You see i was right Jimmy.
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If I understand this correctly, If I use smaller steps I may use fewer strokes at each step which (to me) translates as less spine wear. I may end up using fewer strokes overall.
Using stones from similar types/lines will also get the job done more efficiently/consistently.
I am thinking the super stone 1k, 3k, 5k then going to either my tiger coticule or a Nakayama. One of the Nakayamas I have is a particularly fast cutter.
Of course there is that idea of getting some of the coarser naturals. But which ones?
You won't be removing less metal. Once you set the bevel, you need to polish out the scratch marks left by your bevel setter. No matter how you do it, you will remove at least enough metal to reach that final edge. If you jump, you'll do more strokes, but each will remove less metal. Smaller jumps means less strokes because there are more strokes on lower grit hones (which remove more metal).
As far as how high you go before moving no your nakayama, that depends on how many strokes you want to do on the nakayama and how fast it cuts. I jump from my Dragons Tongue (6-8k ish) to my Asagi, and I do 50-75 strokes on the asagi. I'll bet i could stick something in between and drop the stroke count on the Asagi...
Gotta experiment.
As far as coarser naturals is concerned...
*NOTE* Grit ratings for these are only approximations, natural stones are not usually rated because the grit most likely is not consistent throughout the stone, like it is in a synthetic hone.
Amakusa Red - rated ~800 in JIS, so it should be very close to 1k Norton waterstone.
http://www.hidatool.com/shop/woodwor...tural800_2.jpg
Amakusa White - rated ~1k in JIS which puts it closer to about a 1200 grit waterstone.
http://www.hidatool.com/shop/woodwor...ural1200_2.jpg
Natural Aoto Mountain Blue - Rated ~2000-3000 in JIS, which puts it in the area around a 4k Norton. Possibly a little lower or higher depending on the stone obviously.
http://www.hidatool.com/shop/woodwor..._natural_2.jpg
And as far as after that, I would say go for a Coticule with water, and then follow up with your polisher (C12k, Nakayama, etc.) and then pasted strop if you like.
You can find the 3 Japanese natural stones at Welcome to Hida Tool's Web Site if you're interested.
There are other natural stones out there as well like the Dragon Tongue, Escher, Thuringian, etc. but might cost ya a little bit more, and are harder to find.
*NOTE* I don't have any idea the grit approximation for these hones, but others might be able to chime in.
The Dragon Tongue can be found at http://www.inigojones.co.uk/giftresults.php?giftcat=11
and Escher and Thuringian can be found at http://www.timbertools.com/Products/...ng-stones.html
Avatar, have you used those natural stones?
Look interesting/....
I haven't used them yet, but I plan on ordering the Amakusa Red today.
I doubt I will get the white and Aoto anytime soon tho. The white is just too close to the same grit range, and I have 2 combo coticules, so I don't really need the Aoto.
But I know at some point, I will pick them up, to try at least, just not right now :D
I will make a thread when I get the Red and try her out :) Pictures and all!
Here
another source of nat AOTO
they also have several different grades to chose from.
I did order couple of them but their system is a little strange. they they are going to call me.