The Aoto Thread

[JimR]

Anyone got his aoto from 330mate yet? I received mine today, spent a few hours with it and am about 85% sure mine is of no use for razors because of its (lack) of quality.

There are many rust-colored veins and spots in mine that are much harder than the stone, stand out and chip the edge. Also, it is quite slow for a bevel setter IMO.

See, here's the thing.

I have yet to find an Aoto in Japan for less than about US$50...Now I think I understand why.

[sparq]

The stone is more green/brown than blue. Can you see the "rusty" veins and spots? They are all over the stone, some clearly visible, some very thin yet they can be felt.

[hardheart]

Mine also has rust colored spots and small veins, but they seem soft. Had to lap out a fair bit because there were also small cracks and some shallow divots. Without slurry, I wouldn't attempt to set a bevel, pretty nice & hazy scratch pattern that is finer than that of white ceramic, 1200 King, and 1200 diamond.

they definitely aren't a select grade

[sparq]

Mine also has rust colored spots and small veins, but they seem soft. Had to lap out a fair bit because there were also small cracks and some shallow divots. Without slurry, I wouldn't attempt to set a bevel, pretty nice & hazy scratch pattern that is finer than that of white ceramic, 1200 King, and 1200 diamond.

they definitely aren't a select grade

Can you feel them when dragging a razor over them? They are definitely hard in mine. When I rub the Aoto against a large C12k (a hard one), the rusty veins leave deep scratches in the Chinese.

[hi_bud_gl]

What i got doesn't have what you are saying? it is really interesting. Try old blade and see what happens

[holli4pirating]

I wonder if Hida tool has better ones that 330mate does? Maybe 330mate chooses how good a quality stone to send based on what the winning price was (or maybe I'm just assuming the worst)?

[hardheart]

Can you feel them when dragging a razor over them? They are definitely hard in mine. When I rub the Aoto against a large C12k (a hard one), the rusty veins leave deep scratches in the Chinese.

I just checked against my Ch12K, the faces did not scratch, but I lapped one edge to use and it did score the 12K. There is a vein running diagonally across the side, that must have been what did it. Haven't seen any chipping under magnification, but that may change after subsequent lapping if there's hard inclusions buried in the stone.

If I can use half the stone, I guess that will work, since I paid under $30 for it shipped. Next one will not be an auction win, I'll get a hand-picked one. Maybe from 330mate again, they seem to have some good stones, like a $6K honyama But the options open up if I'm going to pay market price, got a handful of choices to shop from.

[hardheart]

I wonder if Hida tool has better ones that 330mate does? Maybe 330mate chooses how good a quality stone to send based on what the winning price was (or maybe I'm just assuming the worst)?

I wouldn't expect anything else, really. They have BIN listings on the stones, that's probably where the cleanest ones get sold.

[sparq]

What i got doesn't have what you are saying? it is really interesting. Try old blade and see what happens

I have tried. It leaves a lot of small chips in the edge.

[Pyment]

I wouldn't expect anything else, really. They have BIN listings on the stones, that's probably where the cleanest ones get sold.

My impression is that he has them all packed and just picks one off the pile.

He may have a pile for the auction and a pile for those that sell at the BIN price.

from his site:

天然ç¥石 ä¼Å予çÂÂ¥ æ£本山 山城éŘçÂÂ¥ 白鷹包ä¸Â� 玄ç¿Â� 鉋 é‘¿

for those of you that read the language I think this is the answer:

傷が走っていますのでお安く。

it is part of the description for the Aoto he sells for ￥3,980 (税込)

I think you have to go to the more expensive ones to get a stone that might be useful.