I've honed close to 100 razors using the same three nagura and haven't noticed an appreciable decrease in size.
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That's important to know. Thank you. Now I know that whichever Naguras I get now will be with me for a long time, and are unlikely to get replaced. I'll ask him about the qualities of the higher grade. Jim, what's your experience with high vs. Low grade naguras? How do they differ?
There are no grades of nagura. There are either the red-stamped Asano nagura (which Maxim sells), or junk stones not worth selling, or buying. Seriously, I got a huge Koma nagura for free, because it was unstamped--meaning the people in charge of maintaining the nagura standards felt it was not of good enough quality to use. The different pricing levels (betsujou, tokujou, etc.) of Asano Nagura are based on color, and are merely a matter of preference. I personally like the pure whit ones, which, mysteriously, are the cheapest.
Arrgghh making it hard to resist pulling the trigger on a set...