The use of natural stone in machining and other
industries for sharpening have become obsolete due to the increasing
availability of artificial stones that have more consistent particle sizes that
results to higher quality results.
There are two main contributing factors to the diminished
use of natural whetstones. The first one is the development of gunpowder that
made swords obsolete and the whetstones unnecessary in the military. The second
factor is that advancement in industrial chemistry that resulted to the ability
to mass produce artificial whetstones.
One major problem with natural stone is the inconsistent
grain sizes and low abrasive particle content that results to slower
sharpening. Other issues which are more apparent in low quality stones are
irregularities in hardness, cracks and the presence of large particles from
other stone materials. All of these issues can be avoided with synthetic
whetstones. The consistency in particle size alone gives synthetic stones a
clear advantage when it comes to sharpening performance.
The main reason why natural whetstones have endured and
are still in use is because of tradition. In Japan in which sword polishing is
a valued element of the culture, rare natural stones are used. The
inconsistency in particle size and pattern results to unique and aesthetic
results which gives an item a personality and more value. Some Japanese
whetstone also have grit that are finer than most artificial stones. However,
these are extremely rare and quite expensive.
Japanese swords are traditionally polished using natural stones. |
In the industrial field, there is simply no sense in
using natural stones when artificial stones are more readily available,
affordable and produces more consistent high-quality results.
Image credit: http://www.japaneseartswords.com