Thread: 3k stone from Japanwoodworker

Hello,

I look around a bit but cant seem to find any mention of this stone on here. #3000 grit Medium Finish Water Stone - The Japan Woodworker Catalog

Has any one ever had one and have any opinion?

Im planing on learning how to hone in the not so distant future, but have a hole in my progression. DMT600 - DMT1.2K - ????? - BBW(about 4K) - Coiti (about 8K) -possibly to a (non Esher) thuringian - TI paste on leather - leather... any opinions on that progression would also be well received.

thanks
riedog

I have no idea what that hone might be.

The progression you have listed can work, but I wouldn't recommend it for a new honer. Any time you use slurry, you add in a whole bunch of variables. Those variables mean that you have to work more to learn to get the best out of your hone. Having additional honing experience makes that process much easier; conversely, those variables make things harder for a new honer.

That stone from JWW is of unknown quality for razors. They sell knives and tools so that stone for sure is good for those tools.
The dilemma here is if that stone will be good for razor or not. If it works then that is good because it is cheap, but if it does not then you have to look for another stone. On another hand you can go for proven 3k stone such as SS or Shapton, or even combo 4/8k Norton, but then you have to pay more money.

If the money is not an object I'd go with the proven stone, over cheap but unknown stone.

Also I think for new honers, coticule is not the right stone to go for.
I would go for a synthetic progression with consistent well tested by many many people stones. This way you can be sure the stones will be one constant in the equation and you can concentrate on other variables such as proper stroke, pressure etc.

From the DMT 1200 you need to go to a 3k-4K grit. The BBW with slurry might work but that will require some experimentation on your part which you can ill afford. The problem is that you have no idea what a good 4K edge feels like. Thats why we recommend using a proven, known grit stone.
I would also stay away from the TI paste, it is to coarse to follow either a coti or a thurigan. BTW, the coti & thuringan are interchangeable, about the same grit. The main difference will be in the texture of the edge.

Hope this helps,

BTW, the DMT 600 should only be used for removing old oxidized steel and large visible nicks. The DMT 1200 I use to remove old oxidized steel and small visible nicks. I usually use a 4k stone to create/refine a bevel and remove micro-nicks.

Good progression; 2000 grit + 4000 grit BBW + 8000 grit coti + 12 000 grit Chinese. With razors try to avoid rough stones like 800 or 1000 grit. You will not need more than 12000 grit, even Chinese often gives effect of overhoning of the razor. That is maximum. Thuringian is 5 times more expensive then Chinese, save your money.

Originally Posted by Zelenbakh

Good progression; 2000 grit + 4000 grit BBW + 8000 grit coti + 12 000 grit Chinese. With razors try to avoid rough stones like 800 or 1000 grit. You will not need more than 12000 grit, even Chinese often gives effect of overhoning of the razor. That is maximum. Thuringian is 5 times more expensive then Chinese, save your money.

You don't think a 1k is a valid option as a bevel setter?
I would have to respectfully disagree with that.
Furthermore, while the BBW and the Coticule can be good tools in the hands of someone with experience, I would argue that a 1K-4K-8K synthetic progression would be a much better option for someone starting out with honing.
Anything over 8K adds even more smothness, but is not absolutely needed. A properly honed razor off of, say a Naniwa SS 8K or a Norton 8K will provide a fine shave.

I don't like 1K stone because of scratches, which it leaves on the razor. For bevel setting I better work a little more time with 2K stone. Then 4K & 8K Belgians, it's a pleasure to work with them. Then Chinese. We have different views. Probably because we use different stones. I prefer natural stones and can't argue on synthetics, they differ greatly.

Originally Posted by Zelenbakh

I don't like 1K stone because of scratches, which it leaves on the razor.

That depends on which 1k you use. I have heard a 1200 DMT will leave deeper scratches than say a 1k Naniwa. In any case the scratches can be removed by a hone of roughly double the grit size, so it would be frivolous to sit there honing on a 2k simply to avoid them, especially if there was a fair bit of work to do. Depends how much time you have and what your other stones are. I go 1k-3k-8k-Escher. Similarly you could go 2k-4k-8k-(finisher) and it would make no difference.

Frankly speaking I have quite a small collection of stones, which I use not only for razor sharpening, but for my knives also. My progression is; three arkansas stones (soft, hard, black) artificial 2K, 3K Chinese river stone, 4K & 8K Belgians,6K King, 12K Chinese, 15K Chinese (they are slightly different in cutting), two months back I purchased one Japanese natural stone Nakayama yellow and one more is on the way. Japanese stones are very special, I try to use it cautiously. As I was told "with practice understanding of the stone will come". Practicing...
I simply like stones and honing and it's not a problem for me to start honing with 2K stone, sometimes even from 4K, depends on condition of the blade.