[foody518]

http://www.toolsfromjapan.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=335_404_468

Bester's got some sort of ceramic binder (and my guess would be AlOx abrasive).

http://www.toolsfromjapan.com/store...t_info&cPath=335_405_583_585&products_id=1961 The Rika's got some sort of softer smoother binder but I think also AlOx abrasive.

If you're seeing a quoted, exact grit listing, think synthetic. The Bester and Suehiro fit into those. They are made to some level of spec of mixed binder and abrasive and effectively baked into a stone.

If you start seeing price ranges like several hundred bucks per stone and things that look like real rocks, for the most part, think Jnats.

Norton will be your American made ones.

Novaculite's some Arkansas stones thing. There are people on this forum with more knowledge on those who might hopefully chime in on that.

I think quite a few of us would have died if these stones weren't safe for home use.

 

[foody518]

If you want to learn about synthetic stones in general, an interesting blog post. http://www.toolsfromjapan.com/wordpress/?p=539

Edit: Disclaimer, the writer is a woodworker and they have somewhat different priorities than knife guys with regards to sharpening and their stones of choice.

 

[foody518]

As a new user it's important to keep in mind that there are people who already do this. Novaculite, like AlOx and SiC, is an abrasive, like diamonds, and one shouldn't try to ingest any of these. I get the concern but there's plenty of us here resolutely not dying, not to mention people who do knives and sharpening for a living. Nothing you're doing freehanding with water as a medium not powered equipments is going to generate aerosols that are unwittingly breathed in. The one thing to do has already been mentioned several times before - rinse and wipe off your knife completely.

The last I understood, the Suehiro Rika is a vitrified stone and should have no problems with living in a tub of water. As has probably been mentioned in one thread or another, change out the water periodically.

And there probably isn't much easy to find data on these stones similar to how the most a typical consumer will be able to find out about their knife without some digging and phone calls is "surgical stainless steel". People largely don't care because rubbing bladed equipment on rocks predates any of our existences.

 

[foody518]

It might help to watch sharpening videos to help ground your perspective of this.

 

[foody518]

@smokin52 what's your stones budget?

 

[foody518]

My sharpening stone budget is open but I'm a rooky when it comes to really good kives. My schooling preped me for butcher sharpening with henkel types but after watching a video on sharpening Japanese knives with an assortment of stones I needed some help to protect my tools.

You could check out King 1000/6000 combo stones for one of the more cost friendly options

There's also stuff like this http://www.toolsfromjapan.com/store...t_info&cPath=335_405_583_585&products_id=2055 both soaking stones, I'd recommend getting them as the separate stones option. Good feedback and fairly forgiving stones, they don't dish too quickly. Shipping will probably be a couple of weeks. Other stones I think are good from TFJ and not too pricey- Naniwa Hayabusa 4000, Sigma Power 6000 (both splash and go fine stones), Sigma Power 1000 'Soft' (~10 minute soak, medium grit stone)

If you have a more generous budget and can get really nice stones that'll cut fast and last ages, check out https://www.japaneseknifeimports.com/pages/sharpening-supplies

I also tend to browse Amazon and eBay occasionally for staying on top of prices, but that's after knowing some brands (Naniwa, King, Suehiro, Sigma Power, Shapton, etc.) or specific stones I'm looking for

There's also Norton waterstones, long time standbys, but no personal experience with these

Pair any option up with a way to keep them flat, whether it be diamond flattening plates, stone fixers of dimensions similar to that of the stones, or coarse sandpaper or drywall screen backed on tile.

 

[foody518]

Take a look at this playlist for knife sharpening. A main difference you might notice from what you're used to is the active use of the 'burr method' of sharpening to understand when the fatigued metal has been taken off, when to switch sides, and when/how to deburr and stop.