Thread: Which Jnat will give me the sharpest edge?

I set the bevel with a 1000 grit stone, and refined it with an 6000 stone.
I haven't tried the one stone honing method, since the edge was in good condition already, but the water darkened fast, I'm sure it can easily bring an edge from 1000 grit to shave readiness easily.
The truth is, I'm glad it wasn't difficult at all to hone with the Jnat, I have heard many things about the "mysticism" behind them, but first try, and it worked beautifully.

Coming from the 6K, I'm not surprised you got a much sharper edge I'm coming from 16K, so I'm not sure the shobu can add any sharpness to that. Oh well, maybe it's a good thing if I stop buying hones.

Yes, it might be a good idea to stop buying stones for me too.
I'm not talking about sharper than 6k. Sharper than the 99% of the European stones I have used, and I have some experience with many of them.
I have a combo sigma select 6k/13k.
The 13k performs the same with the shapton 16k. Those edges are extremely sharp, but not smooth, and I can't appreciate their sharpness this way. I like my edges super smooth, I don't enjoy shaving with most of the extremely fine man made stones.
Used with slurry, the Shobu gives an edge as sharp but very smooth. If used with plain water, or something like Smith's solution, I'm sure it can give even sharper edges than those stones, but again, I'm guessing that they won't be as smooth.

A little update: I messed around a little with slurry on my Jnat that I raised with the Roszutec, right after the Shapton 16K. I didn't get an even edge, but my word did I get something fantastic! Shaved this morning and the razor slid down my face with just a little extra ease, much like the Oozuku edge, and my skin has never felt as good afterward.

Will need to perfect this, but I think I might have struck gold after all with the hone I already have.

I have stones from Maksim, from Alex, from ebay. Ebay: the sellers were all straight shavers that vouched for suitability.

I can get a very comfortable shaving edge from all of them. I have not yet developed the skill to strongly distinguish between them. Toss a coticule in this mix as well.

So...my advice to you would be:

1. Look at the inventories of the sellers this board sees as trustworthy (I'll vouch for Maksim and Alex).
2. Index all of their stones in your price range.
3. Pick the one you think is prettiest.
4. Learn to love it and, the most important step,
5. STOP LOOKING FOR SOMETHING BETTER

You know...reading back over that list, I think I'll crosspost those five steps in the "how to choose a wife" thread.

Originally Posted by Vasilis

Yes, it might be a good idea to stop buying stones for me too.
Those edges are extremely sharp, but not smooth, and I can't appreciate their sharpness this way.

I must be doing something wrong, or at least amateurish: once I've stropped the edge, they ALL feel the same to me.

Originally Posted by jgjgjg

I must be doing something wrong, or at least amateurish: once I've stropped the edge, they ALL feel the same to me.

I couldn't tell much difference in the beginning myself, but now that my technique has developed to an adequate level, I can. For instance, using .5 micron diamonds after the 16K Shapton adds quite a bit of smoothness, can't tell the difference in sharpness.

You can try different routines with different stones. Maybe water only finish, maybe light slurry. If you aren't using tomo naguras that may be what you are missing. Before you buy another stone get 5 or 6 different tomos and see what you come up with. Experiment with the tomos, 1 slurry, 2 slurries, maybe refresh it. My jnats took off when I got a bunch of tomos. It may be just what you need. And sometimes a harder tomo worked gently can raise that very fine slurry you need off the base stone. I find that this thing just keeps going and going.

Originally Posted by bill3152

You can try different routines with different stones. Maybe water only finish, maybe light slurry. If you aren't using tomo naguras that may be what you are missing. Before you buy another stone get 5 or 6 different tomos and see what you come up with. Experiment with the tomos, 1 slurry, 2 slurries, maybe refresh it. My jnats took off when I got a bunch of tomos. It may be just what you need. And sometimes a harder tomo worked gently can raise that very fine slurry you need off the base stone. I find that this thing just keeps going and going.

Will do. I hear the formation of TAD.

Actually, we have so many different acquisition disorders, one could say we acquire them in a disorderly way: ADAD.

After using an 8k a Janet or a Naniwa 12k are amazing, technique is king