Chefic BearMoo Whetstone Premium 2-in-1 Sharpening Stone Review

We purchased the Chefic BearMoo Whetstone Premium 2-in-1 Sharpening Stone so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

When was the last time you sharpened your knives? There’s nothing more frustrating in a kitchen than a dull knife. The chopping and dicing jobs that should feel smooth and swift take a lot more effort and time if the knives are dull. Not only are sharp knives a delight to work with, but they are also safer. A sharpening stone is a great tool to keep up the regular maintenance of knives. With a range of sharpening stones available in different grits and price ranges, I tested the BearMoo Whetstone to see if it could earn a spot in my kitchen and sharpen the different kinds of knives I own. Keep reading for my thoughts.

Design: Compact and functional

The stone comes with two different grits on the two sides: a 3000-grit side for the initial sharpening and an 8000-grit side for polishing and honing the blade edge. It also includes a bamboo base with a silicone anti-slip bottom; however, during testing, the base wobbled and slid when placed directly on the kitchen counter. I had to put it on a folded kitchen towel to provide stability. The stone's silicone base fit precisely and helped keep the stone snug in the bamboo base.

I used the angle guide to see if it was convenient to use for someone who would need additional help in maintaining the angle while sharpening. I found that the guide makes the sharpening motion much easier and helps maintain the angle.

Performance: Easy to use and does the job

A whetstone works through the process of abrasion, which is when the tiny particles on the stone slowly grind the knife material as you rub the edge along the surface. A good way to determine how well a whetstone works is checking how long it takes the knife edge to develop a burr, which can be felt on the edge of the knife; it should feel equivalent to the thickness of a strand of hair. I tested the BearMoo Whetstone with different styles of knives to check how long it takes to get a consistent burr.

The 3000-grit sharpening side works for most knives, especially if you sharpen and maintain your knives regularly. However, if you have knives with a hardened blade, like a powdered steel Japanese knife, it will take multiple rounds to get the right amount of burring. I also found that for blades that are hardened (HRC 60 and above), like the ones you find in high-end professional Japanese and German knives, it took longer to get the burring. I tested the stone on a Shun boning knife, and it took much longer to sharpen. For knives with softer blades (HRC 59 and below), like the J.A. Henckels santoku knife, it took roughly 12 minutes to produce a sharp edge. The 8000-grit polishing side is good for finishing and sharpening the edge and for regular touch-up and maintenance. After polishing on the 8000-grit side, I still needed to hone it on a strop or a honing rod to get that final razor-like edge.

Cleaning: Convenient and easy

All that grinding and polishing of steel on the stone creates a good bit of slurry, which needs to be cleaned up after you are done with the sharpening. The BearMoo Whetstone is a breeze to clean up: it only needed a quick rinse under running water and a little scrubbing with a soft cloth to get the residue off.

Price: Affordable

Retailing anywhere between $20 and $33, the BearMoo Whetstone comes with two grits in one. It is reasonably priced and is a good sharpening stone for beginners. It also works fairly well for the regular upkeep of your knives if they just need a finishing every now and then.

Competition: Other whetstone options

Sha-Pu Whetstone Sharpening Set: While the BearMoo Whetstone is good if you want an affordable all-purpose sharpening stone, the Sha-Pu Whetstone Sharpening Set provides a more versatile option, with grits ranging from 240 to 15000, and allows you to sharpen any tool you can find in your possession. The 8000 grit on the BearMoo may not be sufficient for sharpening knives with a lower bevel angle, like the ones found on some Japanese knives. The Sha-Pu stone is more expensive, however, retailing at around $130.

Chosera 3000 Grit Stone: Retailing around $120, the Chosera 3000 Grit Stone has a similar sharpening surface to the BearMoo; however, it has an extremely hard and slow-wearing surface that lasts a long time. If you've invested in expensive specialty knives, like Japanese powdered steel blades or Damascus blades, buying a set of Chosera stones would be a better, longer-term investment. You may, however, need an additional higher-grit stone or, alternatively, a strop for the final honing.