Shahrukh Sial is a gaming content writer at Sparked Host. He covers game guides, tips, and updates to help players improve their skills and enjoy a better gaming experience.

Have you ever found yourself with a bunch of well-loved tools or weapons in Minecraft that are almost broken? Or maybe you have an enchanted item you don't really want anymore?

If so, you've probably wondered how to fix them up or get rid of those enchantments. The answer is the grindstone, a super helpful block that's a must-have for any player, especially if you're just starting out.

Think of the grindstone as your personal workshop for all things gear-related. It's an easy-to-use block that can save you a ton of trouble by helping you repair items, and it can even be a great source of experience points by removing enchantments from items.

What Is A Grindstone In Minecraft? What Is It Used For?

A grindstone is a crafting station block in Minecraft that's used for three main things:

Repairing Items

This is its most common use. You can combine two of the same type of damaged tools, weapons, or armor to make a single, fixed item. The new item will have all the durability of the two combined items, plus a little extra for a bonus! Just remember, this process also removes any enchantments.

Disenchanting Items

Got an enchanted item you don't need? Throw it in the grindstone! This is a great way to get experience points from unwanted enchanted gear. The grindstone will return the item to its original, non-enchanted item state. It’s a simple way to gain a little bit of a boost!

Villager Job Site

If you place a grindstone in a village, an unemployed villager can claim it as their job site and become a weaponsmith. This is a great way to get access to specific trades.

When Was The Grindstone Added To Minecraft?

The grindstone was added to Minecraft in the 1.14 Village & Pillage update. Before this, they were just part of the game's code but didn't actually do anything. So if you're playing on a super old version of the game, you won't find one. For most players today, though, the grindstone is a key part of the game. You can also find them naturally generated in village weaponsmith houses.

How To Craft A Grindstone

Crafting a grindstone is pretty straightforward. You'll need just a few common materials and a crafting table.

What you'll need:

  • 1 Stone Slab: You can get this by smelting three cobblestone blocks into three stone blocks, then placing those stone blocks in a row on a crafting table.

  • 2 Sticks: Crafted from two wooden planks.

  • 2 Wooden Planks: Made from any type of wood log.

Once you have your materials, open your crafting table and arrange them like this:

  • Place the two sticks on the top row, one on the far left and one on the far right.

  • Place the stone slab in the middle of the top row.

  • Place the two wooden planks on the left and right sides of the middle row.

After arranging everything, the grindstone will appear in the output slot. Just move it to your inventory and you're good to go!

Repairing Items In A Grindstone

Using a grindstone to repair items is simple and can be a huge lifesaver. You’ll need two of the same type of item that are damaged. For example, two iron pickaxes or two diamond swords.

  • Open the Grindstone Interface: Right-click the grindstone to open its menu. You'll see two input slots at the top.

  • Place Your Items: Put your two damaged items into the input slots. It doesn't matter which goes where.

  • Grab the Repaired Item: A new item will appear in the one output slot on the right. This output item will have combined durability from both of your items, plus a little bonus. All enchantments will be removed, and you'll get some experience points for them.

  • Enchantment Removal: If you just want to remove enchantments from a single enchanted item to get it back to a non-enchanted item state, simply place that one item in either input slot. The output item will be the same item without its enchantments. This is a great way of gaining experience points.

The output item drops right into your inventory as soon as you click it.

The Technical Side: Grindstone Block States

For most players, a grindstone is a simple block, but behind the scenes, it's packed with data called block states. These tiny details are what make the block work.

  • Placement and Orientation: A grindstone's block states tell the game if it's attached to a wall, ceiling, or floor, and which of the different directions it's facing. The block's direct item form in your inventory doesn't have these states; they are assigned when you place the item.

  • A Broken Block: When a grindstone is a broken block, its state resets, and it returns to its block's direct item form. This also explains how piston interactivity grindstones work, as the piston's action changes the block states. All of this information is stored in your savegame files.

Finding a Grindstone in the Wild: Natural Generation

While crafting is a reliable way to get a grindstone, you can also find them already placed in the world, a process called natural generation.

Grindstones naturally generate in village weaponsmith shelter structure houses. Finding one this way is a great shortcut if you don’t have the materials to craft grindstones yourself.

If you find a grindstone generated inside a structure, you can either use it where it is or mine it. Remember, obtaining breaking grindstones without a pickaxe will result in nothing dropping. Natural generation is a feature in both Java and Bedrock Edition, so you can find them in villages no matter which version you play on.

Grindstones in Bedrock Edition: What You Need to Know

The features of the grindstone are very similar across both Java and Bedrock Editions of Minecraft. This means whether you are playing on a computer, a console, or your phone, the process for crafting a grindstone and using it is virtually the same.

In the Bedrock Edition, the crafting recipe for a grindstone is the same. The way you repair items and disenchanting items works just the same. You still place two items of the same type in the two input slots to get a new item from the one output slot. That output item will have improved maximum durability from the two inputs. Just like in the Java version, disenchanting items is an easy way to get experience points back from an enchanted item. A grindstone in the Bedrock Edition also cannot remove curses from items, a consistent rule across both versions.

Conclusion

The grindstone is a fantastic tool for any Minecraft player. It's a simple and effective block that helps you keep your gear in top shape and is a great way to manage your enchanted items and gain experience points. Whether you're a new player just starting or a veteran looking for more efficient ways to play, the grindstone is a must-have block in your world.

So next time you're mining and find a bunch of damaged pickaxes or come across an enchanted item you don't need, don't throw them away. Use a grindstone to repair items or get some easy experience points by disenchanting items. It's a simple, smart way to get the most out of your inventory.