Naniwa - Whetstone - Base - #220

Brand: Imanishi 今西製砥
Product Type: Flattening Stone
Size: 208 x 68 x 33mm
Weight: 847g

For all of your stone flattening needs!

One of our most trusted sources handpicks these stones from the famed Imanishi in Kyoto for us, spending hours testing dozens and dozens and selecting only the best of the best at a variety of price points. These tennen toishi represent some of the best value you will find on the market for natural stones.

These stones are so impressive that they often make you feel like you are "cheating", so to speak - they provide outstanding results at a speed seemingly found only in stones that cost many times more, all while being fun and easy to use - they make it seem as if you have learned years of polishing in a matter of minutes. Combining these gems with the correct steel, you will come to understand the beautiful harmony skilled polishers sometimes have difficulty describing - working on natural stones with well-made knives truly ties the whole subject together.

We are proud to provide such wonderful pieces to you!

Brand: Komon-picked Imanishi
Producing Area: Kyoto - Japan
Mine: Monzen
Appearance: A mix of Asagi and Yake, peppered with Aka Renge and subtle Iromono at play when wet
Size: 227mm x 87mm x 35mm
Weight: 1728g
~Grit Range: 3000-5000

1-5 Scale: 1 = Less, 5 = More
Hardness Level: 3.5
Scratch Depth: 1.5
Speed: 5
Wear Rate: 1.5
Self Slurry: 3.5
Thirst: 2
Consistency: 5
Feedback: 2.5
Ease of Use: 5

Notes: Wow, this is an INCREDIBLE stone! Not only does it have a larger than usual surface area (and will last many years), it is extremely fast, easy to use, and gives stellar results. It will awesome for knives, but it is perfect for push cut tools thanks to its firmness, fineness, and size. It is extremely consistent in feedback and its entire surface. This is a "true" Monzen and very difficult to find vs. others that are much coarser and very soft and muddy which typically come from higher, easier to access strata. Perfect for both beginners and high level professionals.

Recommended Usage: General wide bevel work; frosty Kasumi; mid sequence polisher; crisp edges; push cut tools.

Disclaimer: Given the natural aspect of these stones, all graded characteristics are our own subjective thoughts which may vary from your expectations and assessment. The images shown and characteristics described may be from a previous, random example, or when first measured before being tested numerous times. If purchased, yours may differ slightly in appearance and qualities. All stone sales are final.

One of our most trusted sources handpicks these stones from the famed Imanishi in Kyoto for us, spending hours testing dozens and dozens and selecting only the best of the best at a variety of price points. These tennen toishi represent some of the best value you will find on the market for natural stones.

These stones are so impressive that they often make you feel like you are "cheating", so to speak - they provide outstanding results at a speed seemingly found only in stones that cost many times more, all while being fun and easy to use - they make it seem as if you have learned years of polishing in a matter of minutes. Combining these gems with the correct steel, you will come to understand the beautiful harmony skilled polishers sometimes have difficulty describing - working on natural stones with well-made knives truly ties the whole subject together.

We are proud to provide such wonderful pieces to you!

Brand: Komon-picked Imanishi
Producing Area: Kyoto - Japan
Strata: Suita
Appearance: Stunning white and light-gray surface with some small Aka Renge. A large number of visible Su. Some, only one can be very faintly felt but has no negative effects.
Size: 212mm x 80mm x 40mm
Weight: 1614g
~Grit Range: 2500-4000

1-5 Scale: 1 = Less, 5 = More
Hardness Level: 2.5
Scratch Depth: 2
Speed: 4
Wear Rate: 2
Self Slurry: 3.5
Thirst: 2.5
Consistency: 4
Feedback: 2
Ease of Use: 4

Notes: A beautiful stone both aesthetically and for polishing results - great coloring effects, leaves a soft transition at the cladding line. A very consistent, easy to use, and very, very fast stone. A very fine black slurry forms pretty much immediately, and a gray slurry when working the whitter spots, and working the slurry further creates an incredibly smooth feedback. Scratches are incredibly uniform and pretty shallow. You could finish on this for a frosty kasumi, or has a really fast pre polisher for something brighter. Pretty much an ideal stone for wide bevels. It feels almost pillowy-soft and has a slightly chalky feedback almost akin to working a Nagura, in fact you could largely substitute one for another. Given its ease of use intermediate users could quickly benefit, but you would certainly find this in a professional polishers arsenal.

Recommended Usage: Pre-polishing, final polish, super refined edges. Could be used for push cuts if used with light pressure. 

Disclaimer: Given the natural aspect of these stones, all graded characteristics are our own subjective thoughts which may vary from your expectations and assessment. The images shown and characteristics described may be from a previous, random example, or when first measured before being tested numerous times. If purchased, yours may differ slightly in appearance and qualities. All stone sales are final.

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