Naniwa Gouken Arata (Thin Chosera)
Purchasing as a gift?
Experience the excellence of the trusted brand, Naniwa Gouken Arata Sharpening Stone series. This is one of the top-selling Japanese whetstones that have been used around the world for a long time. It is known for its exceptional cutting speed, slow wearability, and convenience with its non-soaking properties.
Naniwa makes three different thicknesses of their Chosera stones;
- Original Chosera (t=25mm, 1kg, fixed base),
- Professinal (t=20mm, 0.8kg, no base),
- Gouken Arata (t=15mm, 0.6kg, case and base).
This Arata line is the most lightweight, most affordable, and portable amongst the three lines. Unless you are a heavy user, the stones' thickness is sufficient to withstand decades of use.
It comes in a plastic case that can be used as a stone base allowing a sufficient knuckle clearance from the bench while sharpening.
Soaking Requirement:
It is manufactured in magnesia method, so is a non-soaking stone aka splash and go. Arata stones are always ready when you need sharpening. Please read Care and Use.
Choosing Whestone Grits
- Coarse (~#400)
Use a coarse grit stone/s for fast steel removal, repairing defects such as chips and broken tips, and reshaping the bladeline and geometry. It can also be used to form a cutting edge if the edge was already very blunt, but this will result in a very toothy edge, so we recommend progressing to a medium grit stone at least. - Medium (#600~#2000)
Use a medium grit stone/s for forming a basic and decent cutting edge that is not too toothy or too polished. You will be suprised how sharp it can get just from a medium grit stone if done properly. - Fine (#3000~)
Use a fine grit stone/s for forming a polished edge that enables smooth cuts and reduces damage to food cells.
Specification
- Non-Soaking Type (Slash and Go)
- Manufacturing Method: Magnesia
- Abrasives: Aluminium Oxide
- Stone Size: 210 x 70 x 15 mm
- Stone Weight: 0.6 kg
- Plastic case and base
Care and Use
Soaking before use
- No need to soak, but depending on the grits and weather, it may need only a couple of minutes of soaking. Watch how quickly it absorbs water. If it doesn't absorb quickly in a few seconds, it is a good sign that it is ready for sharpening.
- Do not soak it for a long time. We recommend not to soak this type for longer than 30 minutes.
Flattening:
- One of the primary reasons why beginners fail in sharpening is using worn and dished stones from use. A dip that is as thick as hair or even smaller is good enough to slow down your process and result in poor outcomes. Flatten the stone regularly for an efficient and successful sharpening. We recommend flattening every 10 to 20 min of good use by using a Atoma #140 grit Diamond plate.
Use
- Add water by either spraying or splashing by hand. Add water to your liking while sharpening.
Cleaning
- Rinse with water.
Storing
- Allow it to air dry in shade.
- Do not soak in water longer than 30 min. Soaking for a long time can disintegrate the stone.
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About the maker and brand
Naniwa Abrasive
Naniwa Abrasive ナニワ研磨工業 is established in Kyoto in 1941. It has moved to Osaka where it supplied advanced abrasives to varous industries. It has grown to one of the largest abrasive manufacturers in Japan and operates multiple branches and factories in Japan and vietnam.
Gift Wrapping and Card
We offer gift wrapping for your purchase. You can also purchase a Hazuki Gift Card to let your recipient choose their own gift.
