köszörk

Köszörk, a term used in Hungarian, refers to a sharpening stone used to grind and hone metal edges. It is often seen as köszörőkő or köszörűkő, and the name derives from the verb köszöröl, to grind or sharpen. A köszörk is employed to restore and refine the edges of knives, chisels, plane irons and other handheld tools.

Historically, köszörk stones were natural materials selected for their abrasive properties, such as sandstone or quartzite. In contemporary use, synthetic whetstones made of aluminum oxide or silicon carbide are common. Stones are produced in a range of grits or coarseness levels, from coarse for repairing damaged edges to fine for honing. Some stones are marketed as “water stones” requiring soaking, while others are oil stones that use lubricant oil; many modern stones are designed for water lubrication.

Use and maintenance: To sharpen, place the stone on a stable surface, apply light, even pressure, and maintain a consistent angle between blade and stone (for kitchen knives, angles around commonly used ranges such as 15–20 degrees are typical). Move the blade across the stone in steady strokes, alternating sides to keep the edge symmetrically honed. After use, clean and dry the stone; hard, glazed surfaces should be flattened regularly with a lapping plate or coarser grit to preserve a true, flat surface.

See also: sharpening stone, whetstone, honing.