JNATs reccomendations

[Loam]

Hello,

I'm a professional chef which owns almost 50 knives now, both katabas and ryobas (san-mai, ni-mai and honyaki also). Several of them are carbon steels, but I have several stainless too (PM steel included).
I started to sharpen my knives 6 years ago and I think I'm getting pretty decent now.
At the moment, my sharpening set is composed by: Atoma 140, Shapton Glass 220, Naniwa Pro 400, Naniwa Pro 800, Naniwa Pro 3000, Arashiyama 6000.
I'm getting interested in JNATs lately and decided to dive into this new rabbit hole. I've read many articles and watched many videos on the subject and decided to focus my budget on two Awasedo (one pre-finisher around 2.5 and one finisher at around 3.5/4 hardness). Was also considering of getting some coarser Nagura stones in the case I would like to sharpen my knives instead of simply polish them on my JNATs, but those can come at later time. Do you have some advices on my two stones? Maybe a softer Suita for prefinishing and a harder Tomae for nagura work and finishing could work? Do you think that two japanese whetstones are ideal for my set?

Thanks in advance,
Simone.

 

[ethompson]

Something softer and something firmer is definitely a good way to approach this given your use, experience, and desired outcome. I wouldn't worry about the nagura - you should be able to sharpen with both the stones you get. I wouldn't worry about strata or mine - just focus on finding something that is soft and leaves a nice matte finish devoid of obvious scratches and then something slightly firmer and finer than that.

Happy to provide actually suggestions via PM, but Im also biased since I do sell JNats... Shop around and youre sure to find something you like. Just don't blame us when 4 years from now you come back saying you have as many JNats as knives.

 

[Loam]

Something softer and something firmer is definitely a good way to approach this given your use, experience, and desired outcome. I wouldn't worry about the nagura - you should be able to sharpen with both the stones you get. I wouldn't worry about strata or mine - just focus on finding something that is soft and leaves a nice matte finish devoid of obvious scratches and then something slightly firmer and finer than that.

Happy to provide actually suggestions via PM, but Im also biased since I do sell JNats... Shop around and youre sure to find something you like. Just don't blame us when 4 years from now you come back saying you have as many JNats as knives.

By something softer you still mean an Awasedo, right?

 

[ethompson]

By something softer you still mean an Awasedo, right?

Yep! Wholly agree with your approach to skip midgrits at the start. They’re a lot of fun but not needed IMO

 

[Heckel7302]

Something softer and something firmer is definitely a good way to approach this given your use, experience, and desired outcome. I wouldn't worry about the nagura - you should be able to sharpen with both the stones you get. I wouldn't worry about strata or mine - just focus on finding something that is soft and leaves a nice matte finish devoid of obvious scratches and then something slightly firmer and finer than that.

Happy to provide actually suggestions via PM, but Im also biased since I do sell JNats... Shop around and youre sure to find something you like. Just don't blame us when 4 years from now you come back saying you have as many JNats as knives.

Four years? You are way too generous with the timeline. The slope is much slipperier than that!

@Loam, you'll do well to take ethompson's advice. It has certainly served me well in my jnat journey.

 

[lesslemming]

Hi Simone,

Are you planning to replace your synths with the JNATs or supplement them? Just asking because it’s not quite clear to me from your post

 

[Loam]

Hi Simone,

Are you planning to replace your synths with the JNATs or supplement them? Just asking because it’s not quite clear to me from your post

Definetely supplement them.

 

[lesslemming]

Then you are well on your way. You may not even need two in that case.

I use a synth setup up to 2k (maybe sometimes 4k) and then go to a nice medium hard suita.

I always had a thing for Ohira but that was just a personal thing. You should not have difficulties finding a stone that will fit your requirements. Talk to some vendors or ask in the classifieds if someone has something for you

Here are some guiding questions:

What size are you looking for?

Do you prefer a particular mine (for whatever reason)

Are you going for a super slick and refined edge or something that just cuts well?

Are you into brighter mirror finish or a darker finish. Is kasumi and contrast something you want?

All these will help you make a well rounded decision

 

[lesslemming]

Then you are well on your way. You may not even need two in that case.

I use a synth setup up to 2k (maybe sometimes 4k) and then go to a nice medium hard suita.

I always had a thing for Ohira but that was just a personal thing. You should not have difficulties finding a stone that will fit your requirements. Talk to some vendors or ask in the classifieds if someone has something for you

Here are some guiding questions:

What size are you looking for?

Do you prefer a particular mine (for whatever reason)

Are you going for a super slick and refined edge or something that just cuts well?

Are you into brighter mirror finish or a darker finish. Is kasumi and contrast something you want?

All these will help you make a well rounded decision

Oh and regarding something like A Botan and Mejiro Nagura for sharpening on fine naturals, I personally never got that to work for me. Naturals just don’t feel right for me when it comes to laying the foundation work for an edge. But that may very well be just me

 

[shobudonnie]

Hello,

I'm a professional chef which owns almost 50 knives now, both katabas and ryobas (san-mai, ni-mai and honyaki also). Several of them are carbon steels, but I have several stainless too (PM steel included).
I started to sharpen my knives 6 years ago and I think I'm getting pretty decent now.
At the moment, my sharpening set is composed by: Atoma 140, Shapton Glass 220, Naniwa Pro 400, Naniwa Pro 800, Naniwa Pro 3000, Arashiyama 6000.
I'm getting interested in JNATs lately and decided to dive into this new rabbit hole. I've read many articles and watched many videos on the subject and decided to focus my budget on two Awasedo (one pre-finisher around 2.5 and one finisher at around 3.5/4 hardness). Was also considering of getting some coarser Nagura stones in the case I would like to sharpen my knives instead of simply polish them on my JNATs, but those can come at later time. Do you have some advices on my two stones? Maybe a softer Suita for prefinishing and a harder Tomae for nagura work and finishing could work? Do you think that two japanese whetstones are ideal for my set?

Thanks in advance,
Simone.

Grab something along 4 hardness from morihei. Ohira or random honyama. Grab a 400 atoma while you’re at it.