Awase To Grade #7 Natural Finish Stone from Japan Woodworker
Price:
Product Feature
- Size: 8-1/8" x 3" x 1-3/4"
- Give a sharper, longer lasting edge than other stones
- Recommended for your highest quality tools
- Awase To natural stones are preferred by most professional craftsmen
Product Description
For over 1200 years, miners in the mountainous Narutaki District north of Kyoto have quarried the natural sharpening stones called Awase To. These natural stones are preferred by most of the professional craftsmen of Japan, from the carpenter to the Sushi chef. In the hands of an expert, they will give a sharper, longer lasting edge than other stones and are recommended for your highest quality tools. All natural stones have slight imperfections and variations in size. However, our stone supplier in Kyoto, personally guarantees that the grading of each stone meets our exacting standards. Grading is dependant upon size and quality. Sizes are approximate. Instructions for care are included. The sides and bottom of all natural stones should be painted with several coats of weather resistant lacquer or varnish. Size: 8-1/8" x 3" x 1-3/4"Awase To Grade #7 Natural Finish Stone from Japan Woodworker Review
I was a bit frustrated with this stone (albeit the far cheaper #5 version) for a long time. It comes free of defects and is mounted on a decent base. However, if you don't know how to take advantage of its properties, it is a bit frustrating to finish with. Basically, this has become for me an auxiliary finish stone, or you could say a polish stone. Great care has to be taken to use it with only the lightest touch when it's perfectly flat, and a good slurry is helpful from the getgo. To get it flat with a bit of free slurry, use a 1200 diamond plate or a waterstone of ~1200 grit that has been carefully flattened. To ramp up the slurry even more, try a nagura. Now the stone is prepped for use.I'm a bit disappointed with the limited information supplied by JWW which is why I wrote this review. They say something like "in the hands of an expert it is the best ever". The truth is this is a very soft stone and one that is not durable at all. This means only a very light touch is acceptable. In truth, it should mention that a 10k+ grit flat bevel mirror polished tool is a precursor to touching this stone; I do not find it ideal to use after say a 1200 grit, because it will round the tool bevel as it hollows quickly.
I would lead up to this stone with at least 5K grit and use it in the thickest slurry you can prepare in advance, very lightly. Then it is ABOUT worth the money. I suspect there are better deals out there, but there are probably some ripoffs as well. So its a reliable/easy source for a polish stone to be used specifically as I describe above.
For a KNIFE sharpener, I think the fact that the stone "gives way" or hollows quickly due to its very soft composition could be an advantage. It would round/contour easily to a blade shape or one could even control the way it rounds and try different techniques. There's where the "expert" part JWW mentions comes in.
I didn't try the #7 stone above but I suspect its a bit harder or perhaps with fewer "imperfections" which are basically unnecessary, considering the price differential. Good luck.
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