Naniwa Goken Arata Whetstone #5000

Please try to utilise as much of the surface of the stone to minimise dishing. In all cases whetstones need to be kept flat to insure consistent results. This can be done with flattening plates or stones. Find them on the ‘sharpening accessory’ page.
To flatten properly, use a pencil to draw a grit on the surface of the stone. Once all pencil marks are lapped of the stone is flat. Chamfer the edges and corners of the stone for extra safety.

Always clean and dry the stones properly before storing. Metal leftover can rust overtime. It is very beneficial to flatten post sharpening to leave a clean surface.
Do not drop whetstone as they can chip or even break. Leaving a stone submerged in water for extended periods can make it more fragile.