Fantastic sharpening stones, specially designed for secateurs but also great for shears, topiary clippers and other sharp stuff.

• #220: coarse, for rough blades
• #1000: fine, for regular sharpening - the most useful stone for regular sharpening: if you only get on stone, make it this one
• #3000: super fine, for honing and detailed work

The bottom of each stone is slightly concave and designed in such a way that it fits the convex curve of the cutting blade perfectly on all our secateurs. This makes it easy to get the angle of attack correct, ensuring great sharpening results every time.

The flat face(s) of the stone are ideal for shears and topiary clippers and for removing the burr from reverse of the blade after you have used the concave face to sharpen secateurs.

Theyre small enough to get into tight spots, so you can sharpen all the way along the blade, and come highly recommended by Japanese blacksmiths and our own master pruner, Jake Hobson.

Scroll down to watch an instructional video.

Specifications

• 136g
• 131 x 20 x 23mm
• Made in Osaka, Japan

Tips

• Soak until the bubbles stop rising before use (c.3 mins)
• Be careful not to drop them they will crack
• Use the #1000 grit for a few minutes every week to keep your secateurs in top condition

Caring For Your Tools

Most of our sharp tools are made from carbon steel - this means they may, through regular use, stain (and eventually rust) and gradually lose their edge. Caring for them involves three things

1. Correct Use:

• Japanese steel is hard and sharp, and can be more brittle than some people are used to - it will chip if abused
• Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material (even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges)
• Do not twist or apply uneven pressure
• Cut diagonally across branches (not straight across) so you cut along the fibres
• Pay attention to our maximum cut dimensions, and dont overdo it (shears are not loppers)
• Use the base of the blades, not the tips, for heavier cuts

2. Keeping Them Clean:

• Remove leaf resin, rust and gunk with a Crean Mate and water
• Dry, wipe over with Camellia oil and store in a dry place

3. Keeping Them Sharp:

New tools wont need sharpening for some time, but after a while youll notice them gradually lose their edge, especially if youre box clipping (you need REALLY sharp blades to get a good finish with box). Use the Niwaki Sharpening Stones for best results (#1000 grit is best for general sharpening).

• Sharpen Secateurs every couple of weeks
• Sharpen Shears and Topiary Clippers EVERY TIME you use them - the difference is amazing