Japanese water stones: Imanishi Bester

Bester water stones, manufactured by Imanishi in Kyoto, Japan, generate a sharpening feel remarkably similar to that experienced with a natural stone. These medium-hard stones do not need very much water and will cut metal at a rapid rate. When sharpening you will hear and feel the effect of stone on the blade. When you check your work, you will be surprised by how much the stone has removed. The stone’s response to user actions is fairly direct – this will be appreciated by anyone who remembers grinding away on whetstones without sensing whether any progress is being made.

Being relatively hard, the stones do not wear very quickly. Allow for at least five minutes soaking time before use. The coarser stones often profit from another quick dip in the water after a few minutes of sharpening to keep them cutting at their optimal rate. These stones work well on stainless steel as well as high-carbon and tool steels. The 400, 4000 and 8000 grit stones are somewhat harder than the 700, 1000, 1200, and 2000 grit stones. The listed stone sizes are approximate, as Bester stones are usually a few millimetres larger than their nominal size.