hiomakivi.fi

hiomakivi.fi is not your average kitchenware shop. It’s a specialized online store rooted in passion, deep product knowledge, and real-world sharpening experience. We focus on providing top-tier whetstones, quality kitchen knives, and the accessories that support them — products that serve chefs, sharpening professionals, and ambitious home cooks alike.

We also happen to be one of Europe’s largest sellers of rubber cutting boards. Our selection features the elegant, long-lasting Asahi boards and the world-renowned Hasegawa boards — famous for being the most knife-friendly cutting surfaces available. These are professional-grade tools, designed for both durability and performance.

What Sets Us Apart?
When it comes to whetstones, I’ve made it my mission to find the best tools in the world — whether that means popular workhorses or boutique gems used by top sharpeners in Japan. Over the years, I’ve tested hundreds of stones, and only those that perform at the highest level have made it to the store. There is nothing listed on hiomakivi.fi that I wouldn’t use myself.

My goal has always been to make top-quality sharpening tools more accessible in Finland — and increasingly across Europe. Through building my own import and distribution channels, I’ve made it possible to bring in whetstones and accessories that were once unavailable here. And I do it while keeping prices competitive with Central European e-commerce giants.

For me, sustainability isn’t a buzzword. It means investing in tools that will last decades. I want to help people move away from throwaway culture by offering sharpening solutions that turn even dull, damaged knives into high-performing tools again. I even hope that one day, every household will sharpen their knives rather than tossing them out.

hiomakivi.fi is primarily an online store, but local customers are welcome to visit our warehouse in Juvanmalmi, Espoo. You can pick up orders and even bring knives in for sharpening at our in-house service point. Our opening hours are always listed on the site.

The company behind the store is Alvis Oy, which I — Sami Pirkkanen — own and run. I’m a multi-business entrepreneur with a relentless focus on quality and customer service. I’m always available to help customers find the right sharpening setup for their knives. And while sharpening may seem straightforward, there’s often more mystery and misconception than most people expect.

Common Sharpening Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them
I often receive messages from customers struggling to get their knives sharp. In many cases, the problem isn’t their technique — it’s the whetstone. Using the wrong stone, or the right stone at the wrong grit, is one of the most common issues I see.

Even experienced sharpeners can run into trouble here. That’s because whetstones vary wildly in performance, and their effectiveness often depends on the steel being sharpened. Technique matters too — but if the stone and steel aren’t compatible, even perfect technique won’t help.

The Quality Problem
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the market is flooded with poor-quality whetstones. Many of these come from Chinese factories and are simply too soft. If you sharpen at a slightly incorrect angle, the knife sinks into the stone — you “drown” the edge. This wears out the stone quickly and leads to unpredictable results.

At the opposite extreme are ultra-hard stones that remove almost no material, no matter how much pressure you apply. These are frustrating for beginners and useless for serious blade repair.

Tough Steels and the Myth of Hardness
There’s a common belief that a knife’s Rockwell hardness determines how easy it is to sharpen. That’s only partly true. I’ve found that some carbon steels at 60–62 HRC are much easier to sharpen than stainless steels rated at just 58. Why? Because of toughness — not just hardness. Some stainless and powdered steels like SG2 or S30V are both hard and tough, making them more resistant to abrasion. They absolutely require the right coarse stones to make any progress.

Choosing the Right Whetstone Setup
Here are the principles I always recommend when selecting a sharpening setup:

1. Always Choose the Largest Stone You Can
Small stones (e.g., 180 x 60 mm) are common in cheaper kits, but they’re not practical. They slow down the process and make sharpening larger blades unnecessarily difficult. I strongly recommend industry-standard sizes like 210 x 70 mm. The size increases your surface area, efficiency, and control.

2. Always Use At Least Two Grits
A classic combo is 1000 and 3000 grit, but modern stone formulations vary. I now recommend something like:

800–1000 grit for sharpening

3000–5000 grit for polishing

These grits build on each other. As a general rule, double your grit as you move up:
400 × 2 = 800 → next stone is 1000
1000 × 2 = 2000 → next stone is 3000
3000 × 2 = 6000 → next stone is 8000

3. Coarse Stones Are Your Best Friend
Here’s something few people expect: the second most common product order from my store is a coarse stone. Why? Because most first-time buyers get 1000 or 3000 grit stones — only to discover later that these grits can’t fix a blunt or damaged knife.

If the edge is rounded or chipped, you’ll need something in the 180–400 grit range. Personally, I use 180–220 grit stones for heavy repairs. A 400 grit stone can work, but it will be slower.

4. Soft vs. Hard Stones
Soft stones — or surface-soft ones — are often more pleasant to use. They generate slurry easily, give better tactile feedback, and help sweep away metal filings during sharpening. These are often preferred for knives.

Hard stones are better suited for tools like chisels and plane blades. Interestingly, I also find that beginners do well with hard stones — they’re less likely to gouge the surface by accident. That said, soft stones can be made more aggressive depending on their binder and slurry.

5. Splash-and-Go vs. Soaking Stones
Most modern stones are splash-and-go (S&G), requiring minimal water. These are ideal for today’s busy kitchens. But some stones — especially semi-soakers — provide a better tactile feel when soaked for 5–10 minutes. The feedback is often superior, and for some customers, the experience itself becomes part of the ritual.

Sharpening Technique: Questions I Answer Daily
What’s the Correct Sharpening Angle?
The most common question of all. The truth? It matters less than people think.

For high-end Japanese knives, 10–15° per side is ideal. The difference between 10° and 12° is negligible if the knife is already thin behind the edge.

For soft Western knives (e.g., Fiskars), sharpening at 10° will ruin the edge — they simply can’t hold it. Go for 20–22° instead.

Fun tip: raising a chef’s knife ~12 mm off the stone approximates a 15° sharpening angle.

What’s a Good Sharpening Position?
There’s no one right posture. Stand or sit — as long as your shoulders are relaxed and your hands move freely. A good stone holder elevates the surface and lets you rotate the stone easily, especially when sharpening with your non-dominant hand.

Push or Pull? And How Hard?
Use enough pressure — especially on coarse stones. Beginners often stroke the knife too gently. The rougher the stone, the more pressure you need to apply. With finer stones, reduce your pressure significantly.

The knife can be moved forward or backward — both work. The key is consistency. Apply pressure during the cutting phase of the stroke, not while lifting the blade.

How Long Do I Sharpen Each Side?
Many people sharpen one side completely before switching. I don’t recommend this — it risks snapping the burr, especially on delicate knives like Victorinox.

Instead, alternate evenly: for example, 20 seconds per side. You’ll feel the burr form more symmetrically, which makes final deburring easier.

Water: The Forgotten Ingredient
Many sharpening issues come from using too little water. Stones that dry mid-session lose their effectiveness, change in sound, and can glaze. The slurry should be moist and mobile. Use more water than you think — especially with harder stones or when using Nagura to refresh the surface.

Final Thoughts: A Sharpening Store Built by a Sharpener
hiomakivi.fi was born out of necessity. As a sharpening professional, I couldn’t find the tools I needed in Finland — so I built a shop that would stock them. I test everything I sell. I speak with customers every day and walk them through their sharpening setups, stone choices, and technique questions.

Whether you’re restoring a vintage carbon steel blade or fine-tuning a powdered steel gyuto, I’m here to help you find the right path. The sharpening world is deep, but it doesn’t need to be mysterious. With the right tools and guidance, anyone can learn to sharpen — and in doing so, rediscover the joy of working with a truly sharp knife.