Decisions Decisions.

Just when I thought there were no cool places to buy hones down here I discover JapanTool.com is 30 minutes from my front door :y

I went to So's place yesterday for 2 hours & came home with 5 stones to try. 2 Asagi & 3 Suita.
All Greek to me at this stage but they work fast & that is what I was after. I was only after one stone to fill a particular spot in my progression but who knows may be room for a couple more :w I'm glad I wasn't in the market for an Iwasaki razor or Shigefusa Sashimi knife or I may be totally broke. :p

But seriously, So is a really knowledgeable guy & great to deal with. Can't recommend him highly enough.

Well that's my 'kid in a candy store experience' for the day but I can see more visits in my future. Damn this HAD :D

Those are some pretty stones you got there. Congrats and just toss any discards this way....:tu

Of course Mike. They'll be carefully wrapped awaiting your cheque. :p:)

Know how ya feel, Japan Wood Worker is 45 minutes north of me and I don't dare go over there at the moment :p Last time I was there I ended up with a hand made hammer for pinning :fim:

They have a HUGE natural hone in the display case that is beautiful, to much to get sidetracked there :p

Beautiful stones!! You are very lucky to have such a rare resource so close by.:rock:

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Originally Posted by FatboySlim

Beautiful stones!! You are very lucky to have such a rare resource so close by.:rock:

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Thanx, I'm liking 'em lots & feelin lucky.
Now I just need a to find a money tree :p:)

Aw man, I wish I could convince So of the splendor that is Iowa.
:roflmao

I thought he was in Japan.

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Aw man, I wish I could convince So of the splendor that is Iowa.
:roflmao

I thought he was in Japan.

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I thought he was too till I asked. I was all ready to pay international freight costs :gaah:
So lives a stone's throw from one of Sydney's most renowned surfing beaches & the surfboard behind his front door tells me that if Iowa has great surf you're in with a chance :rofl2:

Nice stones!
It must be really cool to actually have the opportunity to go and visit So, I've only dealt with him once, but the experience was great.

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Originally Posted by bjorn

Nice stones!
It must be really cool to actually have the opportunity to go and visit So, I've only dealt with him once, but the experience was great.

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Thanx Bjorn. Was very cool & also very ironic.
I actually had intended to buy a synthetic stone in the 10-16k range.

So suggested a natural may be had for a similar or cheaper price & as I like natural stones it was not hard to change my mind. After 2 hours of testing my current stones & assessing the goals I wanted to achieve (interspersed with green tea). He came up with 5 stones in 2 'grades' for my needs. All I had to do was test them & that didn't take as long as I thought it might.
I now realise he not only filled my needs accurately but also surpassed them.
That sort of service is rare these days.

Definitely let us know what you think of each. I used Bill S's Asagi at the NC Gathering and damn near sliced off my ear with the razor I touched up on it.

Lynn

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Originally Posted by Lynn

Definitely let us know what you think of each. I used Bill S's Asagi at the NC Gathering and damn near sliced off my ear with the razor I touched up on it.

Lynn

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I will fo' sho'. Still in experimental mode but finished a TI Grelot recently on the Asagi & didn't bother with pastes. Just didn't seem necessary.

Ha ha. That's great.

I wonder what's down the road from here.

similar or cheaper in price to 10 ; 16 K :cool:

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

So lives a stone's throw from one of Sydney's most renowned surfing beaches & the surfboard behind his front door tells me that if Iowa has great surf you're in with a chance :rofl2:

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Well, there is hope then. We had disastrous flooding here last year, and it's been raining a lot this year...:hmmm:

So I have been trying to get some prices on an Asagi in the state but with no luck anyone know of a place?

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Originally Posted by sbrouwers

So I have been trying to get some prices on an Asagi in the state but with no luck anyone know of a place?

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This is the only US based shop I've seen, but IMHO you should look into getting a stone from either OLD_SCHOOL or So at Japan Tool even if they are based outside of the US.

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Originally Posted by kevint

Ha ha. That's great.

I wonder what's down the road from here.
similar or cheaper in price to 10 ; 16 K :cool:

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Never know till ya look .
Yeah he seemed to think 10-16k wasn't all that fine for j-nats so shouldn't break the bank :D

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Well, there is hope then. We had disastrous flooding here last year, and it's been raining a lot this year...:hmmm:

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Positive thinking Ron :p :D

Just a quick update on the final decision.
Kept these 2 of the 5 stones I tested. On the left, Suita & on the right Asagi.
My original request was for something synthetic around 10 - 16k to replace &/or further refine my BB & Coticule but So easily convinced me to go natural & save money as well. High grit hones are exe down here & by comparison the Suita grade stones were a bargain.
This Suita is very fast compared to my coticule by 4 or 5x & definitely leaves a finer scratch pattern. The other 2 Suita seemed faster but still were around an 8k pattern so I chose the finer one. It hit the nail on the head for what I wanted. I can now use my coticule in its fastest mode ie with slurry then move to the Suita for a few strokes without having to go thru the whole watering down process to regain keeness on the Coti.

The Asagi was not something I was shopping for but after trying it had to have it. It was most definitely not cheap but I will not be buying another polisher in this lifetime... unless it is superior to this one :p. Use of pastes after this stone is of a very perfunctory nature now & some razors shave just fine without any pasting. I've not tried a slurry yet with this stone. Doesn't seem to need it but I'm still learning how to optimally use these hones. The Asagi is fast like my Escher but definitely refines the edge further. I'm more than happy with the results & it's great to have an extra couple of super useful hones.

do you know the mine for the suita?

It's hard to suggest suita as an progression up from coti as generally speaking they can make it obsolete. Even the N-A I bet can take off from 8k without trouble.

You're only 30 min from So's place? I'm soooo jealous! :(

+1 on that. You mean.......you're.........only thirty minutes from......So????

Wow, I would have to move. I would be wanting to mortgage my house to buy stones or I'd be begging to clean up his floors, lap stones for him if need be, etc. Very cool. I had an outstanding experience with So.

Chris L

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Originally Posted by kevint

do you know the mine for the suita?

It's hard to suggest suita as an progression up from coti as generally speaking they can make it obsolete. Even the N-A I bet can take off from 8k without trouble.

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I'll ask So about the mine & yes I'm seeing how that might be the case but like I said just learning how to drive these critters. Appreciate the input :)

Yes Chris I do live 30 mins from So :)
Apart from being potentially hazardous to one's pocket it certainly is an outstanding experience to deal with him.
Returning some stones tomorrow :p

We've had group buys before, how about a group cruise to So's house?

Anybody got a boat?

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Originally Posted by Utopian

We've had group buys before, how about a group cruise to So's house?

Anybody got a boat?

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:rofl2: I can offer cheap accomodation... Just bring a sleeping bag :p

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

:rofl2: I can offer cheap accomodation... Just bring a sleeping bag :p

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I wouldn't even need a sleeping bag. I'd rather just sleep under a big pile of So's hones!:D

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Originally Posted by kevint

do you know the mine for the suita?

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The mine for the Suita is Shobu-Dani , opened by Minamoto no Yoritomo.
Old eh ?

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Originally Posted by Utopian

I wouldn't even need a sleeping bag. I'd rather just sleep under a big pile of So's hones!:D

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I think that's feasible. He has some Asagis almost the size of housebricks :)