New Japanese Waterstones -- Lee Valley

I just got a new Lee ValleyTools catalog. They're carrying several "new" Japanese waterstones:

. . Bester / Imanishishi ceramic stones

. . Sigma "Power Select II" ceramic stones

Grits range from 700 to 10K.

Information is in the catalog:

Lee Valley Tools

Charles

I looked through the listings. I find it odd that the hones and some sandpaper are rated in "x" units, as in "1000x" and 3000x."
:thinking:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Utopian

I looked through the listings. I find it odd that the hones and some sandpaper are rated in "x" units, as in "1000x" and 3000x."
:thinking:

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Possibly an algebraic term: x = grit. You've got me!

For the price, I can't see that they offer an advantage over Nortons.

I guess the advantage over the Nortons is supposed to be speed. And I'd love to try them, especially the Sigma "Power Select II" 10K version. But I'm not sure I'm curious enough to spend $94 plus taxes to satisfy my curiosity when I have so many other nice stones.

(Of course, I've said similar things before... HAD is a wonderfully terrible thing...)

Mike