Best Overall
Norton Waterstone Whetstone Sharpening Starter Kit
Best Bang for the Buck
Amazon Basics Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone
Best Diamond
DMT 6-Inch Diamond Whetstones With Bamboo Box
We may gain revenue from the mathematical product useable on this varlet and participate in affiliate programs . Learn More ›
Having a set of dim kitchen tongue is n’t just inconvenient ; it can also be very life-threatening . A secure sharpening stone maintain brand razor - keen , which take a shit them safer to use . These invaluable workshop and kitchen tools cansharpen the reduce edges of knives , scissors , sheet , chisels , and other edged tool .
For those who have a set of dull tongue that require a in effect sharpening , keep in psyche that all sharpener are not make equal . That ’s why we opt to test some of the most popular poser on the food market to suit a variety of blade type and budgets . Read on to memorise more about these products and find out why those listed below proved to be among the good sharpening stone alternative on the grocery .
How We Tested the Best Sharpening Stones
To make the most informed product selection , we part out with 2 years of research . We wanted to learn more about the origins and properties of the natural and synthetic abrasive material used for the best sharpening Stone as well as the type of whetstone that knife and puppet experts recommend for different practical software .
Since each pick of whetstone claims highly respected exponent , our selections included aluminum - oxide , silicon - carbide , baseball field , ceramic , and natural stone whetstones , both waterstones and oilstones . The different type overlap substantially in what they can do , so the ultimate option come down to user preference . Most importantly , we wanted to include a panoptic range of hominy grits , from about 120 to 12,000 , from very coarse stones for renewing damaged blades to very fine Stone that polish a blade to a mirror ending , and everything in between .
After vet more than 50 different products from wads of manufacturer , we settled on those in this guide . These stones best illustrate the range of high - lineament sharpening Stone and accessories that may be used to keep an edge on kitchen knives , pouch knife , chisel , and other crisp tools .
We then spend 3 Day test the point gem on obtuse kitchen knives , pocket knives , and chisels on our own workbench . We started with dim tools and worked through the progress of grits , from coarse to fine , sharpening one turgid kitchen tongue , one small or medium scoop knife , and one chisel with each kit . We used water as the lubricant unless otherwise directed in the manufacturer ’s program line .
During testing , we noted the guts and surface area of the stone and any other features included in the outfit , such as a carry case , leaf blade slant guide , or flatten rock . We also show the meter required to sharpen the tools .
Three sharpness tests determined when heighten was unadulterated : a light mental test , a fingernail mental testing , and a composition test . For a quick visual sharpness determination , we examined the blade under a light . Holding the tongue direct in front of us with its edge face upwards , we slowly cant over it to the right and left . Parts of the sharpness that reflected lightness were dull , but if the border did not reflect light , it was penetrative . Once a steel passed the clear test , we mildly tapped the bound against a thumbnail . A sharp knife gimmick on the nail but a dull tongue skid without get . at long last , once a sword passed the fingernail mental test , we held a bed sheet of printer composition with one hand and drew the blade down through the composition with the other manus . To evanesce the paper test , a vane had to glide through the theme cleanly with only minimal force . When a leaf blade pass all three test , we considered it “ sharp ” and propel on to the next tool .
The considerably sharpening stone sets featured quality stones with a expectant control surface area , a progression of sand from coarse to fine or extra mulct , and a commodious packaging system for storage . We also moot cost with respect to the durability of the material and expect working life of the Isidor Feinstein Stone .
Our Top Picks
The whetstones name and look back here are made of quality materials and will transubstantiate a dull edge into a razor - acute steel without damaging the knife . Our top pickaxe admit products from some of the most reputable manufacturers of sharpening Stone . Keep read to learn how they perform in our benchtop sharpening exam and why we weigh them among the best sharpening I. F. Stone around .
Removing dings and getting a severely dulled tongue back into top circumstance takes amazingly picayune equipment . The Norton waterstone starter set ’s two dual - surface sharpening stones feature four moxie level . It start with a 220/1,000 - grit aluminum - oxide stone that can toil out the imperfections and reprofile a badly dulled brand on the surplus - common side , then set a nice border on the average - gritrock surface . After a few passes on each side of the 4,000/8,000 gemstone , that old leaf blade will be sharper than new . Both Harlan Stone are packed in inflexible plastic storage case that double as nonskid sharpening bases . The kit also includes a 3 - inch by 9 - column inch atomic number 14 carbide flattening stone that is used to maintain the focalize Isidor Feinstein Stone surfaces .
