In this first of three videos, I introduce the Nubatama 150 grit Bamboo series waterstone. In addition to the full sized stones, this stone is the first Nubatama stone available in the 1x6" aluminum backed size for the EdgePro. Expect more EP sized stones to follow in other grits, initially from the Bamboo series. All of these stones WILL have the official Nubatama stamps on them as a mark of authenticity and quality assurance.
This stone has been previously reviewed but no video was done at that time.
Here are two links:
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For this demonstration I will use a Shun Pro Yanagi made of solid VG-10, one of the more abrasion resistant steels I've ever encountered. Yes, VG10 being THAT abrasion resistant is a bit of an enigma. This particular knife is in rough shape with a very irregular front bevel. The initial factory grind on these has a large bevel on the back and front bevels, essentially creating a V grind, doubling the inclusive angle on a single bevel knife which has been partially corrected.
For the first part of this video series, I will start out using an Atoma 140 grit diamond lapping plate which is not new but well broken in to produce the initial scratch pattern. I will purposefully NOT abrade the knife to the point of burr generation but just to establish the 140 grit scratch pattern over most (not all) of the front bevel of the knife. In the second video (ran out of disk space) I will attempt (successfully) to remove this coarse scratch pattern using the 150 grit Nubatama Bamboo stone.
One of the reasons not to go all the way to burr formation with the diamond lapping plate is that these coarse diamond plates have a tendency to risk chipping out the edge of single bevel knives in particular with their narrow inclusive angle, so it is optimal to just 'get close' and then switch over to a waterstone scratch pattern of a similar grit.
Previous reports of the 150 Nubatama Bamboo on the EdgePro reports 'one of the fastest stones they have ever seen for burr formation' , leaving a finish slightly coarser than other 500 grit stones, cutting like the best of 150 grit stones, yet wearing quite slowly for a coarse grit stone as evidenced by the amount of mud produced during a sharpening procedure.
The Nubatama series of stones easily has the strongest lineup of coarse grit stones available, as well as the widest selection of mid grit stones, especially in the 1000 grit range.
The Atoma 140 is best used wet to maximize life of the nickel matrix holding the 'cookies on a cookie sheet' clusters of diamonds in place. This design results in minimized stiction or sticking to a stone when these plates are used for their alternative function of flattening waterstones.
As a point of technique, you should apply pressure very close to the edge rather than near the top of the bevel where it meets the flat area of the knife where the maker's signature is carved or embossed. This intersection is the Shinogi line and every effort must be made to maintain a precise crisp union of these two planes as a clean shinogi line. This is for both aesthetic reasons and to allow clean separation of slices of fish to separate from the knife during cutting.
New diamond plates are very aggressive and may give random extra coarse scratches, so it is best to use a broken in plate when abrading knife steel. There is one brief view of the Atoma 140 scratch pattern before the video ends abruptly, so be SURE to watch parts two and three of this introduction to the 150 grit Nubatama Bamboo.
The Atoma 140 grit diamond plate is available at Chefknivestogo:
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in 4 grits, 140, 400, 600, and 1200 grit. It is also available in a smaller 2x3" size.
It is available for the EdgePro in 1x6" sizes:
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It will also be available for the Wicked Edge although not yet posted.
The Nubatama Bamboo stones are available at:
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The 150 is here:
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and for the EP here:
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Ken
