Would I like Bester 700?

[shinyunggyun]

I’m looking for a 600-700 stone that cuts extremely fast, doesn’t load up, doesn’t dish too quickly, and has a tactile feel like rubbing on cement.

For those of you who have used this stone, does the Bester 700 fit this bill?

 

[Chicagohawkie]

I had a bestor/besten set 6 or 7 years ago. Gave them away before I threw them away.

 

[Rangen]

A Sigma Power Select would match your description very well, but unfortunately the line jumps from 400 to 1000.

 

[shinyunggyun]

A Sigma Power Select would match your description very well, but unfortunately the line jumps from 400 to 1000.

Are you sure? MTC has a sigma 700, and they told me that this stone feels smooth, dishes fast, and loads up.

 

[M1k3]

Shapton Glass 500? Hard but not too hard. Very good, "Jack of all trades" stone.

 

[Rangen]

Are you sure? MTC has a sigma 700, and they told me that this stone feels smooth, dishes fast, and loads up.

That appears to be a very different line from the Sigma Power Select II line I was referring to. It's twice as thick, for one thing.

MTC describes the 700 as "vitrified" and "abrasion resistant," implying a hard binder, while the Power Select II line is described elsewhere as:
"They are made with very little binder so new, aggressive abrasive particles are constantly being released. They are the quickest cutting stones I have ever used."

Finally, I have the Sigma Power Select II 240 and 1000 stones, and even the 1000 feels quite gritty to the touch.

 

[M1k3]

Sigma Power is super hard (comes with some loose SiC powder to refresh the stone). The Select II is pretty soft, readily releases fresh grit.