We truly appreciated the chasteness of this set . It appears fair spartan , with just two sharpening stones in their own cases and no carry case to hold the whole kit , but the coalesce gritrock selection is ideal for keep working blades of all kind . Some users may require to add a less fast-growing grit between 220 and 1,000 for blade that are dull but not damaged , but we found that a few light strokes on 220 worked well even for moderately dull blades .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
The Norton waterstones in effect return our pouch knife , chef ’s knife , and woodworking chisel blades to safe and competent sharpness grade . The soft aluminum - oxide fabric shape a squeamish slurry for fast sharpening , so it did wear upon slightly cursorily . The included lapping ( aka flattening ) stone was a big help . Overall , we view as these to be timbre synthetical whetstone in a no - nonsense parcel .
Get the Norton Waterstone sharpening Harlan Fiske Stone outfit atAmazon , Sharpening Supplies , orBest Sharpening Stones .
Sometimes all shoppers need is one good sharpen stone . This dual - surface aluminum - oxide waterstone from Amazon Basics is a solid option for maintaining a sharp working edge . It offers 1,000/6,000 - grit surfaces for boundary criminal maintenance . The outfit let in a bamboo nonskid base and an easy - to - purpose slant pathfinder .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
In examination , the Amazon Basics sharpening pit gave us excellent results on our kitchen tongue — which was in a used but semi - acute condition to begin with . The slant guide helped maintain a consistent sharpness . However , it was much slower going with our dull pocket knife , which really should have jump out on a coarse stone . But with much patience and lots of strokes on the 1,000 grit ( sensitive ) followed by a few on the 6,000 , we ultimately put a dainty edge on that blade as well .
This outfit did not come with a store caseful , so users may want to keep the diminished shipping box to keep it in . Blades that are severely dull or damaged will require a rough-cut grit stone to readjust the edge prior to using this stone . A flattening stone ( not include ) will eventually be needed for surface upkeep when the stone becomes haggard with use . This is an affordable selection for those just starting out with sharpening . The medium- and o.k. - guts choice are effective and forgiving in that they focus slowly and wo n’t destroy a vane with one or two ill placed strokes .
Get the Amazon Basics sharpening stone atAmazon .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
infield sharpen stones are valued for fast , efficient edge maintenance . They make with water , water - based honing oil , or can be used juiceless ; they are considered substantive equipment for sharpen hard materials like ceramic knife blades or Co - metal practice bits . The DMT diamond whetstone outfit admit three 6 - inch by 2 - inch rhomb bench stones with coarse , fine , and extra - o.k. gumption surfaces . The curing is packed in a convenient bamboo warehousing cause .
The DMT diamond Stone did a squeamish job on all of our blades , but unluckily they did not come with a nonskid sharpening base . We used a scrap of locker shelf liner to secure the stones on the benchtop for heighten . While we were impressed with the quick final result on our kitchen and pocket knives , the fast sharpen pace was particularly noticeable on the chisel blade . It only necessitate a few strokes on each gemstone to true up the back and sharpen the bevel boundary — a full time of less than 3 min .
The material timbre of the diamond control surface was excellent . Unlike cheap polycrystalline diamond surfaces we ’ve tried out in the past , the monocrystalline surface here remained consistent after purpose . We were initially interested that the plastic block substrate might flex or allow the infield mesh to buckle , but the surfaces proved to be stiff and extremely unchanging .
Photo: amazon.com
Our experience was mostly positive with this kit , but the small surface field was restrictive in a couplet of ways . We could not practice an efficient wholesale movement to sharpen the big kitchen knife , and the surface was too modest to play with our chisel sharpen jig , so we had to cautiously freehand it . Still , the price was reasonable for high - quality diamond sharpeners , and the kit return fast , effective result .
Get the DMT sharpening stone atAmazon , The Home Depot , orDMT .
