Nubatama Synthetics

A batch of new Nubatama synthetic waterstones, in limited quantity. Once these are gone, they're gone.

Nubatama stones are rare, small-batch Japanese abrasives built for maximum cutting speed on everything from classic carbon to high-alloy steels. Mix and match across lines—you aren't locked into one. Each series fills a distinct role, allowing you to build a custom progression tailored to your steel and workflow:

Bamboo (Splash & Go): Hard, low-porosity, and fast-cutting. No soaking required—ideal for rapid stock removal and low-maintenance edge upkeep.

Ume (Tactile & Soaking): Softer, porous matrix requiring a brief soak. Releases a rich, cushioned slurry for maximum tactile feedback and smooth bevel work.

Platinum (Highest Density): Within both lines, look for Platinum formulations—Nubatama's highest-density tier, built to cut hard, high-alloy steels (D2, SG2, ZDP-189) faster and with less dishing than standard stones.

This Nubatama collection comes from the acquisition connected to Ken Schwartz's collection (see Provenance).