Thread: Nakayama Maruichi

Congrats! It is quite a thrill to have a good and new nat(s)
the best thing is you like them more and more as time passes.

To me it is like having a treasure.

Sweet stone, Rich! You'll enjoy that for your lifetime.

Although slow (I was in no hurry) to respond, So Yama****.a (the profanity filter is lame sometimes) provided me with simply superb service. I sent him back the first Nakayama Asagi because I wasn't completely satisfied; he sent me TWO other Asagis to test and pick which one I wanted as a replacement. Trust that went above and beyond which I appreciated.

It is good that we have a few like O_S and So looking out for us when the J Nat bug bites.

Chris L

It's like the old song, "How ya gonna keep them down on the farm after they've seen Paree ?" I can see it now, I'll go for a Nakayama and then I won't even want to touch a lowly piece of junk like a natural coticule or a Yellow/Green Escher let alone a Norton or a Shapton.

Originally Posted by ZethLent

Great hone Zib. Use it in good health.

I also have a Nakayama Maruichi and although it is a very fine hone and it has provided me with some of the best edges I have ever experienced I want to also say that there are also other natural Japanese hones out there that do the job too.

Oohira is one. You can see them for sale at rasurpur.

Arashiyama is another. There are also the Yamashiro Meito that have the HGAL rating to make things easier to understand.

I also recently got two new Japanese naturals from a local dealer and from the results of honing 6 razors: one of the new hones - if no both - are higher grit than the Nakayama Maruichi that I have had for about 6 months (note my Nakayama was not one of O_S's hones but had the same stamps that you see on his hones.). I will have to upload some pics to show all of you, but one is a mix of kiita, akasasu (red), and nashiji and the other hone is a water colour asagi (very light blue, almost grey). The asagi is very very fine and is higher grit than the Maruichi. Both hones were comapritively cheap and have proved to be great hones for razors.

There are other Japanese naturals out there that don't cost an arm and a leg to get.

For the honing I did on those six razors, after some experimentation I used all three in order 1. maruichi, 2. mixed one, and finally 3. asagi, and have smoothness mixed with keeness that I haven't had anywhere else. I expect to add a coticle or two into the mix of things just to see what is what.

I never though I would have HAD but I guess it happens to the best of us.

Seth,

What is HGAL rating? Can we have some pictures? I guess there are a lot of hones out there in Japan that do the job just as well and fuel our HAD. Nakayame seems to be the hype at the moment. I love mine BTW and Telly is gonna get me another one.

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

You're killing me....I JUST ordered another coticule from Howard, and I thought that would satisfy the hone gods for a little while. But now??? I've always had the little demon in the back of my mind egging me on for a nice japanese natural.....But now? That demon just got a LOT bigger and a LOT louder! I'm finding myself justifying money and trying to rationalize it....oooohhh.......Why is this so hard???

I just sent the money to O_S for one of his stones:





After much difficulty in making a decision. The wait is going to be harder.

Originally Posted by Kees

Seth,

What is HGAL rating? Can we have some pictures? I guess there are a lot of hones out there in Japan that do the job just as well and fuel our HAD. Nakayame seems to be the hype at the moment. I love mine BTW and Telly is gonna get me another one.

Kees, I'll get some pics up later tonight.

The HGAL rating is the method one vendor has classified his stones. 'H' hardness of the hone, 'G' grit size, 'A' abrasive/cutting speed, 'L' is ..... I can't remember exacly right now but is how the metal feels on the hone (i.e buttery smooth... rough... etc.). It amkes choosing a hone a little less complicated for over the internet sales. (IMO)

The water blue asagi I have was rated very hard and very fine grit with a somewhat fast cutting speed and a very smooth feel when honing.

I have to concur.


Pics to come...

Originally Posted by Pyment

I just sent the money to O_S for one of his stones:

After much difficulty in making a decision. The wait is going to be harder.

Does that stone have a crack all the way through it?

So as not to jumble things up I posted about my hones here.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Does that stone have a crack all the way through it?

It does have a crack, but I am told it doesn't affect honing and isn't unstable. Even though I think it is unlikely to get any worse. I am trying to think of a way to make a base that would tend to stabilize it.

I purchased some of the Japanese lacquer with the stone and intend to coat the sides and base with the lacquer and allow that to cure.

I could put some fine sand into a container and embed the stone in that. (simple, reversible if I don't like it, could be made to drain away water). I probably will do this for a while before any more permanent solution

I was thinking of embedding the stone into a resin (System 3 has a product called SculpWood).

come up with a suitable container (or mold?). Mix the epoxy to the consistency of putty. Press the stone into the putty. Allow it to cure.

Then I think you would have a a support system that would protect the stone from any stress that might cause the crack to progress.

Originally Posted by Pyment

I just sent the money to O_S for one of his stones:





After much difficulty in making a decision. The wait is going to be harder.

THANKYOU !!!! I have been poking my eyes out so I can't see this stone, a beauty to be sure. Now I can save up the $$ without agonizing over this one