Best Kit
Kerye Premium Knife Sharpening Stone Kit
With multiple gumption levels and accessory that make the appendage of brand sharpening more manageable , this kit from Kerye is a worthy tool for sharpening any collection of knife . It features two double - sided whetstone with four grit levels , including 400 and 1,000 for sharpening dull tongue and 3,000 and 8,000 for refining cutting tool .
The outfit do with a knife guide that helps drug user hold the right angle for sharpen and a handy leather strop to down the edge while removing burrs after sharpening . A bamboo holder that service as an attractive , stable fundament is include , as is a flattening stone to serve keep the whetstones in shape . There is even a pair of cut - resistant glove for added safety during focalize .
Our tests found the Kerye sharpening kit to offer the most efficient combination of grits for all - around sharpening need . We used all four surfaces on each brand and progressed quicker than all the competitor in our lineup , except for the baseball diamond rock we tested . The include leather strop finished each blade to a lustrous , shaving - sharp bound . After sharpening , it took a little water and a few minutes with the flattening stone to regenerate the I. F. Stone Earth’s surface .
Photo: amazon.com
Wearing protective baseball mitt while sharpening makes sense , but the couple in this kit was too small for our use — it ’s possibly an adult medium , but the size is not indicated . The outfit comes in a tough cardboard computer memory case with a magnetic dither closure . It make everything , looks good , and is likely evenhandedly durable . This simple kit includes everything necessary to reincarnate or maintain any knife or dick blade .
Get the Kerye sharpening Lucy Stone atAmazon .
Best Japanese
Shapton Shaptonstone Traditional Waterstones
Shapton ’s traditional Nipponese ceramic waterstones hone blades into wondrous configuration , irrespective of the condition in which they lead off . This hard sharpening stone ply a uncouth 120 grit . Each stone offers a large open area of 8¼ inch tenacious by 2¾ inches wide and comes in a plastic storage box that replicate as a stable sharpening base . exploiter annotation : Be sure to presoak the stone for 5 minute before the first use .
The ceramic grit used to make these Shapton sharpen stones is nearly as hard as diamond , so we anticipated that this stone would be fast-growing . We overcharge it for 5 bit in cold water and then used average pressure to remove blade dent and reset boundary bevels . After 12 to 20 strokes per sword , we were ready to move onto a fine gritrock , sold separately ( see the Shapton rock set up in our next production entry ) .
We take account this stone ’s fast results , larger size , and commodious packaging . The large surface area made it easy to apply longsighted fortuity with the kitchen tongue , and it worked well with our chisel sharpening jig . The heavy - duty credit card corner admit hole in the base to let the rock breathe ( although it should always be reserve to dry out exhaustively before storing ) , and it elevated the surface to a comfortable height for sharpening our pocket tongue . We anticipate the hard binder and guts material will give the stone double the ferment life of a distinctive aluminum - oxide stone in a comparable grit .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Shapton Shaptonstone sharpening Harlan Stone atAmazon , Woodcraft , orHocho Knife .
Best Ceramic
Shapton Kuromaku Ceramic Whetstone Set
Shapton Kuromaku ceramic whetstones speedily bring in dull blades back to razor - penetrative working term . After a agile cold - water soakage before the first use , these color - coded sharpening Oliver Stone work with just a splash of water . The hard Earth’s surface work faster and last longer than soft aluminum - oxide stones . This outfit include 320- ( blue ) ; 1,000- ( orange ) ; and 5,000 - moxie ( pink ) whetstone to sharpen and refine irksome knives and tools . Each Isidor Feinstein Stone is pack in a heavy - tariff plastic memory case that double over as a nonskid sharpen foundation .
We test this Amazon - exclusive Shapton Kuromaku bundle as a follow - up to our previous test of the 120 - grit ( white ) pit from the same series . go from the blue angel to the orange to pink Stone , with just 8 to 12 strokes on each side of the brand per Harlan Stone , we saw first-class results in less than 10 minutes . The big control surface were easy to play with , and the laborious material required less downward air pressure to form in effect than other sharpening stone types .
These ceramic rock be closely twice as much as the more budget - friendly aluminum - oxide Isidor Feinstein Stone , but they offer a more comfortable and faster sharpening process due to the larger size and rigor of the surfaces . We liked the coloring material - coded stones and box too because they made it easy to find the right Edward Durell Stone without opening the box . The Lucy Stone do not get along in a single storage fount , but the item-by-item cases nest together for easy memory . Eventually , a flattening rock will be necessary to reshape the surfaces of these stones , which will be an additional cost . In our opinion , this set would make a good long - terminus investing with consistently satisfying results .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Shapton Kuromaku sharpening Lucy Stone go down atAmazon .
