What water stone grits should I get?

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VT Darkangel

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Dec 29, 2013
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I am starting to look at getting some water stones for sharpening less wear resistant knives made of steels like vg-10, 1095, and 420HC. I currently have the DMT Diasharp plates in all grits, but they can be too aggressive for those steels. I have been looking at the naniwa superstones or chosera and shapton ceramics. I am looking at getting 4-5 stones in plus a very high grit stone for a razor polish when requested. I'm new to water stones, and I don't know how their sharpening behavior affects grit selection. Recommendations on other water stones are also welcomed, but please explain why.
 
Water stones will take more material than you think. I find them to be much more efficient than an oil stone. If you need to fix a chip or create a new bevel I would get a 220 grit. I would recommend the Nortons, as follows:

220/1000 combo
1000
4000
8000

I would also get a stone fixer (flattener) as these stones MUST be perfectly flat when you use them. When I first started out I would have too steep an angle and gauge into the stone at the corners, so now I bevel the edge of the stone with the flattener, and since I have a lot of practice now, I seem to be better on the stones. Also, I have a 10,000 japanese water stone, these are quite good because one does not need to soak them before use. Check them out at korin.com. Also look at the Korin youtube channel for a great series of instruction, or salty's kitchen on youtube.

In short, I can take a dull as a book end kitchen knife and make it a razor in under 20 minutes with these stones.

Remember that the very high hardness japanese knives (up to 65 rockwell) are sharpened on these types of stones so it is a misnomer to think they are for less hard steels.
 
Of the stones you are looking at I would recommend the chosera. The 400, 800, and 3k make a awesome set, add a 8k super stone to finish razors and you would be set.

To get out much cheaper I would recommend the 1k & 6k Arashiyama stones. They are a perfect pair of stones that sharpen quickly and yield a powerful cutting edge. Add a ozuku asagi or nakayama koppa to finish razors (I prefer Japanese natural stones for finishing razors)


Tackdriver, hardness is not the same as wear resistance.
 
if you are going chosera, then the 400, 1k, 5k, 10k progression is where I ended up with an atoma 140 for lapping, I ended up dropping the 3k chosera from the progression as it seemed to be a small jump that didn't take much time to recover on the 5k.
 
The Chosera's are very good, I have the 400 & 600. but they are on the pricey side.
this is the basic set I recommend to every one venturing into water stones.

http://www.japaneseknifesharpeningstore.com/Dave-Martell-set-sharpening-stones-p/set1dmcore.htm

Dave sells the kitayama 8K which gives a good polished finish, It takes a while to get used to it, but it will grow on you

Great Hi grit polisher & cheaper than the chosera 10K
http://www.japaneseknifeimports.com/sharpening-supplies/tennen-toishi-natural-stones/takashima-awasedo-large.html


Jon @ JKI has a bunch of videos, check them all out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFahNJEkTGg&list=PLEBF55079F53216AB
 
Another vote for Choseras. I use the 400, 1k, and 3k. If I could get another stone right now, it would be the 8k. I enjoy using them so much, I can't imagine using any other stones.
 
I like the shaptons i have the full progression in the glass stone series, but I love the chosera stones, they are easy to work with, and aside from the 5k being so thirsty, they are pretty much quick soak (5 min) and go.
 
Knifenut, you said out of the stones he was looking at. What about the stones he's not looking at that fit an edge pro? Are there any better than shaptons or choseras that don't get talked about?
 
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