Whetstones

Please Note: These pictures and measurements are examples. Your specific product may differ slightly in appearance and measurements.

Please Note: These pictures and measurements are examples. Your specific product may differ slightly in appearance and measurements.

Oboro Knife

The newest NSK series, Oboro Knife was designed specifically for kitchen knives, and are very effective on a wide variety of steels for a wide variety of services. The abrasives in Oboro Knife tend to cut deeper and faster than other NSK lines, thus they are the most ideal series for full-blade servicing such as thinning, repairing, and reprofiling. Ideal for seasoned to advanced users.

Oboro Knife grits: 200, 400, 800, 2000, 4000, 6000

Brand: NSK Kogyo Ltd.
Thickness: 3.5mm
Length: 200mm
Width: 75mm
Height: 26.5mm
Weight: 740g
Grit Range: #6000

Kyokuha

The original NSK Kogyo diamond stone series, Kyokuha are built for ease of use and compatibility with a wide variety of steels from carbon, stainless, powder, even tool steel. It has a large selection of grits to fit almost every user's needs. These are the softest of the NSK series and probably easiest to learn sharpening and polishing. I

Recommended for beginners and seasoned users, or those who simply prefer softer stones.

Kyokuha grits: 200, 300, 400, ~500 to ~600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000, 8000, 10,000, and 16,000

Brand: NSK
Length: 200mm
Width: 75mm
Height: 26.5mm
Weight: 740g
Grit Range: #1000

Flattening Stones

Although all NSK stones are very wear resistant, these flattening/dressing stones are specifically formulated to counter the wear resistance and flatten at an impressive speed. They also work very well on natural stones as well, and the higher grit flattening plates will leave a scratch-free surface unlike many other diamond plates. The flattening stones are slotted to eliminate suction when rubbing against the sharpening stone. The flattening stones are also the best tool to keep the edges and corners of the sharpening stones rounded.

If needed, coarser flattening grits can initially be used on higher grit sharpening stones to remove material quickly, but it is recommended you then condition the surface of the stone with a higher grit flattening plate before use in order to prevent overly-aggressive surface. Each grit of the flattening stones can be used on several different grits, see recommended grit ranges for each flattening stone below.

Flattening grits: 200, 400, 600, 1000, 3000, 6000

Recommended use: Flattening grits from 200-1000 can be used on all NSK sharpening stones up to 1500 grit. All NSK sharpening stones with grits above 1000 should ideally be flattened with a grit as close to the stone's grit as possible. For example, a 3000 grit sharpening stone should be flattened with grits 3000 and above. If you do not have the ideal flattening grit for the sharpening stone at hand, you can condition the surface post-flattening with the included wafer, or with the available diamond nagura.

Hakuto 2

Medium hardness (harder than Hakuto 3, softer than Hakuto 1), it is ideal for blending in smooth transitions on bevels or grinding in full convex grinds (as opposed to crisp lines like a Shinogi). Ideal for advanced users.

Hakuto 2 grits: 3000, 3000S, 6000, 6000S, 10,000

Brand: NSK Kogyo Ltd.
Length: 200mm
Width: 75mm
Height: 26.5mm
Weight: 740g
Grit Range: #6000 S (Soft)

Hakuto 3

The softest in the Hakuto series, they are the most similar of the Hokuto stones to feeling like soft, muddy natural stones. Like Hakuto 2, they are ideal for creating softer bevel changes and finishing full convex grinds.  Given the available grits are only medium to high grit, Hakuto 2 stones are best left for use after initial, coarser work has been completed.

Recommended for advanced users, or for users who prefer the feel of of natural stones that are not as hard as Oboro Knife.

Hakuto 3 grits: 3000, 6000, 10,000

Brand: NSK
Length: 200mm
Width: 75mm
Height: 26.5mm
Weight: 740g
Grit Range: #12000