Thread: Can anyone identify this stone?

Is the "Lobster" hone name a part of the Naniwa empire?

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

baby lobsters!

lobster-like crustacean

I appreciate your from Indiana and me from Sydney Australia, the stone and package above is the Japanese 'Lobster' brand Deluxe waterstone 210 x 70 x 25 on a plastic stand. It cost me $104.00 brand new a month ago from a company in Sydney here called Kizlyar. (Google it for details) It is a 4k stone and it is in effect a top of the line Naniwa stone. If you look at all the Naniwa SS stone boxes they all display the picture of a large 'shrimp' in a V, this stone has the same trade mark. No doubting though its a terrific stone, and will last you years. If you do get one, they can create a new bevel with a little effort. A versatile hone that with slurry expands it's range. If I had my time over again I'd buy it and say an 8K. I'm sure that if you email them they can put you in touch with someone in the US or just buy it from him and rely on postage. They are good [email protected]
Ph +61 2 96797397 Cheers Rob

I'd hazard a guess at 4K. There is a 4 on the box. And on the row of 3 Kanji the boxy looking one is also a 4.

If it is a 4K then it should be about equal to the Norton 8K. They should have an almost identical grit size of 3 microns using the SRP conversion table.

Definitely a Japanese synthetic, japanese products are of high quality

This stone is in a box mainly written in Japanese. The only english on the entire thing is the words, 'Naniwa' 'Lobster brand' and the same trademark as any of the superstones (A lobster ot shrimp or prawn in a 'v' shape, which appears on the range of superstones. I am guessing they call it deluxe is that instead of the 10mm thickness of the superstones, this one is 25mm thick mounted, does not require soaking and is definaitely resin based. With this stone, practically with slurry it's a rapid cutter, and moves fairly seemlessly with the superstone 8k and beyond. It does need a significant lapping when new to give it that smoothness typical of the superstones. When I bought it, it was sold as a 4k naniwa lobster brand deluxe. Nice stone.