fine |
| Kasumi splash stones | #1000–#12000 | Splash and go | Moderate | Fine to mirror |
| Duo combination stones | #400–#8000, two per stone | Soak 10 min | Fast, then fine | Two in one |
| Kongo diamond plates | #140–#3000 | Water or dry | Very fast | Medium |
| Arkansas natural stones | Soft, Hard, Translucent | Oil or water | Slow | Fine to ultra-fine |
In short: a Duo #1000/#6000 for most people, a Kongo plate to keep it flat, and a Kasumi #8000+ or an Arkansas stone for a finer finish.
03
Using & care
- 03.1Can I use a stone dry?Myth
- No — diamond plates are the only exception.
- Water (or oil on an Arkansas stone) carries away the metal and abrasive you remove. A dry stone clogs, glazes and stops cutting.
- 03.2How long should I soak it?
- 10–15 minutes for soaking stones; none for splash stones.
- Soak Mizu and Duo stones until the bubbles stop. Kasumi splash stones only need a wet surface — don't leave them standing in water.
- 03.3Why and how do I flatten a stone?
- Stones wear hollow; flatten every few sessions.
- Draw a pencil grid on the wet stone and rub it on a Kongo #140 flattening plate in figure-of-eight strokes. It's flat when the grid is gone. A dished stone rounds the edge you are trying to keep straight.
- 03.4What angle should I hold?
- The angle your tool was made with.
- Often 15–20° per side for kitchen tools and 25–30° for chisels and plane irons. Holding the same angle on every stroke matters more than the exact number; the clip-on guide that comes with Duo stones helps while you learn.
- 03.5Why did my stone crack?
- Usually heat or frost.
- Let stones dry slowly at room temperature, never in direct sun, on a radiator or below freezing, and don't soak them in hot water. Cracks from drying or freezing aren't covered by the warranty; a stone that arrives cracked is.
Care at a glance
General guidance for home use. If you sharpen every day, flatten more often.
- Before useSoak or splash10–15 minutes for soaking stones; a wet surface for splash-and-go stones.
- While you workKeep the surface wetAdd a splash of water whenever the stone starts to look dry.
- After useRinse and wipeRinse off the grey slurry and wipe the stone and base clean.
- Every few sessionsFlattenPencil grid, flattening plate, figure-of-eight strokes until the grid is gone.
- Fine stonesClean with a naguraA few strokes clear the glaze on #3000 and finer stones.
- StorageDry slowly, store flatRoom temperature, out of the sun and frost, in its box or case.
04
Orders & shipping
- 04.1How do I place an order?
- Choose a stone and its option, add to cart, check out.
- Pick the grit, size, thickness or base on the product page, then check out. You'll get an order confirmation by email, and a second email with tracking when it ships. Shop all products.
- 04.2Which payment methods do you accept?
- The methods shown at checkout.
- These may include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay, depending on your location. Payments are processed by PCI DSS certified providers. Your statement will show Uttlife, UNITED TYCOON LIMITED or our payment provider.
- 04.3Can I change or cancel my order?
- Yes, until it has been dispatched.
- Email [email protected] with your order number as soon as you can. Before dispatch we cancel with a full refund; after dispatch you can return it under the Returns & Refund Policy. See the Cancellation Policy.
- 04.4Where do you ship?
- US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand and most other countries.
- Stones are packed in foam-lined boxes so they arrive flat and in one piece. See the Shipping Policy for the full list and any destinations we can't reach.
- 04.5How long will delivery take?
- 1–3 business days to dispatch, plus transit.
- Transit estimates in business days: US 5–10 · Canada 7–14 · UK 5–9 · EU 7–12 · Australia & New Zealand 7–15 · rest of the world 10–20. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more and a flat $3.99 below.
- 04.6How do I track my order?
- With the tracking link we email you.
- Or enter your order number and email on Order Tracking. Allow 24–72 hours after the shipping email for tracking to appear.
- 04.7Do you offer discounts?
- Yes: a welcome code and an automatic spend-and-save offer.
- Use code JOIN10 for 10% off full-price items — one use per customer. Spend $175 on full-price items and save $10; spend $350 and save $30 — applied automatically at checkout. Time-limited sales, when running, are listed on the homepage. Offers don't combine, and items already on sale are excluded.
05
Returns & warranty
- 05.1Can I return a stone?
- Within 30 days of delivery, if it's unused.
- It must be unused — not soaked, wetted or oiled — and in its original packaging. Stones that have been used, soaked or flattened can't be returned for a change of mind. Email us first for a return authorisation. Returns & Refund Policy.
- 05.2What if my order arrives damaged or wrong?
- Tell us within 7 days. We replace or refund.
- Email your order number, a short description and photos of the item, packaging and label. Once confirmed, you choose a free replacement or a full refund, including shipping.
- 05.3What does the 1-year warranty cover?
- Defects in materials and workmanship.
- For example a crack or layer separation that isn't from a drop, a stone or plate that arrives out of flat, or a base that splits. It doesn't cover normal wear and dishing, chips from drops, or cracks from heat, frost or fast drying.
06
About us
- 06.1How do I contact you?
- By email. We reply within 1–2 business days.
- [email protected], Monday to Friday, 9:00–17:00 Mountain Time. Include your order number. More on the Contact Us page.
- 06.2Who operates Uttlife?
- UNITED TYCOON LIMITED.
- Registered address: 30 N Gould St Unit 552, Sheridan, WY 82801, United States. This is not a returns address; return instructions come with your return authorisation.