Thread: Natural Stones Approximate Grit

Originally Posted by ppetresen

The trouble with comparing naturals is that even of the same kind there is considerable variance, not to mention that a preferred edge is fairly subjective. A 12k Naniwa should be a standard purchase for anyone getting in to honing since it at least offers a standard reference point to work from.

I agree with this in principle. The problem for me is the default JIS reference that we are assuming on the forums. Only that makes a Naniwa 12k a "standard purchase" as suggested. Or why not refer to microns instead of JIS? Rather, if we go by collective wisdom or word of mouth, we might still arrive an agreed categorical system of "bevel setters," "mid-range stones," "finishers," and the like, be they natural or synthetic. At the very start, I found synth stones too aggressive. So I switched to slower-acting oil-stones like Indias and Arkansas that are difficult to rate as their "grit effect" varies as to polish and simultaneous burnishing effect. And to make matters worse, their grit ratings are given in mesh, or whatever old-school American standard it is, which throws people off. Another complication has to do with natural stones generally being more "fluid" than synthetic stones, with natural stones' effect varying more noticeably relative to added pressure and then lightening up, leading to more of a sliding-scale of perceived JIS grit-rating effect.