Mark Tomaras
Active Member
I am still a relative beginner with about 7-8 months of focused water stone sharpening practice. I currently am using Suehiro Cerax stones (1k, 3k, 6k). I also have a few mm left on my first stone, a course one from the Aritsugu store in Kyoto. My 1k is getting thin and I was thinking to try a Naniwa Pro 1k to experience something different, and to replace my Aritsugu rough with a Shapton 320.
Then I started reading about natural stones. I will be traveling in the USA for a couple of weeks in Feb, and I noticed that Japanese Knife Imports sells some natural stones for about $200: an Oouchi and a HIDERIYAMA are available at this accessible price point.
My question is, for a relatively new water stone sharpener, what is your recommended way to introduce a natural stone into my sharpening routine? Would it be a hard fine stone to follow or replace my 6k? Would it be something to compete with a 1k for normal sharpening but reserve it for my finest knives?
Lastly, do natural stones last way longer than manufactured stones like my Cerax? I don’t like the idea of these high prices if they dish easily, need serious flattening, and wear out quickly.
Or should I wait a couple of years to gain more experience before venturing down this path?
Thanks!
Mark
Then I started reading about natural stones. I will be traveling in the USA for a couple of weeks in Feb, and I noticed that Japanese Knife Imports sells some natural stones for about $200: an Oouchi and a HIDERIYAMA are available at this accessible price point.
My question is, for a relatively new water stone sharpener, what is your recommended way to introduce a natural stone into my sharpening routine? Would it be a hard fine stone to follow or replace my 6k? Would it be something to compete with a 1k for normal sharpening but reserve it for my finest knives?
Lastly, do natural stones last way longer than manufactured stones like my Cerax? I don’t like the idea of these high prices if they dish easily, need serious flattening, and wear out quickly.
Or should I wait a couple of years to gain more experience before venturing down this path?
Thanks!
Mark