MAGNUM JAPANESE BENCHSTONE ARATO?

Anyone hear if these are any good? Saw this on the Boker website...I like that it is a bench style setup....Here's the description:
Sharpening Stone by Magnum. The secret of the world-famous sharpness and edge retention of Japanese blades is based on the quality of the steel and the manufacturing processes that were brought to perfection over hundreds of years. Nevertheless, even the best blades need some care and maintenance on a regular basis. Our new line of original Japanese sharpening stones, made by Masahiro, are the perfect tool to maintain and restore your blades to that extremely high level of sharpness. The stones consist of a water soluble matrix - by wetting the stone before use, fresh sharpening particles are permanently exposed during the sharpening process, which creates maximum sharpening ability. The stones should be handled according to the traditional method of Japanese sharpening, and never without water. The result will be more than satisfying! Size: 7" x 2". Height is approximately 3/4". This model is ideal for reshaping dull blades or small nicks in the blade. Rough (600) grit.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh...5q3yo1_500.jpg

Hi geekinsyde;

I have not heard of these stones, but if Boker is promoting them (private label?) they should be good ones. Keep in mind Boker makes knives too and knives and razor sharpening require different grit ranges. 600k could be used for small repairs or bevel setting on a razor. If you try one out let us know the results. Good luck and have fun.
Mike :gl:

I went to the website and checked them out. They seem to be focused on knife sharpening. They have a 600k, 1000k and a 1500k in that series, which are ideal grits for knifes. They also list a 6000 grit without a base, and a combo 800k/6000k.
I'd be interested in hearing how they perform. Here's a pic of the 1k. at a good price too, nice thick stone...3/4 with a base.

Masahiro is a knife company, so stones would be a side or sub-business...possibly they even contract them out. Why not stick to companies that we know make good stones, like naniwa or shapton?

It depends on the price I'd say.
More information is always a good thing. :)

Egad they are pretty stones though!:o I am sorry stone "watching" really gets the best of me sometimes.


R

why is everyone using the "k" wrong lately?
600k would be 600.000...
I wouldn´t try bevelsetting on this one ;)

K is the short term for kilo. It comes from the greek gr. χίλιοι, chílioi meaning
thousand, or (10)³. Otherwise it may get confused with an old european grit rating system,
that uses a K after the number as well (but is totally unknown, now)

i have the 1000 and the 1500 and they work great i use the 1k as my bevel setter and the base is excellent

Lessleming i noticed it too and i kept thinking someone should say something incase the inexperienced started looking for a 600 000 grit stone but then i thought nah it's not a big issue,i am a bit ocd so i thought maybe it's only me with the problem it's done now i'm happy,one other thing though i notice that it's said that knife stones are different to razor stones lower grits for knives etc,i've always used arkansas's for my knives aswell as razors i actually bought them for my knives when i was an apprentice before i started shaving with a straight,once you get that super sharp polished edge that just glides through everything you can never go back to just using lower grits