Thread: Which stone for around 8k?

Hi all,

I am looking for a 2 3/8" x 7" honing stone and I need your help - mainly I am thinking around 8000, but I am open to suggestions for between 6000-120000.
Important to me are, in order, keenness, maintenance, speed.
Money, as always are an issue, my budget is limited to US$160 EUR150 GBP110
To be honest, mainly I am leaning to towards one of these (in order):

Sigma Power Ceramic 8000 (or 10k, which has the advantage of a huge sharpening surface - 140mm wide)
MST Müller
Imperia La Roccia
Suehiro Gokumyo 10000
Arkansas Translucent

I am happily using for sharpening a 1000-2000-4000 sequence of Suzuki-Ya stones described here https://fabulalignarius.wordpress.com/tag/pm-v11-test/ which replaced a combination of Naniwa Chosera (sorry - too expensive their 10k) and Shapton Pro (which I MIGHT consider for their 8k or 12k).

Thank you for your help.

I wouldn't put Arkansas translucents in the 8 k range. With incorrect prep I suppose you could make it cut that roughly though over time it would become much finer with use.if you want a wide ark they are findable at Dans Whetstone or Natural Whetstone dot com.cheers.

I use the Shapton Glass system, and I really like them. They are very fast cutting stones. The 8k will produce a brilliant mirror finish on any edge be it razor or knife, which from the grits that you are using I am assuming you are used to knives. The 8k is ABOUT twice as fine as the norton 8k, but the particles on the shapton are sharper IMO and thus cut very fast but will put a nice shave ready edge on the blade.

However I have come to really enjoy my Suehiro Gokumyo 20k. it cuts very very fast even for the 0.5 micron particle size. It is a very nice sized stone and very hard as with all the Gokumyo series so I would say that the 10k that you are looking at would be no different. at 1.0 micron particle size it would be a very nice finisher. So if it was me in your shoes IMO i would go with the Gokumyo. It is a pretty good grit jump from the 4k (~6 micron I assume) to their 10k (1.0 micron) but like I said the Gokumyo cuts very fast and if the 10k puts as smooth an edge respectively as the 20k then you will not be disappointed.

Happy Honing,
Neil

I have the Sigma hones and they are relegated to woodworking tools, I just don't like the edge I get from them. Other use them and are happy with them, but not me.

I'd take the arkansas trans of those noted above. It has more range. The gok is a good stone, I guess (had one for a while), but an experienced user can do as much with a trans ark and there's something nicer about using natural stones.

I would have thought you could pick up a naniwa super stone 10 or 12k for that sort of price. I only have naniwas's and get on with them fine. The advantage would be that there are a lot of users here with them so advice would be readily available.
I can't comment on the selection you have put forward as I don't have them.
I just did a quick search and found this for under $100 delivered
http://m.ebay.com/itm/261200513629?varId=560192855126

Shapton or coticle for me.

Coticule. Can pretty much be any grit you like in the 3-4K through 8K range.

And although at the top of the price range, they are available for about $160 or so, shipped and lapped w/slurry stone

Naniwa SS 8K.

but, I do have Suehiro 20k that is awesome!

For a 8k stone the norton or naniwa ss would fit the bill cost less and be more reliable and consistent and there is plenty of info on their use.