Thread: First Japanese Stone

Originally Posted by JOB15

The edges I get from my Shobudani are amazing but I have no other jnat to make comparisons .
My Shobudani is my first jnat, it cost around £300.
I was looking at a Nakayama costing £700 and wondering , would it give me a better edge? or is the price just for the rarity of the stone?
Any thoughts , anyone?

The name Nakayama does add to the price, regardless of performance.
As to wether or not you would get a better edge from one, compared to the one you have, who knows?
Natural stones are weird like that, they can be the best ever or they can be somewhat mediocre.
Regardless of what name they are stamped with.

I have a few myself, both Nakayama's and Shoubudani's, and I have come to enjoy the edges from all of them.
If I had to keep just one though, it would be a Nakayama Maruka Kiita, but that does not mean the others are bad.
The reason I would keep just that is that the progression of Naguras I have along with the Tomo-Nagura I finish with just seems to click.

Nakayama probably produced a higher percentage of razor grade stones than other mines with Narutaki close behind and indistinguishable to me for the high end. The mines were only about a half mile apart. Okuda, Ohira, and Shinden are known for producing a high percentage of fine suita, but they also produced fine stones from other strata, just not as high a percentage, and Nakayama produced suita also.

I think the price premium comes in because at least in popular thinking, you stand a better chance of getting a fine stone with a Nakayama. But a better strategy IMO is to trust the description of a seller with a good reputation and return policy. That's really the best way to get an exceptional stone.

Cheers, Steve

Originally Posted by Steve56

I think the price premium comes in because at least in popular thinking, you stand a better chance of getting a fine stone with a Nakayama. But a better strategy IMO is to trust the description of a seller with a good reputation and return policy. That's really the best way to get an exceptional stone.

Totally agree! IMHO, this is the best advice in the otherwise nebulous world of Jnats!

Originally Posted by Birnando

The name Nakayama does add to the price, regardless of performance.
As to wether or not you would get a better edge from one, compared to the one you have, who knows?
Natural stones are weird like that, they can be the best ever or they can be somewhat mediocre.
Regardless of what name they are stamped with.

I have a few myself, both Nakayama's and Shoubudani's, and I have come to enjoy the edges from all of them.
If I had to keep just one though, it would be a Nakayama Maruka Kiita, but that does not mean the others are bad.
The reason I would keep just that is that the progression of Naguras I have along with the Tomo-Nagura I finish with just seems to click.

Do you cut your bevel on a synthetic stone and then complete the honing on the Nakayama?

Originally Posted by JOB15

Do you cut your bevel on a synthetic stone and then complete the honing on the Nakayama?

That is one route, yes.
I tend to go a bit further with my synths though, before going to my nagura progression.
Usually I'd go to a 5 or 8K grit synthetic.
Not that I couldn't go directly to a JNat from a bevel setter.
A proper Nagura progression would make sure of that.