Best Whetstone Progressions for Blue Super and SG2 Kitchen Knives

Blue Super and SG2 are both rockstars. But they don't play the same tune. Aogami Super is basically carbon steel on steroids—hard, reactive, and ready to take a screaming edge. SG2? That's powder metallurgy magic. Loaded with vanadium carbides that laugh at abrasion. Here's the thing: if you attack both with the same whetstone progression, one of them is going to suffer. And it's probably going to be your patience first.

Blue Super: The Brute That Bites Back

This steel is hard. Like, 65 HRC hard. It wants an edge, but it doesn't want a fight. Go at it with a coarse 400-grit stone like you're grinding a lawn mower blade, and you'll micro-chip the edge. Guaranteed. Actually, Blue Super responds best to a softer touch. Start at 1000 grit. Let the stone do the work. You don't need to remove a ton of steel; you just need to wake up the edge. Build a burr slowly. If you're in a hurry, you're already losing.

SG2: The Carbide Playground

SG2 is sneaky. It feels easier to sharpen because it's less prone to chipping. But those carbides? They're stubborn. A 1000-grit stone will cut it, sure. But you'll feel the drag. The steel doesn't want to let go. That's why your progression needs to be more deliberate. You can't rush past the mid-grits and expect a polished edge to hold. SG2 rewards patience with insane edge retention. Skip steps, and you're leaving performance on the table.

The Progressions That Actually Work

For Blue Super, keep it simple. Soak your stones. Hit it with a 1000 grit to set the bevel. Jump to 3000 to refine. Finish on a 6000 or 8000 if you want that laser polish. But honestly? A 1000/3000 progression gets you 90% of the way there. SG2 likes a longer runway. Try 1000 > 3000 > 5000 > 8000. The jump from 1000 to 3000 is where you crush those carbides into submission. Don't skip the 3000. It's not optional. It's the bridge.

Angles, Pressure, and When to Stop

Angle matters. For both steels, stay around 15 degrees per side. Maybe 12 if you're feeling fancy. But don't go lower just because some forum hero told you to. Pressure is where people mess up. Heavy hand? You're rolling the edge. Light, consistent strokes. Let the stone sing. And stop chasing perfection. If your knife pushes through a tomato without a whisper, you're done. Strop if you want. But don't polish an edge into oblivion just because you can.

Keep It Simple, Keep It Sharp

At the end of the day, it's just steel and stone. Blue Super wants respect. SG2 wants time. Give them both, and they'll outcut anything in your block. Don't overthink the progression. Don't buy seven stones because the internet told you to. A solid 1000, a good 3000, and a decent 6000/8000 will handle both. Sharpen until it feels right. Then go cook something.