Just curious if anyone has bought hones from this site and their experiences? I'm very tempted to order the Naniwa Fuji from them.
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Just curious if anyone has bought hones from this site and their experiences? I'm very tempted to order the Naniwa Fuji from them.
Ive used them a few times and have had good experiences ( i believe others have too, and may chime in). Just be prepared to wait a while for the order to fill. Stu (the proprietor) makes it very clear on the site that it may take a few days or more before the order is completed, i think its is a sideline business for him and he isn't as quick as some may expect in the modern age.
Cheers Dr. Just what I needed to hear. I'm in no huge rush anyway.
Stu is good to deal with and will let you know straight up if it's going to be a while. Have brought from him a couple of times and always helpful.
I've bought a few from him too. Always a please to deal with.
He's very upfront..
I ordered a Gokumyo 20K about 10 days ago. The site is not showing that it has shipped yet. Luckily, I've got other stones!
I wanted to buy a Gokumyo 20k last year before I visited Japan. I emailed him on two occasions and never got a response.
It will probably arrive without an update. they are not very good with updates, but you will get it. They are not as impatient there with updates as we are here. They are for real so don't loose any sleep.Quote:
Originally Posted by Druid
I got a couple of sharpening stones from this website a Chosera 600 and a Sigma 400. The prices are very good but, yes, you'll have to wait longer. He gave me an excellent customer service. He answered my e-mails too.
Personally I would rather pay more and receive my goods this century :)
Saying that though, I have purchased 2 Atoma 1200's from them.
Nice prices but you need patients .
Stu is a one-man shop, and he's inundated with long questions from tire kickers. If you order a stone, he will ship it. If you email, then he will respond if he has time to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Thug
He also has a day job (at least the last time I talked to him, he did) teaching English and his wife works, too. That's probably one of the reasons his prices are as good as they are - if he dedicated full time to the shop, I think the prices would have to go up.
I've known him since long before he started selling things, he's an honest guy. Always has been, and started his shop because he was offended with what some of the US suppliers peddle to us (if you look at woodworking catalogs, stuff is often sold for a multiple of what stu sells - 2x as much in some cases for his very expensive items, like hand made tsunesaburo planes). We're also given a dose of BS stories in some of the catalogs here in the US, talking up things that are more or less machine made in japan.
So, if you want a stone from him, buy it. I think it's a better idea to ask questions of individual items on various forums for two reasons:
* you don't have to wonder whether a vendor is being objective
* it takes a bit of the load off of vendors going through emails and gives you more data points
Stu also has an inability to help people part way. He either answers you none or gives you a voluminous long and descriptive answer.
This is how my G20 showed up. If I recall correctly, it took about 2 weeks. I was just starting to become concerned and it showed in my mailbox, still didn't show that it had shipped.Quote:
Originally Posted by coachmike
I ordered a couple of stones and an atoma plate from him a few years back. AFAIK at that time he was the sole source for the G-20k on this side of the pond. Anyway, seamless transaction. Did take 2 or 3 weeks to get to my door, but all good.
Got my 20k in two weeks, no shipping notice, but I can't hone on a shipping email. So order with confidence and if you want it quicker, lighten up, you may be the kind of guy who is way to impatient to hone anyway. Tc
I can only say good things about Stu, responded to my questions and my delivery was pretty much flawless purchased my Suehiro Gokumyo 20K from him.
Yep, fear not if your considering buying from Tools from Japan. Price is fair and your going to get your stuff. I think around 2 weeks delivery is what most people in the USA experienced. I will say the same. Gmn-200 came in the mail and life changed :D
Same as the others have said, slow but worth it. my 20k took about three weeks.
I have purchased from him, no problems.
As an update, I received my Gokumyo 20K from Stuart this morning. I received an e-mail a few days back that it indeed had shipped, and apologizing for the short delay .. which occurred because Suehiro could not supply product. The stone was well packaged and everything went seamlessly..
A good transaction all around!
When I got my Gokumyo 20K, he emailed me as he had others & apologized for taking so long. It was no problem to me. I would definitely buy from him again. He's a real nice man.
I'm being slow ordering anyway. Probably when next months pay comes in.
Any thoughts on the Fuji?
Are you referring to the Naniwa 8k Snow White?Quote:
Originally Posted by dmnc
No the newer Naniwa Gouken Fuji 8k. Only found one real review but it sounds good.
Am looking to quicken and simplify my progression. Naniwa pro 1 and 3k then coti, not mastered slurry yet and on plain water it takes hundreds of strokes to finish. Was originally thinking SS before noticing the Fuji review on tomonagura. Would love to hear if anyone has tried this stone.....
Well order placed, will post a review from someone who has never tried a synthetic 8k before when I receive it.