Thread: How much difference between jnats?

I have finally gotten my HAD under control since my Escher and Jnat arrived on the same day. Recently a slight tickle has returned to buy a second Jnat. I am buying from JNS and will reference his hardness/fineness scale. I currently have a level 5 and would like to purchase a 5+ but wonder how different will the final edge be? Is it stark or very slight change? One of the lures for me is using one stone for Tomo slurry on the other. Also, my current stone is a size-able Koppa; but a full size stone would a fun addition. What do you guys think?

It could be better or worse, bit most likely you'd see as much difference tweaking your technique. Comparing the rest of the two stone's descriptions would probably be more useful than just comparing the listed hardness.

I'd also email Max and ask him about the two specific stones in question. He might be able to give you some first-hand information.

Cheers, Steve

I agree with Steve. Besides, the honing on 5++++ stones is a new trend. Woodworkers and barbers who needed the best edge possible, preferred the 5, 5- stones for their final edge until a few decades ago.
And as the mines dried up, the final layers were those extremely hard stones. Mr. Iwasaki found a way to use those stones for the razors, using slurry stones. I'm not sure if he was the first, but as I said, until the later half of 20th century, those stones were very cheap and people were not interested in them.
To your question, I don't think there will be a difference to your edge. And, it depends from mine to mine. Nakayama and Shobu (shobudani) feel the same, ozuku feel a tiny bit sharper-crispier, and pretty much, the rest, are not as fine as the first three. But still, the not soft ones, are still great for shaves.
That's just my observations from shaving with a few of them. I might as well be wrong about how each stone from a mine feels.

The hardness is subjective. There are so many things that are different between different stones (whether or not there are any scratchy particles, whether the stone has a smooth feeling action or one that's got a little bit of stiction, etc) that I'd really be searching for the stone that's nicest to use and you get the best and most consistent results from.

I've got stones that fujibato said were 5+++, and stones that takeshi kuroda calls 5.5, but the one from fujibato actually is a bit sticky (it is a nakayama) and harder to use. I also have a vintage ozaki mine barber hone from alex gilmore that is nice to use, it's at least as fine as the prior two, and the action is better than the nakayama despite the hardness.

If you really want something specific, I'd talk to a stone dealer and tell them exactly what you want and what your price range is. That would get you a better chance of finding just one aspect. When I got my ozaki stone, I asked alex to find me the best stone he had in terms of dollars spent on stone performance and none on appearance. It's a different color on one end than the other and has a couple of spots on it, but is as good of a performing stone as I have had.