Ohishi Waterstones
We are now bringing these stones directly in from Japan, what this does is allow us to only pay import duties once, and bring them via container ship. This has allowed us to reduce prices, hold more stock, and increase the range. These stones are wider and thicker than most on the market today, so the new pricing makes them extremely good value.
We recommend using Waterstones for your day-to-day sharpening and these Ohishi Waterstones are the best we've come across. They cut quickly but are dense and hard enough that a spritz of water is all you need to get to work (do not soak these Waterstones). The 1,000 grit will establish your secondary bevel and the 10,000 grit yields a beautiful final polish.
At a wider 3" they easily accommodate the wide blades used in our larger planes, making sharpening more pleasant, and thicker so they will last longer.
I have been asked many times, how long I think these stones will last, given that I have been using the same stones for hand tool demonstrations, daily use, and in the school now for the 4 1/2 years, and have taken 14mm of thickness off my 10,000 gritstone and 12mm off the much harder 1,000 gritstone. At this rate I suspect a further 1 year out of the 10,000 gritstone and 4 years out of the 1,000 gritstone, so, how does that relate to you?
Please excuse the precautions (after all, how long is a piece of string???) .... If you use the lapping plate as I do, and flatten the stones after each day's use, assuming unlike me you don't get out to the studio every day, I guess at the least 15 years, with the 1,000 grit still going. Please note: keeping your stones flat allows them to last longer.
Grits available:
- 220
- 600
- 1,000
- 3,000
- 6,000
- 8,000
- 10,000
- 1,000/8,000 combination stone
- 3,000/8,000 combination stone
- 3,000/10,000 combination stone
Dimensions are 8" long, 3" wide, and 1" thick.
