Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

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snapshot2020
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Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by snapshot2020 »

Naniwa 400 Grit Super Ceramic Water Stone and Naniwa Chosera 800 Grit Stone

These two water stones will get you off to learning how to sharpen your knives.

I started off with a King combo 1000/6000 stone set but found the 1000 side was to soft and took a lot of work to get a hard type steel even slightly sharp.

After doing some better researching of stones, and watching them being used in videos, i found these Naniwa stones.

I have found that first using the Naniwa 400 Grit Super Ceramic, and then using the Naniwa Chosera 800 Grit Stone i am getting quicker results in sharping my hard steel blade knives.

Then i can use my King 6000 grit side of their Combo set, and finish my sharping.

I understand there are many other great water stones, but for their low prices these are a good choice.
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by ChefKnivesToGo »

I'm not a big fan of the naniwa super 400.
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/nasustbaexth.html

The chosera 800 is one I like:
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/ch800grstba.html

But we sell the 1K Chosera about 20 to 1 over the 800.
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/nach10grwast.html
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by Jeff B »

I'm not much of a fan of the Naniwa Super stones either. Do like my Choceras(old version) a lot though.

I think the difference that you are seeing in faster results has less to do with the brand of stones you are using and more to do with the grit you're starting with. Starting with a more coarse stone is always going to give you faster results regardless of brand.
Given how dull and cheap most knives are that new sharpeners start with, I think they should start with a lower grit stone when learning.
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snapshot2020
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by snapshot2020 »

Jeff B wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 3:22 pm I'm not much of a fan of the Naniwa Super stones either. Do like my Choceras(old version) a lot though.

I think the difference that you are seeing in faster results has less to do with the brand of stones you are using and more to do with the grit you're starting with. Starting with a more coarse stone is always going to give you faster results regardless of brand.
Given how dull and cheap most knives are that new sharpeners start with, I think they should start with a lower grit stone when learning.
I highly agree i first started with a King Combo 1000/6000, and quickly found out with the cheap stainless steel knives i began my learning of sharping with, i was getting no where with the 1000 side of the King stone.
This is when i moved to the Naniwa #400 and just thought i would try the #800 before using the King 6000.
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by snapshot2020 »

ChefKnivesToGo wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 1:09 pm I'm not a big fan of the naniwa super 400.
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/nasustbaexth.html

The chosera 800 is one I like:
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/ch800grstba.html

But we sell the 1K Chosera about 20 to 1 over the 800.
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/nach10grwast.html
Thanks Mark i just did not find your site and forum before getting started, i will be sure to buy any future sharping items and knives from you.
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by gladius »

Those both look like Chosera stones.
snapshot2020
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by snapshot2020 »

gladius wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 4:14 pm Those both look like Chosera stones.
I am in the process of asking the seller about this bar code taped to the box, saying it's the super.
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by gladius »

snapshot2020 wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 4:28 pm I am in the process of asking the seller about this bar code taped to the box, saying it's the super.
---
It maybe neither a Chosera nor SuperStone: the number is different on the stone and boxes differ.
The Chosera is darker than the SuperStone and has the lobster branding like yours.

Chosera right:
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by snapshot2020 »

gladius wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 6:11 pm
snapshot2020 wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 4:28 pm I am in the process of asking the seller about this bar code taped to the box, saying it's the super.
---
It maybe neither a Chosera nor SuperStone: the number is different on the stone and boxes differ.
The Chosera is darker than the SuperStone and has the lobster branding like yours.

Chosera right:
Image Image
Your right i really have no idea if it's Chosera just glad it did not cost a lot, it seems to work well so am not really concerned.
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by dc2123 »

Well I just received today that same exact stone on the left.
I order the Naniwa super stone 400.. same engraving on the side
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by Igalor »

That is a chosera 400. It is also sold as naniwa super ceramic stone in other places.
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by Jeff B »

gladius wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 4:14 pm Those both look like Chosera stones.
You are right gladius, they are both Chosera stones. That is a Chosera box, the reseller just made a new tag and put it over the original barcode.

This is an original Super Stone with the sticker on the stone.
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by snapshot2020 »

Seller has admitted the stone is marked in error and asked for it to be returned for credit, i said it's a good stone and since the cost was not high i would be just keeping it.
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by Jeff B »

snapshot2020 wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2019 8:29 am Seller has admitted the stone is marked in error and asked for it to be returned for credit, i said it's a good stone and since the cost was not high i would be just keeping it.
I would too, you got a much better stone than you paid for!
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by Insnekamkze86 »

Where did you buy those stones from?
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by Drewski »

Insnekamkze86 wrote: Wed May 29, 2019 9:04 am Where did you buy those stones from?
You can buy them here: https://www.chefknivestogo.com/allnast.html
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by Insnekamkze86 »

Okay I didn't know if they were bought from CKTG or somewhere else. Since I didn't see that in the posting.
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by Drewski »

I've only really been sharpening for less than 2 years, and my first (and still almost only - haven't been bitten by the stone bug yet) stones were all Choseras. Started with the 400 and 1000. Enjoyed learning on them and still enjoy using them. I don't have anything to compare to unfortunately. I've since added an 800, 3000 and 5000.
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by polytope »

A bit of trivia: the Japanese name for this line of stones is "超セラミックス" or "Chō seramikkusu", meaning "super ceramics". This is abbreviated to «"超セラ» or "Chosera" similarly to how "Pocket Monsters" becomes Pokémon.

So the label was probably *not* incorrect; rather, it is a literal translation. But it's confusing. 🙄

Probably doesn't help that Naniwa is changing the branding from Chosera to Professional.
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Re: Really good water stones for beginning to learn knife sharping.

Post by Cigarguy »

Yeah lost in translation. The literal Japanese translation is Super Ceramic with can be confused with Super Stone. I'm glad they changed to Professional. However AFAIK this only for the international market while the domestic market remains the same.

Regardless these are good stones.
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