Otani Toishi Kitayama #1000 Japanese Whetstone + Kikusumi Fixit Polisher

GRIT:Medium Honing Stone  #1000

TYPE:   Blended synthetic with natural stone feel

SIZE: 205 mm x 75 mm x 35 mm

WEIGHT: 1060 g

USE:   #1000 (5-10 min soak)

*This stone does NOT come with stand or Nagura

* listed stone sizes are approximate, Imanishi stones are usually a few millimetres +/-

#1000

Allow the #1000 grit Otani Kitayama whetstone to soak for at least five minutes before each use.   After a few minutes of sharpening dip again to keep stone sharpening efficiently.

USES

Offers sharpening in a solid block stone.  Works superbly on stainless steel and high-carbon steel knives and tools. The audible feedback and tactile feel communicate to the sharpener progress being made between the stone and the knife.  They resist dishing well are an excellent choice for uraoshi sharpening (single edge knife and microbevels.

DURABILITY

Otani Kitayama are harder than most similar grit stones and  will resist wear and offer long-lasting durability.   These stones work superbly on stainless steel and high-carbon steel knives and tools.

COLOR & AESTHETIC

Charcoal grey color. A simple, clean aesthetic accented by beautiful kanji lettering make these whetstones a pleasure to use.  Packaged in a paper box printed with a photograph of the Kitayama evergreen orest. Inked markings include the Kitayam kanji and grit number.  One of the better looking stones on the market with a classical  and natural stone look.

OVERALL

Outstanding standard whetstone at a reasonable price for its top  quality. Provides sharpening akin to that experienced with a natural stone but offers greater consistency.  Cuts faster and better than similarly priced stones.  Grit #1000 feedback and tactile feel make Otani Kitayama whetstones one of the best you can buy. Otani Toishi  is one of the more artisanal manufacturers in Japan and a favorite whetstone maker of Kikusumi.

WHY NO BASE?

It is better to have no base so both top and bottom of the stone can be used which saves time flattening the stone.  The bases are not reused so become garbage which contributes to the environmental damage.  If you want a much better solution try the Kikusumi Hinoki Wood Whetstone holder.

HOW TO USE

Do not soak this whetstone. Simply apply water on the surface when ready to use. Rinse and wipe dry with a hand towel when done, and allow air dry at room temp. Do not leave in water.  Wash the knife blade after using the stone to prevent reaction with the magnesium in the Kitayama stone.

HOW TO LEVEL

With use, a synthetic stone will become slightly concave in the middle and, as a flat surface is necessary for sharpening, they need to be leveled out routinely with a stone fixer.

HOW TO CLEAN

We also conveniently include a Polishing/Fixing/Rust Eraser for maintenance of the stone surface such as removing metal bits and stains.  If the stone’s performance is slowing down, or seems to be diminishing, you can clean using a rust eraser, nagura stone, dressing stone, or a flattening plate. Be sure to clean the entire surface of the whetstone when using any of these methods to ensure even wear of the whetstone’s surface.

WHY WHETSTONES

To obtain a truly sharp edge, you must hand sharpen your Japanese knives with Japanese water stones. The process of sharpening on a stone is like sanding wood.  Each pass of the whetstone cuts away material from the blade .  Dividing the blade in stages allows the sharpener to shape and polish the metal to an acute edge. Water stones come in a broad range of grits, from very rough to fine, for this purpose. They are referred to as water stones as water is the lubricant adding the sharpening process.

OVERALL

Outstanding standard whetstone at a reasonable price for its top  quality. Provides sharpening akin to that experienced with a natural stone but offers greater consistency.  Cuts faster and better than similarly priced stones.  Grit #1000 feedback and tactile feel make Otani Kitayama whetstones one of the best you can buy. Otani Toishi  is one of the more artisanal manufacturers in Japan and a favorite whetstone maker of Kikusumi.

SHIPPING INFO

Please provide a telephone # for the courier to contact at the time of purchase.

HANDLING

We generally shipped your order within the next 1 to 2 business days.

*We will deliver the products in stock immediately

PRODUCT PHOTOS

The picture showing on the item page is a representative image of the product.  The product shipped will be similar but please be aware the actual color, pattern, shape and size may slightly differ from the pictures shown regarding items hand-made  by the artists and made using natural materials such as wood.