Thread: 8k (6k-10k) stone - need your help. Thank you

I need your help with a 8k (6k-10k) stone.


My setup, so far is 400-1000-2000-4000 Suzuki-Ya stone described here https://suzukitool.com/tools/japanes...nthetic-stones


No idea who is really making them.


AND here https://fabulalignarius.wordpress.com/tag/pm-v11-test/


Before them, I use to have Chosera line-up, which, although I loved the edge they were leaving, were wearing too much, especially after sharpening carving chisels (where you have different pressure points on the stone...), and were not fast enough for sharpening in-situ - on the job. So I sold them.


Otherwise I simply LOVED Chosera. Seriously. But I wouldn't buy again a Chosera 10k as I find it too expensive for what it offers.


I am a traditional woodworker, using exclusively hand tools, with a strong tendency toward Japanese style and tools. I do quit a bit of relief and architectural Carving - my chisels being Addis (Sheffield) and chip carving were I use knives. For marquetry I use a variety of other knives. I also need this stone to be good for finishing my kitchen knives and the 2 razors we use (me and my son). Those kitchen knives - Sollingen, made in Germany during the War are really tough to sharpen...and is not stainless-steel.


I work 95% of the time in cherry, walnut and butternut. Occasionally in chestnut and poplar. Mostly medium-soft woods.


Tools and metal I use:
I have a variety of Western planes and chisels with old Sheffield steel (Warranted Cast steel)
I have plans to replace all of them with Japanese planes/chisels and/or PM-V11 made by Veritas/Lee Valley.
I already have 4 different 3/16" thick PM-V11
I also have 2 Japanes planes: a Dai-naoshi and a 60mm.
Once in a while I am making myself a Japanese style plane, using PM-V11, and than, I need to work with very hard woods - Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry).
From my experience, sharpening carving chisels, because of the different way you have to sharpen them, is putting most of the pressure in the middle of the stone, giving, in time a hollowness that I do not have the time to correct it at work/when I need it.


I got the Suzuki stones to be able to deal with PM-V11 and blue steel without wearing as much as Chosera.


My budget is limited to $240 AUD.
My hope is to find a stone as good as Chosera, offering the same keenness/smoothness but, in order of my priorities:
1. Keenness of the Edge
2. Wear Less and Less Maintenance
3. Have the feel of a Natural Stone
4. Speed



People strongly recommended Naniwa Snow White. But I am a bit afraid - I do not know its characteristics. Yet some other guys swear that Fuji 8k is better than Snow White.
I am rather thinking that Suehiro Gokumyo 10k hopefully is closer - but again, I do not know anything about it and is really very little information/reviews.
Than, some other guys recommended the "New" Superstone from Naniwa - S-480 - Yet some other guys like better the older Naniwa Traditional T-380.
No - I am not a Naniwa fan at all. My tendency would be to look into Natural stones - and here people are recommending Yellow Coticule and Arkansas. Which I strongly consider.
Recently I discovered a stone made with natural stone powder, fired in the kiln , resulting in a harder product that performs similar to natural stones - Hishiboshi Karasu 9k - maybe something like this will be the answer...


PS In the future I will also get a 12k-20k.. but I cannot afford all at once.

Thank you all