Thread: New Naniwa Stones

Shapton make 3 different stones that we're familiar with in the US, the Pro/kuromaku, the HR Glass Stone (white), and the HC Glass Stone (grey). The Pro is an older stone favored by many, the HR series was designed to cut the Lie-Nielsen plane steel and is a fast aggressive stone, and the HC (high carbon) was designed for high carbon steel. The HC is similar to the Pro in performance but I don't think it's the same stone.

In terms of polishing from least to most, HR -> Pro -> HC
The HR is fastest, the Pro and HC are similar in cutting speed.

Before I neutered autocorrect, it wanted to make 'Shapton' into 'Sharpton' so you almost had your own line of stones Tom.

Hope this helps!

Cheers, Steve

Well, I for one am glad that Naniwa went back to the superstone name. I was tired of explaining that the sharpening stone and the specialty stones were different thicknesses of what used to be superstones. I'm glad that they dropped the plastic stands too. I've always hated those.

Originally Posted by Steve56

Shapton make 3 different stones that we're familiar with in the US, the Pro/kuromaku, the HR Glass Stone (white), and the HC Glass Stone (grey). The Pro is an older stone favored by many, the HR series was designed to cut the Lie-Nielsen plane steel and is a fast aggressive stone, and the HC (high carbon) was designed for high carbon steel. The HC is similar to the Pro in performance but I don't think it's the same stone.

In terms of polishing from least to most, HR -> Pro -> HC
The HR is fastest, the Pro and HC are similar in cutting speed.

Before I neutered autocorrect, it wanted to make 'Shapton' into 'Sharpton' so you almost had your own line of stones Tom.

Hope this helps!

Cheers, Steve

Thanks for that rundown, Steve!
I have no experience with Shaptons, but once saw a demo by a pro-honer with the white glass ones (HR's).
I was a beginner in honing at the time and was amazed at how fast the steel came-up on the hone. Was kindof frightening, as I recall!

Originally Posted by bluesman7

Well, I for one am glad that Naniwa went back to the superstone name. I was tired of explaining that the sharpening stone and the specialty stones were different thicknesses of what used to be superstones. I'm glad that they dropped the plastic stands too. I've always hated those.

So it would seem that they have lost the cheesy plastic stands and the thickness is now somewhere in-between?

All of my 2012 plastic stand version of the Super Stones have warped away from their base at both ends. Kind of a bummer.

Sitting here looking at all of Naniwa's offerings......
How about the 2k 'green brick of joy'! There is a 'Red Lobster'!
I suppose they all are for knives. Still, a pile of different things.

I have the 2k stone. But its yellow. I got it for those times when im having a hard time getting bevel set. This way i can still refine the bevel set just a little. This was my idea anyway. It dont get used much but i think it has helped me on that tough one on and then. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12 in my group of nani's.

And mine are the newer thick stones. No stands. I prefer putting them in my holder anyway.