Kai
Member
Hey good people,
New member here. Let me start off by saying that I admire the hell out of you all. I’ve been lurking here for as long as I can remember and feel like I’ve been given a free encyclopedia - positively filled to the brim and overflowing with superb, interesting, and brilliantly informed conversations. I’m humbled by the quality here and grateful for the quantity. For that, thank you.
There is no shortage of threads like these but, like stones, it seems every person has their own unique feel and style. Here is what I hope you could help me with:
I am a home cook that spends the majority of my day in the kitchen. I want to buy one and only one jnat - hopefully ever - a good one that will be my trusted partner til the end of days. A fantasy maybe. It’s a bit impersonal, but some cold hard facts may be of use.
I’ve poured through the forums and have found outstanding information and excellent suggestions. It’s problematic because everything is too good and every stone is too beautiful. Talk about an alluring rabbit-hole.
Based on feel and experience, I think it makes sense to stick with my 1k and 4k synthetics then end with a jnat or maybe even replace that 4K. Many happily end their progression on a medium grit. People seem to enjoy Aizu’s. Going finer is fun and beautiful, but does it make sense? Scoop up those ohira suitas while they are hot! Many threads lead me down both paths. Hardness is a different matter.
I don’t need to chase the perfect mirror, but want a stone that I can use frequently and cook with happily. I want it to feel good and be well suited for the job. Deeply enjoy the act of sharpening, so want to finish regularly and have a stone that’s more often in hand than in storage. If it looks great I’ll be even more happy to grab it - iromono, nashiji, kiiji stones tend to find their way into my online carts.
I don’t exactly want to sell a kidney, but don’t want to go cheap and encourage the snowball to start rolling. I think a good stone is worth a good value.
So, my question for all of you is, given my situation, what one stone would you have - out of any other in the world?
It’s an unfair, contentious, and deeply personal question. Anyone else out here like me? Thanks for reading this tome. Once I’m here for longer and engage more, you’ll find me in the WTB section looking for your suggestions.
New member here. Let me start off by saying that I admire the hell out of you all. I’ve been lurking here for as long as I can remember and feel like I’ve been given a free encyclopedia - positively filled to the brim and overflowing with superb, interesting, and brilliantly informed conversations. I’m humbled by the quality here and grateful for the quantity. For that, thank you.
There is no shortage of threads like these but, like stones, it seems every person has their own unique feel and style. Here is what I hope you could help me with:
I am a home cook that spends the majority of my day in the kitchen. I want to buy one and only one jnat - hopefully ever - a good one that will be my trusted partner til the end of days. A fantasy maybe. It’s a bit impersonal, but some cold hard facts may be of use.
- I’ve never owned a jnat for kitchen knives
- When I do, I’ll devote myself to learning it. Hopefully it will fit me.
- I’ve used all manner of synthetics over the years and still use them today.
- At the moment, do nearly everything with a morihei 1k (solid) and morihei 4K (fantastic). There are many more in storage, but this is all I really need.
- Lap occasionally with either an atoma 140 or 400
- Don’t like soaking stones
- Have used a handful of jnats with kitchen knives and love them. Appreciate the feel and ethos. Haven’t bought one yet because I know it is a slippery slope and I’d rather focus on the food and blades.
- Been sharpening an Iwazaki tamahagane razor for over a decade. This is how I know stones are a slippery slope.
- If I’m honest with myself, all I need is a good gyuto (I am rough on a blazen ryu SS and loving with my favorite blue #2s)
- And a good petty. I’m fond of my semi-stainless.
- My w2 yanagi and ss cleaver probably have different sharpening needs outside of the scope of this question.
- The vast majority of my cutting is vegetables
I’ve poured through the forums and have found outstanding information and excellent suggestions. It’s problematic because everything is too good and every stone is too beautiful. Talk about an alluring rabbit-hole.
Based on feel and experience, I think it makes sense to stick with my 1k and 4k synthetics then end with a jnat or maybe even replace that 4K. Many happily end their progression on a medium grit. People seem to enjoy Aizu’s. Going finer is fun and beautiful, but does it make sense? Scoop up those ohira suitas while they are hot! Many threads lead me down both paths. Hardness is a different matter.
I don’t need to chase the perfect mirror, but want a stone that I can use frequently and cook with happily. I want it to feel good and be well suited for the job. Deeply enjoy the act of sharpening, so want to finish regularly and have a stone that’s more often in hand than in storage. If it looks great I’ll be even more happy to grab it - iromono, nashiji, kiiji stones tend to find their way into my online carts.
I don’t exactly want to sell a kidney, but don’t want to go cheap and encourage the snowball to start rolling. I think a good stone is worth a good value.
So, my question for all of you is, given my situation, what one stone would you have - out of any other in the world?
It’s an unfair, contentious, and deeply personal question. Anyone else out here like me? Thanks for reading this tome. Once I’m here for longer and engage more, you’ll find me in the WTB section looking for your suggestions.
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