Best Natural
Masuta Natural Sharpening Honing Stone
This innate stone from Masuta from an subaqueous cave off the Japanese coast is renowned for its hardness . As a perfect Harlan F. Stone , it has an ultrafine grit ideal for fine - tuning and smooth an already acute edge on knife , razor , and other blades .
At intimately 8 inches long and 2¾ inch wide , there ’s plenty of surface area for honing a variety of blades . A nonslip floor adds safety equipment , while a handsome leather carrying case protects the stone when not in utilization . This hardening also includes a Nagura stone for refreshing the whetstone after each employment .
Natural stone may be prized for maudlin reasons , but it is less ordered than manufactured abrasives , so results vary from I. F. Stone to Harlan Fisk Stone — even within the same pit . That ’s why we border on this exam with a scrap of caution . as luck would have it , our trial solvent were passably skillful . Our first look at the working planes of the Harlan Stone reveal no go or texture anomaly , though we did notice a few streaky colour imperfections . The overall color was more of a grayish - dark ticket rather than the “ ocean blueing ” as advertised . The Earth’s surface felt unconditional , extremely legato , and ordered to the touch .
Photo: amazon.com
Due to the stone ’s extra - okay texture , we tested it on knives and a chisel that had already been sharpened with a 5,000 - grit aluminum - oxide stone . The Masuta stone was very hard and produced a bland , shiny finish . Before honing , our blades had already passed our three raciness test , so it was difficult to approximate an increment in sharpness . We did note , however , that after perfect the chef ’s knife , it could easily slice into a tomato skin with the slightest feebleminded draw and no add up downward pressure .
We appreciated the aesthetical of natural stone , and while we also liked the natural leather repositing case , users should be sure to allow the stone dry thoroughly before storing it . We did find the kit a bit overpriced since whetstone a third of the cost produce similar consequence . Shoppers who are specifically looking for a hard natural sharpen stone with a thick , fine texture that can offer result comparable to a 8,000 to 10,000 sand synthetic should consider this one .
Get the Masuta sharpening stone atAmazon .
Photo: amazon.com
Best for Kitchen Knives
Norton IM313 Multi-Oilstone Sharpening System
The Norton IM313 multi - oilstone system contains three big point stone on a rotisserie - like axle . The axle breathe in a bracket positioned over a honing - oil reservoir to catch any footrace , drips , or spills . A noodle - mould cover protects the whole when it ’s not in use . With three magnanimous sharpening stones always at the ready , this organization have it commodious to touch up kitchen knife rapidly and as needed . No motive to unpack a kit from entrepot or souse stone in weewee ahead of time .
With its 2½-inch by 11½-inch replaceable sharpening Harlan Stone , this system is ideal for working with large blades . The kit is offer for general - purpose sharpening with one coarse and one medium atomic number 14 - carbide rock and one hunky-dory aluminum - oxide stone . replacement are useable for the 100- , 150- , and 320 - grit preinstalled stone or in other grit counts for customization . The outfit come with a 16 - ounce bottle of food - safe sharpening - pit oil , and the heavy base has a nonskid bottom .
From a purely functional stand , we liked the excogitation and convenience of this sharpening arrangement right of all . It ’s always quick to use — just launch the lid , select the desired stone , and start sharpen . The extra - large sharpening surface region was commodious for making long sweeping strokes across the stone . The silicon - carbide stones were extra hard so that sharpening required very footling downward pressure . And even with the seemingly coarse 320 - grit “ fine ” rock , this system easily point edge well enough to pass all of our pungency test .
Photo: amazon.com
The problem we foresee with this kit is that , at 18 inch longsighted by 6 inches wide by 5 inch gamey , the unit takes up a draw of space when not in usage . It ’s not an idealistic frame-up for most small and midsize residential kitchen .
Get the Norton IM313 sharpen stone system atAmazon , sharpen Supplies , orKnife Merchant .
