I'm going to start freehand sharpening on water stones (water stones just appeal to me for some reason, so I'm going for that).
I nearly bought two Arashiyama stones (1000 and 6000) from a US store, but then I found a store in the EU which carries Chosera stones. The reduces shipping cost means I can buy Chosera stones for about the same price as the Arashiyamas, so I think I'm going for that.
The problem I'm having is deciding on which stones to get. I was thinking of getting two stones to start with. One not too course sharpening stone and one finishing stone. I've watched virtuovice's videos where he recommends 400/600-1000-3000 or 400-800-2000 and then onto compounds. I thought I'd skip the courser stone for now and start with a 1000 (or possibly an 800). The 1000 seems like a good start, but I'm not sure which grit to get for the finishing stone. I was thinking 1000-3000, but then I started looking at the 5000 stone. Would that be too big of a jump? I mean, the Arashiyama stones sell in 1000 and 6000.
While I do have strops and will probably finish on them, I'd like to get a good edge (eventually, with practice) straight from the stones, for my own satisfaction
.
Right now I'm thinking about one of these combinations:
1000-5000
1000-3000
800-3000
I'd appreciate any advice on this.
Lastly, what do you think about stones glued to a base? The Choseras come both with and without a base. I've read that stones with a base are less prone to cracking, but many seem to prefer baseless (with an additional stone holder or other contraption).
I nearly bought two Arashiyama stones (1000 and 6000) from a US store, but then I found a store in the EU which carries Chosera stones. The reduces shipping cost means I can buy Chosera stones for about the same price as the Arashiyamas, so I think I'm going for that.
The problem I'm having is deciding on which stones to get. I was thinking of getting two stones to start with. One not too course sharpening stone and one finishing stone. I've watched virtuovice's videos where he recommends 400/600-1000-3000 or 400-800-2000 and then onto compounds. I thought I'd skip the courser stone for now and start with a 1000 (or possibly an 800). The 1000 seems like a good start, but I'm not sure which grit to get for the finishing stone. I was thinking 1000-3000, but then I started looking at the 5000 stone. Would that be too big of a jump? I mean, the Arashiyama stones sell in 1000 and 6000.
While I do have strops and will probably finish on them, I'd like to get a good edge (eventually, with practice) straight from the stones, for my own satisfaction
.Right now I'm thinking about one of these combinations:
1000-5000
1000-3000
800-3000
I'd appreciate any advice on this.
Lastly, what do you think about stones glued to a base? The Choseras come both with and without a base. I've read that stones with a base are less prone to cracking, but many seem to prefer baseless (with an additional stone holder or other contraption).
