Thread: Nakayama Asagi owners please respond

So Yamas.h.i.t.a has sent me two Nakayama Asagi stones to work with. I will be selecting one of them and returning the other to him.

Long story short, I mentioned in another post that the original Asagi he sent me had some pyrite inclusions that my edges didn't like. He has gone out of his way and I'm most appreciative for the high level of service he offers to fit the stone to the user.

I did not have good results with the previous Asagi and honing with plain water, which not being an experienced J Nat user I have not been accustomed to polishing with slurry. So recommended the Asagi be used with slurry for a final polish.

MY QUESTION: Do you all hone with slurry from start to finish? Do you create slurry on your Asagis and hone until the slurry dries and continue to hone on the dried slurry powdery Asagi surface? What works best for you?

I'll take pics of these very nice stones and post them tonight when I get home.

Chris L

I got mine from So as well, and +1 on the best service and information I ever had when purchasing anything over the internet.

Now, I start by raising a slurry with my nagura stone and water.
I do 25 laps, add water to partially wash away the slurry.
Then I do 25 more and wash away all the slurry.
Then I do 25 more and I am done.

Before I go to the nakayama I use either the Narutaki ~6K until the edge is very polished, or the 4K/8K Norton for a couple of pyramids.

I never use slurry on mine and get excellent results. I just wondered whether a Nagura wouldn't be too coarse to be used with a Nakayama.

Originally Posted by Kees

I just wondered whether a Nagura wouldn't be too coarse to be used with a Nakayama.

I thought the same thing when Bruno said that, Kees. Bruno, aren't you effectively honing at the grit level of the Nagura stone whatever that may be?

Prior to returning the first Asagi to So, I created slurry from the stone with my DMT D8E; although it's not as convenient as a slurry stone, it worked well. I may buy a smaller pocket sized Extra fine diamond card like Jimmy uses to create Asagi slurry.

Chris L

Yes and no.
So told me that this was a good way if I didn't want to use a diamong plate. His opinion is that a B8C is too coarse, and will cause you to waste a lot of good stone. An 1K diamond plate is his recommendation.

The nagura is indeed coarser than the nakayama. that is why I gradually wash away all slurry.
If I used a diamond plate to raise the slurry, then I suspect I would hone faster and need less laps.

I have noticed a difference between finishing with water only, and with slurry raised from a nagura.
The edge is beter when ending with water only.

Thanks, Bruno. I agree, being that Asagi stones are so nice, it would be a shame to take a 325 grit diamond plate to it every time slurry was desired. My 1200 grit DMT worked well.

Chris L

From what I gathered from So, each stone behaves differently. My Asagi needs slurry - so I bought the 1200K Atoma diamond plate that So recommended.

Slurry from start to finish works very well on my baby, for all razors and any steel type.

James.

Jimbo:

Do you hone with wet slurry stopping prior to the slurry drying out or do you hone until you've basically got a dry stone with slurry powder?

Chris L

I own a Nakayama Maruichi hone. I'm not quite familiar with the terminology, but I believe it's not the same as an Asagi.
Anyway, with every single stone I raised a slurry on so far (that includes over a dozen of coticules, several Belgian Blue Whetstones, but also the Naniwa Chosera 10K, and my Nakayama) I have noticed, too at least some extent, the "slurry-dulling" effect.
The approach Bruno mentionned, gadually washing away the slurry as the honing progresses, is a great way to work around is.
I can't speak for some other hones, but still, I'm starting to think the effect is inherent to honing on slurry. Of course, the severeness of the effect depending on the nature of the hone.
Just a hunch.
Bart.

Bart, that's what has always puzzled me about the Japanese Naturals the seem to be recommended honing with slurry. These would also be for the polishing stones that would produce wickedly sharp edges.

The Asagi I returned to So, like Jimbo's also did not work well with water only. I believe my stone's water only performance was due mainly to the pyrite inclusions I spoke of earlier; water only would end up releasing the inclusions which would then become errant grit which was unpleasant.

Chris L