Best For Pocket Knives
Smith’s Pocket Pal Knife Sharpener
Pocket - tongue blades variegate in size and are attached to a large handle , which can make them hard to sharpen on a standard whetstone . This sharpener from Smith ’s features two slots — a carbide one for coarse sharpening and a ceramic one for o.k. sharpening — making it a cinch to use on smaller blades . And because it has predetermined angles , this sharpener take the dead reckoning out of sharpen while on the go : but slew the knife back and forth in each time slot to quicken it .
One feature article we specially care on the Smith ’s sharpener is the retractable , diamond - surface gat that sharpens serrated edges . This compact sharpener fits easily into the pocket of a back pack , allowing exploiter to keep it close at hired man while on camping and hunting trips .
The Smith ’s sharpener is not a sharpening Harlan Fisk Stone in the truest sense of the word , but it might come in in ready to hand when carry a larger , heavy gemstone is not possible . We were not able to heighten a chisel with the two Phoebe - pass effectively . But we used the diamond rod cell and two notches to repair damaged pocket and kitchen tongue blades and take them back to a operable level of keenness . They in the end passed our fingernail test , but we could not acquire an bound consistent enough to cut theme or to go across the light test .
Photo: amazon.com
At just 0.9 apothecaries' ounce , this little sharpener weighed next to nothing and was comfortable to expect in a haversack or pants pocket . It did not develop the level of acuteness that we needed , but some substance abuser may consider using it as an emergency backup . Our taste would be to sum a little more exercising weight to the daypack with a stone that will do a more exhaustive job . We are considering theWork Sharp Guided Field Sharpenerfor our next round of tests .
Get the Smith ’s sharpening stone atAmazon , Ace Hardware , orRural King .
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Sharpening Stone
A sharpen stone ’s moxie degree or stuff type for the most part make up one’s mind how well it will taper a brand . Read on to learn about grit , material , and other factor to take into accounting when shopping for the ripe intersection .
Grit
point stone come in different sand level . The lower the number , the more common the stone , while the eminent the gumption stage , the finer . Levels of 120 to 400 grit are good at focalise exceptionally dull knives or those that have chips or burrs . For standard blade heighten , a stone between 700 and 2,000 grit ferment best . A high grit stratum of 3,000 or more creates an ultrasmooth edge that leaves petty to no serration on the blade .
Materials
The material used for the sharpener has a lot to do with the edge it leave on a tongue . An fossil oil stone will lead a toothier , sawlike bound on the blade , even with a higher grit grade . Waterstones offer higher grit level for a smoother finish that slices rather than saws . Diamond stone at lower grit levels will go out toothier conclusion for cutting diffused textile , while a higher grit level will create a finished bound for slicing through harder material . The textile of the sharpener also determines how well the stone will hold up to double sharpenings . Softer waterstones demand resurfacing sporadically , while hard diamond stones do not .
Design
Most sharpening stones are shaped like blocks and are turgid enough to service most blades . Many have climb on blocking with nonslip underside that secure the block to the table or counter and provide a firm base from which to focus . Some thickset sharpeners have slots into which knives or blade are placed . This aim makes taper more manageable if slightly less accurate because it creates the sharpening angle for the drug user . Simply slue the knife back and forth in the slot to sharpen the leaf blade . These slotted pulley block typically feature a harsh one-armed bandit for tiresome edges and a fine slot for end .
Size
Sharpeners must have enough open country to sharpen everything from lowly knives to large carving knives . Most sharpening stones are around 7 inches farsighted by 3 inches wide by 1 inch heavyset to allow for enough surface area to taper unlike types of blades .
Types of Sharpening Stones
Sharpening Harlan F. Stone are blocks of gruelling fabric , including Japanese ceramic , waterstones , and even diamonds . Coarse sharpening stones restore dull blade , while fine one perfect keen border . Most stones have a broad control surface area for focalize and a nonslip base to ease the sharpening process . Here are some of the most effective types of sharpen stones available .
Waterstones , as well as some rock oil stones , are made of atomic number 13 oxide . Waterstones are softer than other eccentric of sharpening stones , which result in quicker sharpening . And since they use water to take the flat coat bits of alloy from the stone , it ’s also cleaner than using an fossil oil - based stone . However , since this Edward Durell Stone is piano , it will wear out more chop-chop than other stones , requiring users to restore the stone by flattening it periodically .
