Thread: Naniwa Japanese Waterstone 4k good or not

Hi. I just bought a Naniwa japanese waterstone. On the box it's marked 4,000 grit with stand. When I compare it to a Norton 4000/8000 stone the japanese stone feels much more smooth. Is this an indication that the stone would be more than 8000 grit?? Actualy it feels like 3 time more smooth than the Norton. Could it be a print mistake.
The stone is dark sand color on a burgandy stand.

Would this stone be good for the finishinf hone on razors.

Jacques

Don't rely on the feel. If it is rated a 4K then thats what it is.
It will probably require a slurry stone. I doubt that it will cut as fast as a Norton....but thats not all bad.

Randy with all due respect, on what basis do you hold this opinion on it's cutting rate when you haven't tried it?

Have you tried any naniwa stones?

Am I guessing? Yes I am. It is based on the observations of myself and others that most Japanese waterstones are slower cutting than the Norton 4K. I am not trying to belittle that hone, if it is slower cutting than he will have more control and less of a chance of overhoning. What I don't like is if it requires a slurry stone.


Just my two cents,

Hmm, there are many different japanese waterstones, i wouldn't generalise so far myself. Cutting rate between my suehiro 1000 and king 1000 were vast, such that i disposed of the suehiro.

We wouldn't agree if a japanese person came and tried to tell us that all western waterstones were slow or fast or had another characteristic on the basis of trying a couple, would we, because we know there are great differences between different manufacturers products.

I understood that you weren't necessarily trying to say the norton is better than the naniwa, but a new member could certainly take it that way.

I think in general we should be very careful about speculating on products we haven't tried.

If we don't do the best we can and only speak when we are absolutely certain then this newbie and many others would get absolutely no help at all!

We cannot have perfect knowledge but at least we can try to be helpful.

I would go with the mark on the box
calling it a 4k. If I lap my Norton's with
the flattening stone it feels rough, but
if I lap it with a high grit sandpaper
it feels a lot smoother. In the end it
is still a 4k/8k.

John

Originally Posted by kerryman71

I if I lap it with a high grit sandpaper
it feels a lot smoother. In the end it is still a 4k/8k.
John

Thanks all, I'll keep that in mind and use it as a 4k stone .

But is there any way to tell for sure the grit of a stone. My barber showed me his father stone, a 3"x5" black (ligkt black) stone, very smooth, no marking, no name, glass smooth, so how to telll the grit.

Originally Posted by Jacques13

Thanks all, I'll keep that in mind and use it as a 4k stone .

But is there any way to tell for sure the grit of a stone. My barber showed me his father stone, a 3"x5" black (ligkt black) stone, very smooth, no marking, no name, glass smooth, so how to telll the grit.

In one word: experience. But grit size isn't the whole story. The shape of the cutting particles does play a role as well when it comes to the final effect.

Spiky particles will give a different edge than rounded particles.

My 2 cts.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Am I guessing? Yes I am. It is based on the observations of myself and others that most Japanese waterstones are slower cutting than the Norton 4K. I am not trying to belittle that hone, if it is slower cutting than he will have more control and less of a chance of overhoning. What I don't like is if it requires a slurry stone.


Just my two cents,

Randy,

Why don't you like a slurry stone? Being a Japanese hone I expect a Nagura would do the job for this one.