Thread: In seach of 12k Naniwa

Hello guys. I'm a long time lurker first time poster in Hones and was wondering if anyone had a good link to a decently priced naniwa 12k without a base? Thank you all... and great forum btw.

One place I know of that sells Naniwas without the base is Japanese Waterstones: Naniwa, but it's not cheap though.

Japanese Whetstone Sharpening Stone, 10,000 grit - Knife Sharpeners - PSS Enterprises - PaulsFinest.com sells the 10k without the base and seems to be a better price (since it's in $CAD instead of Euros like above) than the 12k, and I doubt it's that different than the 12k.

It seems that most vendors sell the Naniwas with the base for some reason.

Thank you. I forgot to mention that the 10k is already in my rotation. ooops. The best price that I found was actually on ebay from easttoolwest . Thank you again.

I got mine at Dieter Schmid - Fine Tools here. Can't say they are cheap though especially when you add the shipping to the USA but they are 20mm thick.

I wish I could help you, but the 12K is not sold inside Japan...

Originally Posted by JimR

I wish I could help you, but the 12K is not sold inside Japan...

Isn't it interesting that both Naniwa and Shapton have certain stones that are for Japan only and others for export only. I wonder what the rational behind that is ? Marketing trends ?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Isn't it interesting that both Naniwa and Shapton have certain stones that are for Japan only and others for export only. I wonder what the rational behind that is ? Marketing trends ?

I actually asked Naniwa--apparently, there just wasn't much demand for it here, and there was a LOT outside, so they just moved it all abroad...

As for Shapton--I think the 15K pro and the 12K pro are the same stone. I really do. Same color, same abrasive, and people tell me they have the same results. There is no national standard above 8K, so they can make it up anyway...so who's to know?

Originally Posted by JimR

As for Shapton--I think the 15K pro and the 12K pro are the same stone. I really do. Same color, same abrasive, and people tell me they have the same results. There is no national standard above 8K, so they can make it up anyway...so who's to know?

I've got them both and I think you are right. I looked at them under 30x and the only difference appears to be the nomenclature printed on the two stones.

Edit; OTOH, the Japanese Grit comparison chart here shows a difference in the micron size of the 12k versus the 15k.

I want a 25k Naniwa.

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