Thread: japanese stones

I have a set of Japanese water stones I bought from Rockler a few years back for sharpening chisels for woodworking/luthiery. I can't really afford a fancy Norton stone, so I'm hoping to use them for honing, at least for the time being. I believe they go up to 8000 grit.....watcha think? I have experience in sharpening chisels but not razors. Am I better off biting the bullet and getting a real barber's hone? Or will the japanese stones suffice? Thanks!

A barber's hone is strictly for maintaining a sharp edge. Your waterstones will be used for creating those sharp edges. Other than the 8k, what grits do you have?

welcome.
at first let me tell you sharpening straights is a different ( have seen couple times people joins and says they do have experience sharpening knifes but after couple days they come back and said have problems with razors).i have never meet person in life . i get this information from srp. You may be exception i don't know.Now 8000 hone should be good enough but questions is what you mean by 8000 grit? hone made in japan or in usa. there is differences between japan and usa grits. japan 8k will be lower 6k usa. this is has been discussed in the forum early too.
hope this information helps.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

welcome.
at first let me tell you sharpening straights is a different ( have seen couple times people joins and says they do have experience sharpening knifes but after couple days they come back and said have problems with razors).i have never meet person in life . i get this information from srp. You may be exception i don't know.Now 8000 hone should be good enough but questions is what you mean by 8000 grit? hone made in japan or in usa. there is differences between japan and usa grits. japan 8k will be lower 6k usa. this is has been discussed in the forum early too.
hope this information helps.

Sham, I'm not sure that's true. For example, the "12K Kitayama" that everyone discusses is sold as an 8K in Japan...can you point me to threads about this?

please check this i am sure you will remember it. there is chart . if you pay close attention you will see.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/basic...an-grit-2.html

Conversion Chart Abrasives - Grit Sizes

JIS TO MICRON CONVERSION
HOPE THIS helps

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

please check this i am sure you will remember it. there is chart . if you pay close attention you will see.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/basic...an-grit-2.html

Conversion Chart Abrasives - Grit Sizes

JIS TO MICRON CONVERSION
HOPE THIS helps

OK....so, from what I understand, that ANSI Grit information is for sandpapers, belts and wheels, and is in fact not used for waterstones. In your post, it says that the Norton 4k/8k uses the Japanese system...so a Norton 8K should be the same as a Japanese 8K stone.

I tried to find some corroboration.

If we look at THIS link, then the Listed US 8K is at 3 microns, the same as the Japanese waterstones.

Then, in this excellent post, we find that that the 8K Norton stone, at 3 Microns, is the same as the NEW JIS 4k.The new JIS 6k is 2 Microns--finer than the Norton 8K at 3 microns.

And then, THIS link shows us that a Japanese watersone at 8K is 1.2 microns. I found similar information on other sites.

SOOOOOO...Japanese stones at 8k are either 1.2 micron or 3 micron, and Norton stones use the Japanese numbering system, and the US system is for paper, belts and wheels.

That clear things up for you? Cause it didn't for me...


**EDIT**Anyway, for the OP...If you have Japanese waterstones up to 8K, then I would imagine you're ok.

Originally Posted by JimR

In your post, it says that the Norton 4k/8k uses the Japanese system...so a Norton 8K should be the same as a Japanese 8K stone.

.

where i said this? i just can't remember?

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

where i said this? i just can't remember?

Well, it was your post but I think you got it somewhere else...
Here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/363231-post39.html

yes i got it from internet. it is all confusing.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

yes i got it from internet. it is all confusing.

It is very confusing, so I give up. I think it's ok to say, 8K is OK!