Stone and Base

This section answers your questions about stone size, flatness, soaking, and how the base adapts to different sharpening setups.

How often should I soak the water stone?

Before every sharpening session, soak the stone in water. After the initial soak, it usually only takes about a minute to re-saturate.

What size stones work with SharpMate and SharpMate Plus?

SharpMate and SharpMate Plus work with stones between 180mm–220mm long and up to 75mm wide — this isn't limited to Sawinery's own stones, so standard-sized honing stones from other brands fit the base too. If your stone falls within that range, it'll

Can the base plate be raised for thicker stones?

The base plate itself doesn't raise, but there's a second set of mounting holes for the blade holder. These allow you to lower the holder to adjust for stone thickness.

How wide is the stone?

SharpMate Plus kits include either a 50mm-wide or 75mm-wide water stone. Stone width determines how much of a wide blade can make full contact during sharpening:

Can I use diamond stones with the SharpMate?

Yes — we now offer an official Diamond Plate Adapter, a two-piece aluminum platform that raises a diamond plate to the correct working height on the stage. It fits plates roughly 160–220mm long and up to 75mm wide, and works with both SharpMate and S

My SharpMate Stone Isn’t Flat. Is This a Problem?

If you’ve checked your SharpMate stone and noticed a small deviation, felt that your chisel isn’t making full contact with the stone, or ended up with uneven sharpening on your first pass—you’re not alone. These are some of the most common questions