Thread: Which Naniwa SS to buy (400 or 800)?

I need recomendation from user who use these stones.
I have Naniwa 1k (that is my rougher stone) and sometimes it is not enough for remove bigger chips in reasonable time so I decide to buy one more rougher stone.
I think between Naniwa SS 400 and Naniwa SS 800, so which one of these two you can recommend?
Please I need just recomendations for Naniwa stones (no diamond plates, no other producers...)

Thx.

If you already have a 1k i would get the 400. on reallllllly bad blades i have used a 220 until the chips are 'almost' gone and then i move to a 1k (i don't have a stone in between) and it only takes a few minutes to get the 220 marks out.

The 400 is a very soft hone and it doesn't leave deep scratches. I think you'd be ok with that.
Do note that if you use it much, it will dish - so it will need frequent lapping.
Because it's so soft frequent lapping will wear it down pretty quickly.

For less then $10 extra you can get the shapton 500 grit glass stone. That would be much harder. I actually have one on the way now.

Currently I'm using the high carbon king 220 stone and that is a very hard stone.

I try not to mix hones.
That is main reason I am looking for Naniwa (I already have 1k-3k-5k-8k-10k). I know there are better solutions but as I told my brain function way like it function.

I though that might be the case, what about the naniwa chosera 400 then, they are a little harder aren't they? I haven't used them so I'm not sure.

pricey though at $67.00 but it is still a naniwa or dose it have to be an SS?

Originally Posted by Arch_E - New Orleans

As a woodworker,I’m looking for fast,effective ways to flatten blade backs and bevels. The Chosera 400 is truly a fabulous stone. It’s very dish resistant,loads up but still continues to reestablish edges and sharpen without glazing. The Nagura included with it is highly helpful in creating a cutting slurry.

This stone is not messy,produces a matte finish,and enables a 1000 grit stone to clean up the grind marks quite easily. If you’re looking for fast working,long lasting,and a lot less messy stone,the Chosera 400 is the stone to get. I’m amazed no one else has commented. This stone ROCKS!

Source:http://www.chefknivestogo.com/ch400grstwib.html

If you have to have the SS i would still get the 400

There's no reason not to mix hones at that level really, you are much better off getting the right tool for the job. In my view that is a DMT 8C (325 grit)

I haven't tried the SS800, but the 400 is, IMO, too soft for razors. If you are taking chips out of heavy grind razors, it will dish during the honing. And it was annoying to keep wet. And you'll get quite a bit of grit/slurry build up, which I don't like on a hone that coarse.

The only hones under 1k that I really like (not that I've tried that many, I think only Norton 220, King 220, SS400, and a worn out DMT325) are the Naniwa Choseras.

I'd go for Chosera 400 or 600.

That's 3 votes for a Chosera!

I can understand wanting to get all the same stones, I too can sometimes have that sorta OCD but you better off getting the right stone like Blix has already said.

If you still find it hard to get your head around the Naniwa Chosera because it doesn't quite match and if you don't already have a 325DMT, at least you could lap your stones and set your bevels with the DMT. multi-purpose, so technical its not apart of your collection but it might not last as long doing both of those tasks lol

just a thought..

Edit: i just realised my king is a 300 for 'high carbon steel' lol not the 220 like i said in my first post. But the going to the 1k after is fine.