Thread: advice please: next jnat

I am loving my JNat experience so far - and I want to go further. Currently, I have a 60's barber's hone - Honyama Asagi Tomae (Lvl. 5) -that I use with asano and tomo nagura. Before that I use my Chosera 1k to set a bevel and mix up stages of my JNat with my Shapton Pros (5, 8, 12k)...which are likely on their way to BST (well the 8 and 12K most likely). Happy to continue with the Chosera to set the bevel but looking to introduce a pre-finisher Jnat before I move to my current Awesedo.

I have a great source of tested stones and have narrowed my search down to:
a) Tsushima Black (full-size), or
b) Yellow Suita (king-size).

Price is not a concern - as they're equivalent.

I'm already leaning a particular way but be keen to hear fresh opinions.

Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by stillshunter

I am loving my JNat experience so far - and I want to go further. Currently, I have a 60's barber's hone - Honyama Asagi Tomae (Lvl. 5) -that I use with asano and tomo nagura. Before that I use my Chosera 1k to set a bevel and mix up stages of my JNat with my Shapton Pros (5, 8, 12k)...which are likely on their way to BST (well the 8 and 12K most likely). Happy to continue with the Chosera to set the bevel but looking to introduce a pre-finisher Jnat before I move to my current Awesedo.

I have a great source of tested stones and have narrowed my search down to:
a) Tsushima Black (full-size), or
b) Yellow Suita (king-size).

Price is not a concern - as they're equivalent.

I'm already leaning a particular way but be keen to hear fresh opinions.

Thanks in advance.

I use a tempur-pedic (Queen- Size)

With all due respect: If you plan on honing, not sleeping on it:
Pics can help- but Japanese Whetstones are not Mattresses or candy bars, so it's a little weird to hear those instead of actual measurements or size type when you want a comparison. If you know the actual size- Tsushima will most certainly be a better prefinisher than whatever the suita is.
as truly high quality - razor quality pre finisher suita is not cheap or common and should never be the same price as Tsushima from the same seller- especially when it's of a larger size. This makes absolutely no sense, I say this for your sake. Either the Tsushima isn't what it is or the suita or both. Or the tsushima is way overpriced. If the suita is just overly hard/slow and fine and just short of finisher- it wont be as fast or have the range that tsushima does- overcooked suita is a dead fish. If they were actually comparable in range and the suita razor quality clean- then the prices should not be the same. If they're not: then what's to compare?

All in all, tsushima like mikawa is pretty good at being consistent- therefore if it were to be tsushima- you're going to get a much better stone than a cheap 'razor quality suita' first priority should always be purity and ability of the stone. Names, size and everything else comes after that. Purity, quality and range abilities are king. I would look around for razor suita and tsushima hones before I took the plunge if I were you. I lack trust for someone selling razor quality stones that would put a suita with the capabilities of tsushima- but razor quality clean, and the suita larger 'king sized' at the same price. It's sort of like selling a 28 grams of silver and a troy ounce of gold at the same price. I'd be concerned the silver is over priced or the gold fake.

Glad to hear you are enjoying honing jnats, they are a treat, and glad to hear your asking around for second opinions before taking the plunge.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

Appreciate the honest reply. The prices are good because they are mate's rates - a friend helping a friend. But hoping some photos will be a little more indicative.

Tsushima Black





Suita Yellow

Black

*obligatory post length*

Originally Posted by jnats

Black

Thanks.

Why?

Does the black look good or the yellow look bad or something in-between?

Black looks pure. Suita does not. This is why clean razor suita is so much more- clean tsushima is fairly common amongst tsushima stock, suita exact opposite it has to do with how these stones were formed.
The suita will likely need engraving in its use, the black on the other hand looks very consistent. Consistent grain and composition and particle quality is more important than anything else in Japanese Whetstones I see none of the numerous red flags seen in the suita within the black stone. It's a bonus that the other stone is lacquered on the sides and bottom. Tsushima was and somewhat is very common prefinisher by barbers in japan without the nicest kiita. Suita much less so, and when so is most always engraved to be suitable. That is a very nice size for Tsushima.

Originally Posted by jnats

Black looks pure. Suita does not. This is why clean razor suita is so much more- clean tsushima is fairly common amongst tsushima stock, suita exact opposite it has to do with how these stones were formed.
The suita will likely need engraving in its use, the black on the other hand looks very consistent. Consistent grain and composition and particle quality is more important than anything else in Japanese Whetstones I see none of the numerous red flags seen in the suita within the black stone. It's a bonus that the other stone is lacquered on the sides and bottom. Tsushima was and somewhat is very common prefinisher by barbers in japan without the nicest kiita. Suita much less so, and when so is most always engraved to be suitable. That is a very nice size for Tsushima.

That helps a lot. Thank you.

Here's to your 2016!

The Tsushima black or the suita would work. I've only had the TSB nagura not the benchstone, but have friends that do have the full size Tsushima and like it as a prefinisher. I've always been partial to a good fast suita. It erases 1k marks quickly and makes a good transition to the finisher.

If you can buy the same size suita as a full bench Tsushima for the same price, I'd be suspicious of the suita quality - good suita run higher than Tsushimas.

Another option is Mikawa naguras, especially if you get some that are particularly fast. It's a cheaper option, works just as well (some say better), but you may have to put two of them between a bevel setter and finisher for best results depending on the specific stones.

Cheers, Steve

These threads are so frustrating.

My Tsushima & my Suitas are most likely completely different to someone elses.

Aoto can run the full gammut to replace 1k nearly up to 8k synthetics.

Nakayama stones can be brilliant or they can be rubbish.

You can't tell anything from stone names & it's hard to tell much from pictures either.

You pays your money & you takes your chances.... Or you find a buyer who will work with you to help achieve what you require from a stone.

I would have to vote for Black as well.
Reason jnats has pointed me in the right direction since I got started in the Japanese naturals hunt and exploring different stones and naguras. I trust him when it comes to this topic. My 2 cents.
Oh and he is a seller of these. But he is too humble to tell you that part.
Nakayama Kiita Maruka and Nagura razor j nats | Japanese Whetstones
See for yourself. Like the mod says your money take your chances or work with a Trusted Seller. who offers returns.
Dont see that everyday.
Best of luck on your choice.