help me choose (chosra 800 or 1000) so I can stop thinking about it

[slickmamba]

I have been scouring the forums for a while now and can't make a choice between the chosera 800 or 1000 as my first/only stone. I will add a finishing stone 3-5k sometime later in the future, but want something to learn how to sharpen and last me a while!

I plan to have only AS, aogami 2, shirogami 2, or 52100 knives, nothing super hard.

The other stones I have been considering as a learning/only stone are:
cerax 1000
gesshin 2000

[old onion]

I've been there done that and I went with the Cho 800 because that is what everybody liked as well,in fact,most like the 400,800 and the 3000 grit choseras as a great one,two three punch.I agree after using mine for awhile.
I see you are also considering a 2000 grit stone as well.The 2000 grit stone I am familiar with and is one of my favorites is the Shapton Pro 2000.That is also a favorite among other sharpeners on this forum as well.It's a wonderful stone.I am not familiar with the Cerax stones.

[slickmamba]

Thank you, I've been recommended just getting a medium grit for now to practice on, as it will give me a decent edge, and getting a finishing stone later on in my sharpening journey

[Gunnergoose]

I also bought the 400, 800, 3k, and 8k SW.I really like the 800 and 3k. No experience with the 1k but thought about adding it later on just for grins.

[slickmamba]

That sounds like a great setup, I am a little low on funds so will just get 1 stone for now. What is SW?

[gladius]

I'd recommend the 1k, it spans the ranges better IMO. I have a 400, 800, 1000, 2000, 4000 (Lobster), 5000, 8000 Snow White (SW). I most often use the 400, 1000, 5000 and these three would be considered a complete set: low, mid & fine.

[Kit Craft]

SW is Snow white (Junpaku). I like the 800 over the 1k because it is more aggressive in feel and cutting power and I like that in stones. I don't find the jump from the 800 to the 3k to be an issue and in fact I have gone from 800 to 8k without issue too. But I like an edge with some bite and I also do not use a lot of complex steel to begin with. To each their own. Honestly I almost always use my shapton stones anyway. ;P

[Jeff B]

If your just getting one stone make it the 800. You will appreciate the extra speed just having one stone. The Naniwa Pro 800 gives about the same aggressiveness and polish as many other 1k stones.

[ken123]

Think of the 800 as a fast 1k The true answer would be to get both and then you would be the expert. I usually would use a 1k ( reference my signature lol ) but life will go on with either choice.

---
Ken

[cedarhouse]

IIRC, the 800 cut like a 1k stone for me. Relative to other lines, I felt like the Chosera ran finer than their grit rating.

[gladius]

Think of the 1k as a fast 1k producing a finer finish (~1200 - 1500) good for a one stone solution starter stone to build a set around.

[Kit Craft]

Prefer a 2k for a stand alone.

[gladius]

Prefer a 2k for a stand alone.

----

choice between the chosera 800 or 1000 as my first/only stone

So do I actually but between the choices, the 1k is favored.

[Kit Craft]

Prefer a 2k for a stand alone.

----

choice between the chosera 800 or 1000 as my first/only stone

So do I actually but between the choices, the 1k is favored.

Hah. Was teasing. Long, long night.

[Lepus]

To circle back around since no one has mentioned it, the Gesshin 2000 or another fast 2000 grit would give you access to higher polish finishing stones easily. It would probably lead to a four stone set that covers the range from very coarse to very fine evenly; 220/600-800/2000/6000-8000. Jumping right to a 6000 grit stone or what have you after a 2000 is managable on most steels. That jump from a 1000 grit stone would be more difficult, though again occasionally managable. I have also always read and believe that the Gesshin wears fast, which considering the size of such stones and frequency of sharpening for a home cook is not the end of the world, but it does mean you would need a flattening plate in a short time frame. It isn't perhaps where I would go, but I think it could definitely work.

A Chosera set can even go a bit higher because the Snow White follows the Chosera 3000 so well. The default around here for a while has been Chosera 400/800-1000/3000/Snow White 8000, which I have, and it is a good set largely because stopping at the 3000 is great. I think for many stones it is ideal. The budget conscious version of that is Cerax 320 for the ability to reach down a bit lower and avoid needing another coarse stone/Chosera 1000/Suehiro Rika 5000/whatever cheap 8000 grit synthetic or natural you can get from the classifieds. I like that set quite a lot myself, though the Rika is a bit better as a finishing stone than a bridge because it is not particularly fast.

[Jeff B]

If you look at the grit chart the Chocera 800 is finer than the Shapton 1k. So for a stand alone stone I'd get the 800, it acts more like a good 1k. It will give you a very useful edge for kitchen use without having to work the stone or yourself to hard.

[slickmamba]

Thank you for all the support and information! I think I will be going with the chosera 800, its only $63 on amazon, and I will get a 3k sometime in the future (then something in the 200-400) and eventually a ~6k or SW.

[old onion]

Thank you for all the support and information! I think I will be going with the chosera 800, its only $63 on amazon, and I will get a 3k sometime in the future (then something in the 200-400) and eventually a ~6k or SW.

Or: https://www.chefknivestogo.com/ch800grstba.html with the free shipping.

[slickmamba]

Thank you for all the support and information! I think I will be going with the chosera 800, its only $63 on amazon, and I will get a 3k sometime in the future (then something in the 200-400) and eventually a ~6k or SW.

Or: https://www.chefknivestogo.com/ch800grstba.html with the free shipping.

Haha that’s fair, support the forum too

[slickmamba]

Actually, if I go that route I’d have to get a stone holder :/