Nubatama 150 Replacement

[arthurfowler]

I got tired of flattening and replacing coarse stones. I use 3 inch ceramic sanding belts and trim them to 7-8 inches stapling to wood and using in the stone holder. Performance at an affordable price.
This will last you a very long time...
https://www.redlabelabrasives.com/colle ... -ascending

Thanks Gladius, I hadn’t considered these as an option. Out of interest, what grits do you use and do you use any water whilst using them?

---
80 grit (they offer 36 to 120 grit) - dry, brushing with wire and stiff nylon brushes as needed. Cutting is fast and you can use your same "stroke" for "your edge" at the angle you like best. Of course when worn no need to flatten, simply toss and replace.

Thanks Gladius, very helpful and will definitely try this approach.

[taz575]

Sandpaper is a good idea at the very coarse grits to get the process started! You can usually pick up a granite reference plate pretty cheap, too and use that as your base. Sandpaper and granite plate works really fast for flattening stones as well!

[arthurfowler]

Sandpaper is a good idea at the very coarse grits to get the process started! You can usually pick up a granite reference plate pretty cheap, too and use that as your base. Sandpaper and granite plate works really fast for flattening stones as well!

Thanks Taz, out of interest, how do you fix/secure the sandpaper?

[taz575]

You can use 3M 77 spray glue or a feathering adhesive to stick the sandpaper to the granite. You can also wrap the ends of the sandpaper under the block. There are lots of sandpaper rolls and discs out there with a PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive) already on the back. Razor blade and Acetone removes the adhesive residue. For flattening, I just hold the paper down. On the granite blocks, sandpaper will sometimes stick if its damp, too, at least for flattening.

For ceramic belts, spray adhesive is the best way to go. Just remember ceramic belts are designed to fracture with a good bit of pressure, so using AO belts or other belts may give better life since the abrasive will be able to break down with less pressure?

[arthurfowler]

Thanks Taz, this is really helpful.

[ex1580]

I don't spend a lot of time at these course grits but I just came across a stone from Naniwa called the Omurato which is 150 grit, fairly cheap, and made of silicon carbide. I like the sandpaper idea myself because it's available locally but I just wanted to mention this. If anyone has the opportunity to use one of these Naniwa Omurato stones let us all know how it is.

[atang]

Hey Gareth.
I’ve been working on finding some similar stones as well. It has been difficult as our dear friend has been greatly missed

As we carry on in our world of sharpening, I’ve been looking to Suehiro flavors for new foundational stones. They have been decent though nothing I’ve found can fulfill a direct replacement to the Nubatama line. My 150 is now 0.6cm and is pretty much fully retired. I cannot justify 25mm tall stones as the cost/benefit is disproportionate. This leaves me with only 50mm+ offerings, many of which are having to come direct from Japan. I’m still searching for more brands and flavors to try, so if anyone has any they would like to share, please drop a line!

Sam, I did do a review of the Naniwa, you can check it here:
https://www.waterstoneknifesharpening.com/zCME_d

[ex1580]

Thanks for taking the time to write that review! There are not many out there for the Omurato stone. BTW, the Latte is my favorite 400 grit stone.

[jmcnelly85]

Great review, sounds like a useful tool.

[ex1580]

I just want to say that this thread inspired me to clean up a couple of Mora Companions I have. I got some 100, 150, and 240 grit Dura-Gold adhesive backed sandpaper rolls that are 2 3/4" wide. They fit pretty well on the back of a diamond plate and they removed steel quick. The best part is no flattening! I think when the 100 runs out I will replace it with 80 grit though.

I tried to follow the sandpaper with diamond plates but that didn't look nice so I switched to Shapton Glass. The 240 sandpaper left the wide bevel in good shape for stones and I feel pretty confident that I can go from there to any stones I have in the 320 to 500 grit range. I played around a bit with the other one and will probably use Shapton Glass on it next time, or maybe Cerax. I had used the Naniwa Green Brick and the end result was fine but took longer. For the one I used Shapton Glass on I went from 320 to 1k and finished it on the 16k with a microbevel and am very pleased.

I shined them up a little on some strops but didn't think to take a picture until after I had them covered in Knife Shield so sorry they look all streaky. They aren't perfect but they are bushcraft/camping knives so we are just a little whittling away from never knowing about imperfections in shine, haha.