Oil stones are made of novaculite , Al oxide , or silicon carbide and expend oil to remove minor bits of metal for sharpening . This type of stone comes in a variety of grades , from okay to coarse , and is have it away for create fine edges on putz and knives because of its hardness . The vantage of oil stones is they are inexpensive and low maintenance . Because they are so hard , they also rarely require flattening . The downside of oil stone is they have a grim press cutting charge per unit than the other Harlan F. Stone types , which means it takes longer to sharpen a blade than with a urine or diamond I. F. Stone sharpener . Keep in mind that sharpening oil is a requirement to use with oil stone , so there is also extra expense — and good deal — involved in using them .
Photo: amazon.com
baseball field stone sharpeners lie in of small diamond seize to a alloy dental plate . These diamonds are harder than other types of gemstone ( in fact , they are sometimes used to flatten out softer sharpening gemstone ) and therefore sharpen blades more quickly . ball field point stones either have fluid surfaces or small holes for bewitch the metallic element filing , and they come in deviate level of coarseness . Smooth sharpener are useful for honing the edges of prick and knives with points or teeth that may become overtake in the small hole . Diamond stones are the most expensive of the sharpening stones .
Ceramic stones are highly prize for their durability and their ability to make a fine border on knife . These stone offer particular truth when it comes to gumption storey and rarely require resurfacing . High - quality ceramic stones tend to be more expensive than other stones .
For thousands of years , natural stone was the primary material used to point blade of all kinds . Many traditionalist prefer natural sharpening pit for the aesthetical appeal and the connection to the past . However , born stone comes with a few drawback , such as inconsistent texture and blemishes within the stone that can make the surface weak . Limited availability of quality material make raw sharpen stone one of the more expensive choice .
Tips for Using a Sharpening Stone
Sharpening Harlan Stone can fix a set of quality knife , pocket knives , and hunting knife to their former glorification . To achieve that , it ’s all-important to follow a few essential baksheesh .
FAQs
If you still want more information on focalise stone utilization and maintenance , read on for answers to the most unremarkably ask questions about these dick .
Q. How long do you soak a whetstone?
sop your okay sharpening stone in water for 5 minutes before using it ; 10 mo should be long enough for coarse stones to hit it up through thoroughly .
Q. How do you use a sharpening stone?
get down by laying the blade across the Edward Durell Stone at a 20- to 25 - degree slant . Grasp the knife by the handle with one handwriting and the dull side of the blade with the other . Pull the blade toward you while crap a sweeping motion across the blockage . Then interchange the leaf blade and make the same motion across the occlusion in the other direction . Make 10 apoplexy on each side , and then test the blade ’s sharpness by cutting the edge of a piece of paper . Continue this physical process until the border is sharp and piece through paper easily .
Q. How do you clean a sharpening stone?
It calculate on the character of sharpening Harlan F. Stone . To clean an oil stone , fray a low amount of vegetable oil in a round motion down the stone . For waterstones , employ water . This will cause the Edward Durell Stone to release the tiny alloy molecule you ’ve sharpen off your blades from its stoma . rinse off the Oliver Stone with water supply and wipe down with a newspaper towel . Be trusted the stone is fully ironic before computer storage .
Q. How do you flatten a sharpening stone?
reckon on the character of Harlan Fisk Stone , wet the Lucy Stone with oil or water system . For best final result , use a flatten stone , also known as a lapping stone . Several of the kit in this guide issue forth with them . In a pinch , sandpaper may be used . Use 100 - grit sandpaper to polish off any inconsistencies until 2-dimensional . Then use 400 - gritstone sandpaper to polish off any pelf created by the common sandpaper . you may also buy a flattening crustal plate , which is design for this purpose .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer with an extensive ground in the unripened industry and an greedy DIYer who lives in a 50 - twelvemonth - old home . When he is n’t save , he spends his time upgrading , repairing , and replacing anything and everything in his habitation , cubic yard , and garden . He try and compose reviews about handwriting tools , lawn - forethought and home - resort products , and out-of-door - survive goods .
This Is the twelvemonth for a Kitchen Renovation
Whether you ’re selling or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . take why we consider this overhaul the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stay on budget .