Thread: The REAL holy grail of hones?

So I have been checking out some hones and came across a lot of talk about this particular stone... The Naniwa Chocera 10k. Now I know it doesn't sound like much... 10k whatever, but seriously this stone is supposed to be IT. This is a different series than the Naniwa Superstones so make sure you look into the Chocera 10k. Anyway, supposedly it is the ultimate stone for finishing samurai swords. I started reading a lot of reviews and people say that it IMPROVES the edge after using alllll kinds of finishing hones including shapton gs 16k with ONE PASS. Now they aren't talking straight razors, but honestly people have said that ANY knife honed on this with one pass after being polished up to a good level will be significantly improved. Anyone look into it for Razors yet? I'm surprised I haven't heard much talk of it here. Then again, it is an expensive stone. Anyone use it??

I think I remember someone at B&B waxing on about either wanting one or he bought one. That was last year some time. I thought they were between $300-$400?. That's all I recall. Maybe a search at B&B would yield more info.

Chris L

I did some limited research too on this hone. Apparenetly, the grit breaks down as the hone is used, so you start out with a 10K but it gets finer as you go. Certainly interesting, and maybe I'll look into it again when I completely use (yeah, not likely) or sell one of my other hones.

where did you find it at

It's $269- remember not to confuse it with the Superstone, the Chosera (Chocera?) is different. Anyway, check out the fourth post down here:

Naniwa Chosera reviews - Knifeforums.com - Intelligent Discussion for the Knife Enthusiast - Powered by FusionBB

You can find it here:

Japanese Chosera Waterstones by Naniwa at Tools for Working Wood

Here's one vendor that I found when I was looking them over.

Tools for Working Wood

Chocera and Japanese Natural Stones .... - Foodie Forums

There's a guy in there that mentions having the Chocera hones, but not the 10k. Some of the other guys talk about other people's experiences and none seem to find it outstandingly better than the alternatives.

Then again, a 10k hone is really unlikely to be the holy grail.

Alex Gilmore's collection of natural finishing stones is extremely impressive and his experience is that the good Nakayama stones can be in the 40k to 45k range: http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...-nakayama.html

Originally Posted by xChris

I did some limited research too on this hone. Apparenetly, the grit breaks down as the hone is used, so you start out with a 10K but it gets finer as you go. Certainly interesting, and maybe I'll look into it again when I completely use (yeah, not likely) or sell one of my other hones.

Read the description of by Zeepk and you would think they use the same stones for their hones

Zeepk Straight Razor 'S Hone Stone Barber Knife - eBay (item 320308823500 end time Oct-14-08 15:28:22 PDT)

I have the white Naniwa 10k stone. Got it from a guy in Japan looking to increase his market in the U.S. I finish honed a few razors with it and decided not to carry it. Why? Well first, I get a better edge with a Shapton 30k than I have with any other artificial stone. If you've already got Shaptons and are committed to the Shapton system, the 30k is the bomb! I've had a few people physically come over in the last month to have me hone their razors. I finish on the Shap 30 and when they test it out, they all do the same thing . . . smile broadly and start giggling. It's THAT sharp. If you do your final honing on a Shap 16, you could try finishing on a hone such as a coticule, escher, or the Naniwa. People do ask me if the shap 30 is that much better than the Shap 16 and my answer is yes, absolutely. I'll get razor burn after only a 16k but not after a 30k.
As most of you who know me already know . . . I prefer natural stones over synthetic ones as I enjoy the honing experience more due to the feel and feedback of a natural hone.

Howard

Originally Posted by Philadelph

So I have been checking out some hones and came across a lot of talk about this particular stone... The Naniwa Chocera 10k. Now I know it doesn't sound like much... 10k whatever, but seriously this stone is supposed to be IT. This is a different series than the Naniwa Superstones so make sure you look into the Chocera 10k. Anyway, supposedly it is the ultimate stone for finishing samurai swords. I started reading a lot of reviews and people say that it IMPROVES the edge after using alllll kinds of finishing hones including shapton gs 16k with ONE PASS. Now they aren't talking straight razors, but honestly people have said that ANY knife honed on this with one pass after being polished up to a good level will be significantly improved. Anyone look into it for Razors yet? I'm surprised I haven't heard much talk of it here. Then again, it is an expensive stone. Anyone use it??

Originally Posted by Howard

I have the white Naniwa 10k stone. Got it from a guy in Japan looking to increase his market in the U.S.

Naniwa does make a bunch of white/ish hones around 10k so can you double check that it's the Chosera? I think it is their newest hone series but not sure when exactly they came out. They are supposed to feel more like a natural than other synthetics.