Thread: JNAT Triboluminance:or Pizzaelectric Effect

Marty-I have very little experience with JNats, having only owned a few Shoubodanis, but I watched in wonder as this happened when I honed on them. As I recall, the effect became more pronounced towards the end of a nagura progression as the slurry broke down finer and the tiny bubbles would race around like that. I thought that it had something to do with changes in surface tension, but that's probably over-simplistic. Part of me also thinks it might have something to do with charged particles as well, but more scientific minds could probably explain it better.

Either way, it is one of the more interesting phenomena I have encountered on a hone. (Great-now I want another JNat!).

As I am honing a batch of razors today, I often get into a contemplative/zen sort of mood (the kind where you just want to put some Chet Baker or Miles Davis on the blue-tooth and drag out every hone you've got lol!). In that vibe with my Chosera green brick over the sink, it just occurred to me that I have observed the same effect on my Zulu Grey, whose composition reminds me somewhat of a Jnat. After all, aren't both of a similar geological origin in that they are both sedimentary rocks created under enormous pressure on ancient sea-beds? In fact, my Zulu has the imprint of a fossilized piece of seaweed.

More food for thought. Now back to the sink.

edit: Okay, while finishing an edge at the sink it just occurred to me that I used to get the same effect on my PHIG, also a sedimentary rock (which I haven't used in awhile, though it's a very fine one that gives up awesome smooth edges). Time to get it out again and confirm.

New phenomenon to me. Sounds like we should start honing in the dark.

It is actually kind of cool.

The droplets look like molten steel when they hit the stone and shatter or shoot off the face of the stone to the edge. When they shatter, it is like a mini firework starburst the color of fire works, orangeish yellow.

Sounds amazing..

WE NEED PICS!

There's a lengthy discussion of this phenomena on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triboluminescence

And a whole bunch of stuff on Google, including videos:

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=...sclient=psy-ab