Stones

1-5 Scale: 1 = Less, 5 = More
Hardness Level: 5
Scratch Depth: 1.5
Speed: 4.5
Wear Rate: 1
Self Slurry: 2
Ease of Use: 3.5

Recommended Usage: Fast, bright Kasumi or polished Hagane, scratch removal from sub 6000 grit; final (pre) polisher; push cut tools; Uraoshi sharpening; microbevels.

Notes: Handpicked Hitohira stone. Super consistent specimen. Provides a very fast and easy bright Kasumi. A little harder than more expensive Uchigumori, so be mindful with pressure. Hard enough for push cut tools. The line can only be felt with the fingers when actively feeling for it and not when polishing wide bevels; it has no effect on the result. A really awesome addition to a stone library and those doing serious polishing.

Please Note: Given the natural aspect of these stones, all subjective qualities are our estimates and may vary slightly from your exact expectations and assessment. The images shown and characteristics described may be from a previous example. If purchased, yours may differ slightly in appearance and qualities. Dimensions, weight, and stamps may be different from listed if it has been tested.

Brand: Hitohira ひとひら (一片)
Producing Area: Kyoto - Japan
Mine: Ohira
Strata: Tomae
Appearance: Very consistent Asagi color with lots of small Goma
Size:  210 x 77 x 45mm
Weight:  1636g
Grit Range: 3000-5000

1-5 Scale: 1 = Less, 5 = More
Hardness Level: 3.5
Scratch Depth: 1.5
Speed: 4
Wear Rate: 1.5
Self Slurry: 2
Thirst: 3
Ease of Use: 4

Recommended Usage: Frosty Kasumi, pre pre polisher, wide bevels for knives and push cut tools, edge sharpening.

Notes: A super consistent and easy to use Tomae from the famed Ohira mine. I love a good Tomae as they tend to be a nice firmness that is easy to use, while providing a fast, reliable and easy Kasumi. They also play well with edges and offer a more refined edge but with just the right amount of bite. They are great pre pre or pre polishers. This is a great price for this size and quality stone.

1-5 Scale: 1 = Less, 5 = More
Hardness Level: 2.5
Scratch Depth: 4
Speed: 4
Wear Rate: 2.5
Self Slurry: 3.5
Ease of Use: 4

Recommended Uses: Lighter repairs and bevel setting, toothy edges, very hazy kasumi, first or second stone in a polishing sequence. 

Notes: Amakusa tend to have a poor reputation because they are inexpensive and sometimes inconsistent if poor quality (no surprise there). But we have found quality options that are sourced from trustworthy suppliers to be actually quite good, and an awesome option for beginners. Their price and availability are a plus, but they are also efficient and easy to use. They have decent shaping power, and their wear rate is not too extreme. They are slightly tighter and finer than other coarse stones such as Omura or Akamatsu. If you finished off of it, you would have an aggressive toothy edge, or a very hazy Kasumi on bevels. Also good as an earlier stone in a polishing progression. 

Disclaimer: Given the natural aspect of these stones, all subjective qualities are our estimates and may vary slightly from your exact expectations and assessment. The images shown and characteristics described are an example. If purchased, yours may differ slightly in appearance and qualities. Dimensions, weight, and stamps may be different from listed if it has been tested.

1-5 Scale: 1 = Less, 5 = More
Hardness Level: 2.5
Scratch Depth: 4
Speed: 4
Wear Rate: 2.5
Self Slurry: 3.5
Ease of Use: 4

Recommended Uses: Lighter repairs and bevel setting, toothy edges, very hazy kasumi, first or second stone in a polishing sequence. 

Notes: Amakusa tend to have a poor reputation because they are inexpensive and sometimes inconsistent if poor quality (no surprise there). But we have found quality options that are sourced from trustworthy suppliers to be actually quite good, and an awesome option for beginners. Their price and availability are a plus, but they are also efficient and easy to use. They have decent shaping power, and their wear rate is not too extreme. They are slightly tighter and finer than other coarse stones such as Omura or Akamatsu. If you finished off of it, you would have an aggressive toothy edge, or a very hazy Kasumi on bevels. Also good as an earlier stone in a polishing progression. 

Disclaimer: Given the natural aspect of these stones, all subjective qualities are our estimates and may vary slightly from your exact expectations and assessment. Dimensions and weight may change slightly as from listed if it has been tested.

Brand: Morihei 森平
Dimensions: 219mm x 78mm x 40mm
Weight: 1394g

Gorgeous Shima (stripped) Botan Nagura from the famous Mikawa mine in Aichi Prefecture. Difficult to find this size and purity. On the harder side. Very fast scratch removal, consistent scratch marks, good polishing with an added nagura, and some sweet edges. Fine specimen.