Thread: what steels do japanese natural finishing stone sharpen?

One advantage that synthetic stones have over natural
stones is that they can cut practically all type of steels. Natural
stones can't do this. I think it has to do with the fact that the
abrasive in natural stones is considerably softer than aluminium
oxide or silicone carbide which are the usual abrasives in the
synthetics.

Now there are many type of japanese natural stones. I would
like to know which steels these stones(particurarly the finishing stones)
cut well and which they don't cut well. The steels I know are swedish
steel, high carbon steel, 01 steel, HSS steel, VG10, white steel and blue steel.

I'll give you an example. My good friend sharpens his knives on synthetic
stones. The steel is VG10. I asked if he would try it on my jnats. The result
was very poor. After reading a bit on VG10 steel I found out it contains very
high chromium which is very hard. So basically the naturals(perhaps mine) stones
won't cut cut many steels.

Need some education on this topic. Thanks.

Sharpman