[arthurfowler]

I don't spend a lot of time at these course grits but I just came across a stone from Naniwa called the Omurato which is 150 grit, fairly cheap, and made of silicon carbide. I like the sandpaper idea myself because it's available locally but I just wanted to mention this. If anyone has the opportunity to use one of these Naniwa Omurato stones let us all know how it is.

That looks like a really interesting stone.

[arthurfowler]

Hey Gareth.
I’ve been working on finding some similar stones as well. It has been difficult as our dear friend has been greatly missed

As we carry on in our world of sharpening, I’ve been looking to Suehiro flavors for new foundational stones. They have been decent though nothing I’ve found can fulfill a direct replacement to the Nubatama line. My 150 is now 0.6cm and is pretty much fully retired. I cannot justify 25mm tall stones as the cost/benefit is disproportionate. This leaves me with only 50mm+ offerings, many of which are having to come direct from Japan. I’m still searching for more brands and flavors to try, so if anyone has any they would like to share, please drop a line!

Sam, I did do a review of the Naniwa, you can check it here:
https://www.waterstoneknifesharpening.com/zCME_d

Thanks Adrian, the review was really useful. It looks like an interesting stone to add to the collection and it will I presume compliment my Naniwa Pro 400, 1000, 3000 and Snow White. I will also try the Debado at some point.

[arthurfowler]

Omuratu has been ordered. Should be with me in a few weeks!!

[ex1580]

Omuratu has been ordered. Should be with me in a few weeks!!

Let us know how it is!

[arthurfowler]

Will do Sam. Should arrive just ahead of the Christmas holidays so hopefully will find some time to give it a good test. I have at least 3 knives that would benefit from some thinning!!

[billk1002]

Hey Gareth.
I’ve been working on finding some similar stones as well. It has been difficult as our dear friend has been greatly missed

As we carry on in our world of sharpening, I’ve been looking to Suehiro flavors for new foundational stones. They have been decent though nothing I’ve found can fulfill a direct replacement to the Nubatama line. My 150 is now 0.6cm and is pretty much fully retired. I cannot justify 25mm tall stones as the cost/benefit is disproportionate. This leaves me with only 50mm+ offerings, many of which are having to come direct from Japan. I’m still searching for more brands and flavors to try, so if anyone has any they would like to share, please drop a line!

Sam, I did do a review of the Naniwa, you can check it here:
https://www.waterstoneknifesharpening.com/zCME_d

Thanks Adrian, the review was really useful. It looks like an interesting stone to add to the collection and it will I presume compliment my Naniwa Pro 400, 1000, 3000 and Snow White. I will also try the Debado at some point.

What do you think of the Pro 400 I have the 1k and it leaves a very nice finish?

[arthurfowler]

Hi Bill, I haven’t used it that much and not for a while but it’s a keeper for me. IIRC it definitely isn’t the fastest coarse (ish) stone albeit I am probably comparing it with coarser stones and therefore not a level playing field. It feels great though to sharpen with.

[gladius]

Will do Sam. Should arrive just ahead of the Christmas holidays so hopefully will find some time to give it a good test. I have at least 3 knives that would benefit from some thinning!!

---
Yes, give us an honest review. Wonder if it is like the Nub150: fast cutting but very thirsty and prone to dishing?

[arthurfowler]

Just a quick update. I never really got started on the thinning project that I wanted to so I can’t give you lots of detailed feedback but a few points that may be of interest from the short time I spent with a few stones. Firstly the Omurato, I think Adrian’s review sums it up perfectly. I found it a very enjoyable stone to use with very easy water management. However it felt much nearer to a 300/400 grit stone to me. I will keep it as it is a nice addition to my other Naniwa stones. I have added a Debado MD-20 200 grit and I love it and is definitely a keeper!! Also got the Debado MD 100 and want to add the MD 400 to finish the set.

Finally, I was looking at the 150 grit Hitahiro Orange Whetstone recently and I thought could it be….. I got the email a few days ago to say that it was in stock and it arrived at home today. I let it soak this afternoon and literally gave it a 5 minute test drive on a Munetoshi butcher knife. As much as it wasn’t a side by side test and it was only brief, I would say that it is the same stone!!! It was just as thirsty, produced the same mud and the finish on the cladding looked the same. It even has exactly the same foot print, it just arrived with chamfered edges. How about that!!!

[Kekoa]

Huh, I wonder if it could be the same stone?