Next Water Stone - Bester 1200 or Naniwa Aotoshi 2K Green Brick

ncrockclimb

ncrockclimb

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I am enjoying playing with my Shapton Pros (320, 1000, 5000). I think I am hooked on water stones, and I would like to try something different. I know I can get a great edge with the Shapton progression, and am thinking of getting either a Bester 1200 or Naniwa Aotoshi 2K Green Brick. I am looking for a medium stone that I could use to touch up a knife and create a somewhat toothy edge.

So, what do you think? Which one would you suggest I get next? Do you have another suggestion?
 
The green brick fits in pretty well in any progression. Lap it a bit before the first use to get by the top layer. I can't say the same of that 1200 stone. I use it rarely. The green brick is a much better buy.
 
I favor a longer soak when appropriate. 30 minutes or more. May not be necessary but that's what I do.
 
The SP2k makes the most sense with your current stones. Shaptons work best wth other Shaptons so, although the 2kGB is a really good stone the SP2k would work better with what you have. Personally, I like the SP2k a bit more than the GB.

The GB does very well on soft stainless of German knives and low alloy carbon steels, it's a soft stone though so it is easy to gouge. It works very well in conjunction with the Naniwa Pro 400 though, I used that combo for a good stretch.
 
Once you get down into the stone a bit with lapping the green brick becomes a bit harder and doesn't gouge as easily. Its a stones that gets better the more you use it.
 
pjwoolw said:
Once you get down into the stone a bit with lapping the green brick becomes a bit harder and doesn't gouge as easily. Its a stones that gets better the more you use it.
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Don't know if I can agree with that, my GB has remained very consistent over the years. It's hardness or softness I should say has never changed. It's without doubt on the softer side of things compared to many other stones.
 
Jason B. said:
Don't know if I can agree with that, my GB has remained very consistent over the years. It's hardness or softness I should say has never changed. It's without doubt on the softer side of things compared to many other stones.
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Oh yeah its soft compared to many other 2k stones without doubt. But I generally prefer stones with more nuance so a bit softer is okay. Makes good mud. Its a very subtle /small change that I noticed. I suppose everyone wouldn't notice it. I noticed that the top layer, for lack of a better word, of the stone was a bit softer. Guessing maybe the first couple of millimeters. Then it becomes very consistent. I have three and they all showed this tendency.
 
Jason, if I wanted try something different than my shapton pros, what would you suggest? I am sharpening 01 A2 and 52100 mostly, with one 3v blade. I really like my shapton pros, but would like to try some different stones with a different feel just to see what it's like. Suggestions?
 
I really like my Kohetsu stones and Suehiro Cerax are very nice but when it comes to a Medium grit stone on carbon steels I just don't think you can top the Naniwa Pro 3000 (new Chosera).

The NP 3000 has a great silky feel, fast cutting action and probably the nicest scratch pattern of any stone brand available. This is my stone of choice when needing a flawless finish on wide bevels of various knives, especially scandi ground bushcraft knives or wide beveled Japanese knives. They are not as hard as a Shapton but still considered a fairly hard stone, unlike the Shaptons though they have very good feedback. They do best on carbon and soft stainless but have some ability to sharpen more heavily alloyed steels. Finally, the edge produced by this stone is about as perfect as it gets, great bite and sharpness with a very even but slightly matte finish.
 
That Naniwa 3K is a darn good stone for sure. Can't go wrong with it if your looking for a 3K. Not quite as versatile as the green brick in my experience. If you want to try something really different. The Nubatama Ume 2k olive brick. A softer muddier stone but doesn't load up like the green brick. I don't own one yet but I have used one and its a real nice stone. Or one of the other three, IIRC, Nubatama 2k stones available.
 
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