Iyoto VS Bester 1000

[maxim]

Got Iyoto stone today from 330mate

I needed to try this one out !
330mate is only soars that i can get Iyotos from so i searched for one on his website and bought one for 9000 yen + shipping 3000 yen
http://www.330mate.com/product/874

Same time i bought Bester 1000 grit stone on German website for 37 euro + shipping 10 euro http://www.fine-tools.com/bester.html

So prices of Bester is cheaper but Iyoto is twice as big as Bester so for size they cost exactly the same !

Here is my impression:

Bester: Soft stone, cuts very fast, i love the feeling of that stone I permanent soak mine stone so it lives in water. Very easy to use, light colour make it so easy to see metal removal !
Very good for beginner and pro. !

Iyoto: Hard stone, not so easy to use but with Nagura make it much easier and faster ! Splash and go stone, these stone will last a very long time. Bit slower then Bester but i think its because of hardens, finish is bit finer then Bester.
I like these stone a lot too Beautiful zebra colour!
Not for beginner !


Ok, here are some videos and Picture of finish
Knives in test White 2 steel laminated Pity and Tamahagene hole steel Gyuto !

[video=youtube;ItaeCAOk_l4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItaeCAOk_l4[/video]

Iyoto and Nagura (much faster)

[video=youtube;jg-luti7vKM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg-luti7vKM[/video]

Iyo, Tmahagene

Bester, Tamahagene

Iyo, white steel laminated

Bester, white steel laminated

 

[aaronsgibson]

It seems that for the price you got a good stone. Looks to be at least 2 to 2.5 bricks in thickness, and from how you said it wears it should last a long time. Since you put it up to the bester, I'm thinking that it is around 500-700 or so range?

 

[maxim]

It is Bester 1000 grit so i think Iyo is 1000-2000 grit

 

[aaronsgibson]

Sorry had to many people chatting to me while I was watching your video. But for the money looks like you have a hell of a good stone. Oh and by the way your stone collection is awesome.

 

[ThEoRy]

Obviously the finish looks much nicer from the Iyoto. Just more hazy as opposed to the rigid scratch pattern the bester leaves. But how do the edges performances differ?