Thread: Japanese Whetstones and their Terminology

Being that the majority of us here do Not know Japanese, it would be very helpful to know what is being said about the Jnats in plain old English, like I have said before, I do not want to learn Japanese to work with Jnats. No Offense.

Originally Posted by FAL

Being that the majority of us here do Not know Japanese, it would be very helpful to know what is being said about the Jnats in plain old English, like I have said before, I do not want to learn Japanese to work with Jnats. No Offense.

I am not into Japanese Natural stones. However, it would seem to delve into them and learn, some knowledge of Japanese terms regarding them would be necessary?

Originally Posted by FAL

Being that the majority of us here do Not know Japanese, it would be very helpful to know what is being said about the Jnats in plain old English, like I have said before, I do not want to learn Japanese to work with Jnats. No Offense.

I don't know japanese and I use jnats just fine. I also don't see where you got confused because no one's posts are in japanese....

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I am not into Japanese Natural stones. However, it would seem to delve into them and learn, some knowledge of Japanese terms regarding them would be necessary?

Of course one would have to learn the terms, has a list of terms ever been posted on this site or any others? If so, I have not gazed upon it.

Originally Posted by prodigy

I don't know japanese and I use jnats just fine. I also don't see where you got confused because no one's posts are in japanese....

My questions are
1) what do those little writing on the small rocks mean? are they used for just slurry ?
2) What grits do they come in? Specific mine? area?
3) Toxic wire?? that was explained, trusted source of hones?
4) Jnats similar to PHIGs?, Zulu? A brief tutorial. although I believe Utopian had a small octogonal shaped one with a stamp that was way out of my budget.
Any insight in simple broad terms would be appreciated.

Maybe a thread on the subject of terms and explanations would be good?

Two things I wonder about are, do some guys just get off by their knowing the terminology of jnats when most don't? I sense a Jnat SMugNess, yep, no doubt about it. SMUGGY.

#2 is being that Japan is a little Island and that the land mass does not support megga geology for sharpening stones, why then with the land mass and geology of The Continent of North America, do WE not have More and better natural stones than the Japanese?

What about a Japanese Gent who in America, goes out and finds AmeriNats, Hehe, of every grit and coloration most/Exactly similar in makeup of jnats , just quarry some out and STAMP them as Jnats? Hmmm??? I say this with a smile.

We do have our own it's called Arkansas, black and translucent , the japanese don't understand us , but al those terms just meant , you rub blade on rock , blade get sharp , so there is the translation,, now just shave Tc

Originally Posted by FAL

Two things I wonder about are, do some guys just get off by their knowing the terminology of jnats when most don't? I sense a Jnat SMugNess, yep, no doubt about it. SMUGGY.

#2 is being that Japan is a little Island and that the land mass does not support megga geology for sharpening stones, why then with the land mass and geology of The Continent of North America, do WE not have More and better natural stones than the Japanese?

What about a Japanese Gent who in America, goes out and finds AmeriNats, Hehe, of every grit and coloration most/Exactly similar in makeup of jnats , just quarry some out and STAMP them as Jnats? Hmmm??? I say this with a smile.

If anyone's being smug it's you. You clearly state you're confused by all the japanese talk, when there is none in this thread. You say you don't want to learn Japanese just to work with jnats. That's like saying you have to learn German to use an escher. It's a stone, you add water and rub a razor on it. Do some research or take a geology class if you want to know why they have great stones and America doesnt. I'm being smug because I looked up answers to my questions as I needed the information. You just want all the answers but have yet to ask any specific questions about anything. Then if there was any hope of you getting a reasonable answer you go and post an idiotic statement like your last one...

I'm pretty sure all of us here would gladly help explain, and answer questions. See ultrasoundguy asked legitimate questions and he will get answers.

Originally Posted by ultrasoundguy2003

My questions are
1) what do those little writing on the small rocks mean? are they used for just slurry ?
2) What grits do they come in? Specific mine? area?
3) Toxic wire?? that was explained, trusted source of hones?
4) Jnats similar to PHIGs?, Zulu? A brief tutorial. although I believe Utopian had a small octogonal shaped one with a stamp that was way out of my budget.
Any insight in simple broad terms would be appreciated.

Yes the small, normally white, stones are asano nagura. They range from coarse to fine grit and help polish before getting to the tomo nagura. Tomo is simply a slurry stone identical or similar to the base stone. The grits aren't rated, but the general idea I'd from coarser to finer it goes botan, tenjyou, mejiro, and koma. There are 3 trusted ways to easily get a jnat in the US that I know of. Japanesenaturalstones.com, japanese -whetstones.com, aframestokyo.com, and Alex but I don't recall his website off the top of my head. Stamps just add value because that's what a collector wants, ypu can get great stones with no stamps for cheap.