Thread: Proper activities for a first date w/ jnat

Gents,

The edge supplied by Riooso on an asagi did it's work. I have a modest sized asagi coming from So.

I anticipate it taking some time to get to know the stone, but if there is any thinking about the best regimen, battery of techniques to try that will give that familiarity, 'would appreciate your thoughts.

Many Thanks

This is overly broad, but...

Experiment!

Try everything. Make a slurry, dilute a slurry, don't make a slurry, don't use water, try pressured strokes, try light strokes, compare circle strokes to x-strokes, try coming off a 12k or an 8k or whatever you've got. Just use it a lot and see what happens.

Remember, it's a rock. Unless you drop it, you really can't do any harm to it so you might as well use it every way you can.

As Ron said its a rock I agree with him try diffrent ways to use it and see which one workes best, worst that will happen is you wont like the edge that comes off it. Keep us posted on what workes best for you.

U DOG! Man that did not take long!

I think you will find out soon enough what you like in a edge.


Take Care,
Richard

It's the same when you try any "Natural" stone, you have to play with it.

First thing I do it to determin if it is flat, flatten if needed.

Once I have it ready to hone with I'll hone a razor to the point where I need the "new" hone. If it's replacing a stone I'll use the new one to see how it shaves, than go back a stone to "rough" it up a hair and finish on the replaced hone to see the feel.

Here is where it gets dicey, as you still have to see what the new stone likes. Naturals are just like that and you have to play with them to find that sweet spot.

I basically do the same thing as Chef when I get a new stone. Up to now I wanted a finisher so I would use everything below that then use the finisher to she what she's got.

Take Care,
Richard

About the time I'm happy w/ my edges, the honorable Riooso sends me a blade who's edge is just other-worldly. That's what did me in. Sigh. Wallet in rehab...

Checking for flat/chamfering makes sense as taking care of first things. I've read that simply using w/ just water can leave a harsh edge (shapton blues). So suggested that dry laps would likely do better than just water - I'd never thought of that w/ the jnat.

The rock's mission is just finishing, ATM. It will see blades coming off a c12k. Now perhaps a questions is - does it matter what attributes should be prioritized on the 12K? Just water gives sharp, but not much smoothness. Since the finish will be done by the Asagi, should I forget about 12k harshness & send it to the asagi as wicked sharp as possible? or keep it smooth w/ some slurry on the 12k before introducing the edge to the eastern blue-eyed devil?

I expect to be driven to madness, trying to get all my edges to act like that one from Rio. [queue scene of crazed looking man being lead away in restraints, yelling: it's almost there! 'almost smooth enough. Paramedic: 'another one thought he could get a wacker to shave like a williams. 'sad case. Crazed man: but I love my wackers...]

Seriously, I appreciate your help, gents.

Dwarvenchef: I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr. Carter yesterday. He is one impressive young man.

I'm with Ron on this one. Try it out as many different ways as you can and see what the results are like!

More strokes, less strokes, slurry, no slurry, slurry diluting to water and so on and just see which edge you like.

I do 25 with a medium slurry, 25 with a light slurry, 25 with water and then 25 strokes to dry on mine, that works very well.

Good luck and keep us posted!

The only variable about testing how "fast" a stone keep in mind that, for instance, a new TI made with C135 steel it will take longer to get the slurry to turn color. That steel is very hard indeed.

By the way did you get the stone yet?????


Take Care,
Richard

Speaking of 'Proper Activities'. Don't forget the most important step when testing. Send some prayers of thanks to Shogun Minamoto for letting you use his rocks.