the best water stones

The 'best' for me is the Shapton Professional series.

The 3 that I have are the 1k, 2k, and 5k, but those 3 stones will set you back a bit over $200.

Check out JapanWoodWorker to get some ideas.

Rob
 
Best I have used are the shapton pro series. Their glasstone series is supposed to be even better. For the coarse (under 1000 grit) stones I've heard the Bester ceramics are better than the shaptons. The ceramic waterstones are very different from the natural or clay based manmade stones. They're fairly hard , and don't require long soak times, you basically just splash some water on them or run them under the tap for a few seconds and they're ready to go. Because they're harder than other waterstone they lend themselves to push strokes while sharpening, and can tolerate a bit of sloppyness on your part without getting damaged. They wear less, and cut faster than the natural stones do. The one thing they don't do is "feel" like a natural waterstone, if you want mud you won't get it with these.
 
Norton has a "starter kit" for about $120.
Not as good as Shapton stones but half the price.

Includes: Instructional DVD
1 200/1000 grit combination waterstone
1 4000/8000 grit combination waterstone
1 coarse grit silicon carbide flattening stone

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I use a Norton 4000/8000 to sharpen my straight razor, works really well, I would recommend it.
 
yoda4561 said:
For the coarse (under 1000 grit) stones I've heard the Bester ceramics are better than the shaptons.
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Not sure they are better, but they are at least equally good and cost less. I liked the 1000 Shapton, but I wasn't too fond of the 5000. Too hard, and loaded up quickly. But Shapton is one of the few makes that offer a continuous line-up. Especially in the 5000 grit range good stones are difficult to find. Around 1000-2000 you've got choices and around 8000 as well. In the middle range I have become quite fond of the Nonparaille blue, but it took a long time to get used to it, because it is so soft. Now I use it strictly like a strop and it performs beautifully. But it is also a very fragile stone, which should also be a consideration.

Best do a search (you can still search bladeforums through google) for Yuzuha and you will find tons of excellent information on waterstones.
 
I love my Shapton Pro's, but I have only tried a few other synthetic waterstones and a couple naturals. I also like the King Gold stone (8000 I think), but don't like the cheaper King 6000 stone as much as my Shaptons.

HoB, do you have a link for that middle range stone you mention? Thanks.
 
King stones are good, but slow and need frequent flattening.

The best waterstones I've used are the Sigma Power 1000 grit waterstone, Norton 8000 grit waterstone, 4000 and 8000 grit King waterstones, and the 1000, 2000, and 8000 grit Shapton Glasstones.

The 1000 grit Sigma Power is my favorite. Cuts faster than the 1000 grit Norton and Glasstone; leaves about an equal finish to the Norton; and stays flatter than the 1000 grit Glasstone. The downsides are you have to special order it from www.japanesechefsknife.com or www.japan-tool.com , it takes forever to soak (well, maybe a little longer), and the finish isn't as shiny as 1000 grit Glasstone. If you were to stop at 1000 grit, a Glasstone would be better, but if the 1000 grit is part of a journey to a mirror finish, the Sigma is unfrikkinbelievable. Actually, the edge it leaves is very, very sharp, it just isn't as shiny as the Glasstone.
 
Anyone use the Woodstock water stones? I've been wondering how those one's are.
 
Who makes cheap water slipstones? The ones I use for refinishing blades are wearing out. I forgot where I bought them. I don't need large or high quality stones-probably just a 4000 grit cheapie, one that wears quickly-as I need it to contour to blade bevels.
Thanks,
Bill
 
I have 3 King 3x8 waterstones that work fine. I can;t compare them to others though, because they're the only ones I have experience with.

Bill, you might try Woodworker's Supply (woodworker.com) or Woodcraft.com for those slipstones. I believe I saw some waterstones (slipstones) at one or the other, or both.
 
Stretch
Thanks! I think that may be where I got mine!
Bill
 
Just how damned sharp do you need a knife?? 8000? I can clean a catfish with my $2 Imperial after a couple passes on my 250 stone that I fine tune my mower blade on and I never heard the fish complain. At least I don't think that was what he was sayin'! (insert appropriate emoticon here.)
 
mhawg said:
Just how damned sharp do you need a knife?? 8000? I can clean a catfish with my $2 Imperial after a couple passes on my 250 stone that I fine tune my mower blade on and I never heard the fish complain. At least I don't think that was what he was sayin'! (insert appropriate emoticon here.)
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Man, you don't know what you're missing if you never taken one of those big ones to really really sharp. You ought to try it!

Picture109.jpg
 
Yes, yes, you and I know that we astound and possibly frighten our friends and family with the ability to sharpen a blade until you can slice transparent slices of ripe tomato with ease. While in college I once came home and sharpened all of my mother's kitchen knives. My father told me later that after the second time they drew blood on her she took them out to the back porch and rubbed them on the step to dull them back to a 'safe' level!
 
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