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I've been looking at local suppliers (in Australia) and came across these:
Japanese Coarse Stones (8000 grit) : CARBA-TEC
Clicking on the image gives closer view and the brand appears to be "King stone". Has anyone heard of them?
I'm thinking of getting the 4k and 8k stones.
Not sure if I should do this or look at the Norton starter kit.
Or something else? Naniwa superstones? 5k and 8k.
(Have to order from US)
Thanks,
Michael
Thanks for the info on the King stones.
I've just been reading the "Honing indecision" thread - it's all a bit overwhelming - so many choices! (And I've also been looking at the Naniwas at SRD)
Still undecided - and trying to work out the best value for money (and suitable for beginner to this game).
easiest to use will be Naniwa superstones? 5k and 8k.
I started myself with norton 4/8k at that time i didn't know about naniwa stones.
I'm using the Naniwa stones now and really like them a lot. I prefer them over Nortons these days.
In the US Kings run about $20 ea. I started out with King stones and they are great at that price range. The ones I have used where the 800, 1200, and 6k. All where finiky about stainless steels.
They are somewhat of a medium cutter and leave an interesting finish off the 800 and 1200 (red) hones. I still use the 1200 on some blades, I have turned it on it's side and lapped it for smiling blades. Being a less than fast cutter I can work older blades without tape. I can see the amount of wear and stop before it get to far, spine wise.
Kings are good stones tho a tad slow. Maybe a good thing for a beginner.
I've used from 800 up to 8000k and can recommend them. Still using the 800,1200 & 4k but if I was to start again I'd go for the Shaptons up to 8k.
All the stones you mention are good. Don't sweat it but find a good deal price wise. Often cheaper to pay for overseas post.
I have several King stones and the Norton set. The Kings are very popular here in Taiwan. The 800, 1,000, and 1,200 stones are very good, and on par with the Norton 1K (which I also have a set). They work well and produce decent lower level edges. I also have the 4k and 6k kings which work better with nagura stones, but I think the Norton 8K produces a much better edge than the Kings 6K. (I've never seen the 8K until today, now I'm curious...) The Norton 4K is really soft compared to the Kings at the same level, though.
One thing sticks out in my mind - the King 4K and 6K stones smell funny. Does anyone have the same experience?
An 8k King deluxe is not a 20 dollar stone. They are actually rather expensive if you have to pay retail like I did in '85
I like my 6k, 8k; but hardly use them at all. For coarse stones I like bester and shapton. The King is a good finish stone-most brands are- but i like the hard feeling of shaptons.
I use a King 1k and I like it. I do agree that it feels a bit slow sometimes, but, then again, it is the only 1k stone I've ever used. It was cheap too; I bought it (220/1k combo) for $20.
When I bought my hones 8 months ago or so, I was told by the pros that Norton hones are probably the best stones for a newbie, not sure that has changed. I have used them since with very good results. Since the Nortons have worked well for me, I have not use any others. The kit I bought then was this: Amazon.com: Norton Waterstone Starter Kit: 220/1000 grit stone, 4000/8000 grit stone, SiC flattening stone: Home Improvement
Al raz.