Thread: Jnat Surface Prep?

Really curious here. I've been reading some threads how some of the really hard asagi type Jnats finish best with nagura and not so much with plain water.
Has anybody noticed if the hard stones "mirror" like the hard ark stones do, and tried finishing on a prepped surface? I know the slurry keeps the stone surface fresh, so the use of them would never allow the mirror to build, no?
Is it wrong to assume that a hard Jnat with a mirror would finish differently from the same Jnat with a freshly "scrubbed" surface?

have any of you deliberatly built a mirror finish on your Jnat and used it as a final polish only? (this assuming the hard Jnats mirror)

The really hard Jnats are best with as smooth of a surface as possible. They will definitely "mirror". Using a nagura will help polish the surface after the lapping.

Some people say you get smoother edges off Jnats with slurry. I've not noticed it on mine, so I conclude it is predominantly stone specific.

In terms of mirror, I don't own an Arkansas so I really don't know what you are talking about, but I am going to assume you mean glazed or loaded? Really, when it comes to my hardest Jnat (Nakayama asagi) its natural surface feels like that anyway even after lapping or generating slurry. Mind you, I use a 1200 diamond plate with it so it is to be expected I suppose.

In any event, I guess what I am trying to say is that at least in my experience with my Jnats there is not a lot extra to be gained by faffing around with the surface texture. The more important aspect, again IMO, is that you have worked the edge to shave ready, or as close as you can get it, before moving onto that final stone. I've noticed the more you put in, the more the Jnats put out in that regard.

James.

Guess I'm going to have to try them all out and see. CF, Ark, Jnat prepped surface, and fresh! (now I need some nagura to try out on all three as well!)

I was taught that a Jnat MUST have a mirror finish prior to using it for finishing a razor. It is pretty easy to accomplish and makes the final finish process a dream. You can see if the rock is ready if it reflects at approximately a 10° angle. I was told that a Jnat is not ready for final finishing unless that angle produces a reflection. I have successfully followed this advice with my Shoubudani Aisa, polishing it with a nagura.
I am no expert on this. Other site members can more than fill in this humble information here written by me. But this works so splendly, I had to share it.

Originally Posted by Magpie

Guess I'm going to have to try them all out and see. CF, Ark, Jnat prepped surface, and fresh! (now I need some nagura to try out on all three as well!)

That's the spirit! I will be very interested to read your findings once they are done.

James.

Originally Posted by BanjoTom

I was taught that a Jnat MUST have a mirror finish prior to using it for finishing a razor. It is pretty easy to accomplish and makes the final finish process a dream. You can see if the rock is ready if it reflects at approximately a 10° angle. I was told that a Jnat is not ready for final finishing unless that angle produces a reflection. I have successfully followed this advice with my Shoubudani Aisa, polishing it with a nagura.
I am no expert on this. Other site members can more than fill in this humble information here written by me. But this works so splendly, I had to share it.

I have no idea on this one, but if it works that is great.

PS - just went and checked on one of mine - yes it does reflect, but to be frank it always has, now that I think about it, no matter what (unless it is covered in dried up slurry, of course )

James.

After lapping my Ozuku Mizu Asagi I took it up in a progression to 12k micromesh. After a few uses and using the naguras i've really noticed that the mirror shine is coming out. As far as a slurry making an edge 'smoother' or not, I'm finding that it's really up to the steel. Some steels seem to get so keen and crisp that they are TOO sharp. These are the blades I use slurry during finishing. Other razors, vintage #14's and other BIG solingens seem to produce incredibly smooth shaves with just water. I typically have to test shave the individual razor to see if it's at that point so I finish with water first, test shave and then decide whether or not to go back at it with slurry.

So, anybody want to send me some nagura to play around with? I'll return them when i'm done. promise!