First jNat - how to prep?

Hey Guys,

Got my first inexpensive jnat just to get my feet wet. Will post a picture later but, how should I prep the stone? I know basically how to lap it (I have an Atoma 400), but what should I do first, lacquer it or lap it? Do I need to clean the stone before lacquering? Is a clear spray lacquer fine to use? (just seems easier to spray than to brush) If I were to get lacquer in the wrong place is it easy just to lap it away? Is there a special kind of lacquer to use on a stone or is the kind made for wood fine? Probably a lot of paranoid type questions but I like to know everything before jumping into a project :D, cheers!

I lacquered mine before lapping it because I had a feeling I'd have lacquer on the honing surface that would need cleaning away. My feeling was right. I used sand paper so the lacquer wouldn't gum up my diamond plate, then lapped the stone as usual once the excess lacquer was cleared off.

Once it was flat I polished away the diamond plate scratches to 2K, then burnished it by rubbing the surface with the Tomo nagura I was sent with it.

As for the type of lacquer I'll let someone else chime in there. I just used some paint on stuff I had lying around. I figured it was better than nothing.

I do what Marshal does and have had no problems.

I use regular Zinnsser brushing lacquer. The advantage is that an overnight soak in alcohol will remove it should you wish to.

Cheers, Steve

Personally I would lap the top and maybe tidy up the sides and bottom a bit, if needed Take any sharp edges off etc .
Sand paper can be used..
Mask off the top and a bit down the sides.Then spray or paint.
Let it dry, remove masking tape.
Use some finer sand paper on the top now.
Bingo.....but that's just me..
Got any pictures?

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Originally Posted by JOB15

Personally I would lap the top and maybe tidy up the sides and bottom a bit, if needed Take any sharp edges off etc .
Sand paper can be used..
Mask off the top and a bit down the sides.Then spray or paint.
Let it dry, remove masking tape.
Use some finer sand paper on the top now.
Bingo.....but that's just me..
Got any pictures?

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I don't know why I never think of things like this. I have the tape lying around for exactly this type of thing. But somehow never think to utilize it until some time after the job is long finished.

Probably because most of my staining, painting, and varnishing is wood and that typically doesn't require painters tape. Just a smooth run free coat across the entire surface.

No pics no purchase occurred.

Diamond plates to flatten then I would condition the surface with some wet and dry sandpaper at least 600 but the final surface is going be the tomo nagura anyway so that surface is what you will wind up with.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steve56

I do what Marshal does and have had no problems.

I use regular Zinnsser brushing lacquer. The advantage is that an overnight soak in alcohol will remove it should you wish to.

Cheers, Steve

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I like this idea for sealing. I figure the Zinsser product is a shellac base being it thins with alcohol. If it is shellac is definitely a good water barrier, protecting the side of the stones from water seeping potentially delaminating your stone over time. It may not be as durable as traditional urushi /cashew laquers but hey you can always slap on another coat and the stuff dries fast.

Ok. I just ordered a jnat my 1st. An Ozuku asagi. Not cheap. 215 x 78 x 28 appox. 3 lb 10 oz. Its in the mail so i cant show a pic. What do i need to do before using it. I bought it from a reliable and highly trusted source. It has been test honed on two different razors and found to be great for razors . I read about sealing etc. What does one need to do to a stone like this. i haven't asked the vendor yet as i only now learn of this sealing procedure. A few words of advice guys?

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Originally Posted by bobski

Ok. I just ordered a jnat my 1st. An Ozuku asagi. Not cheap. 215 x 78 x 28 appox. 3 lb 10 oz. Its in the mail so i cant show a pic. What do i need to do before using it. I bought it from a reliable and highly trusted source. It has been test honed on two different razors and found to be great for razors . I read about sealing etc. What does one need to do to a stone like this. i haven't asked the vendor yet as i only now learn of this sealing procedure. A few words of advice guys?

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You have loads of choices.

Firstly I'd lap it then remove the lapping marks with a Tomo.
I have spent most of today lapping my Nakayama . I made the mistake of using sandpaper which impaired the surface with particles of glass, so I went back to the old method of Diamond plate followed by a soft Nagura (be careful, a scratch from a Tomo can send you back to the beginning)

Seal the bottom and sides. There are lots of option for that.

Build a wooden base stand.?

Do you have Naguras?

If the vendor is reliable and has honed razors on it, it's most likely flat. Sight down the stone face at an angle at a light source and see if the reflection distorts as it moves across the surface. If it does not, it's dead flat.

You don't really need to seal the sides unless there are layer cracks in it but you can if you want. I use regular Zinsser brushing lacquer - regular lacquer can be removed with an overnight soak in alcohol if you want.

Pictures when you get it would be good!

Cheers, Steve

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Originally Posted by Steve56

If the vendor is reliable and has honed razors on it, it's most likely flat. Sight down the stone face at an angle at a light source and see if the reflection distorts as it moves across the surface. If it does not, it's dead flat.

You don't really need to seal the sides unless there are layer cracks in it but you can if you want. I use regular Zinsser brushing lacquer - regular lacquer can be removed with an overnight soak in alcohol if you want.

Pictures when you get it would be good!

Cheers, Steve

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If the stone has been honed on then it would not be flat..

:)

Not true IME except maybe in the abstract sense. Most of the wear on jnats come from raising the slurry, not honing the razor. If you're careful about using even pressure over the entire hone face when raising a slurry, the stone will stay flat. Several Japanese vendors mention using a nagura this way.

I have jnats that I use regularly and haven't lapped for months if not more than a year. they're as flat as when I did lap them.

This is a fairly significant thing if you have valuable stones, especially valuable thin ones. If you just use the nagura in the center portion of the stone the stone becomes dished and you have to lap it. If you use the nagura properly, the stone does not dish, and you can spend a little more time raising slurry on the corners if you want, but believe me the nagura wears the stone far more than the razor does.

Think about it, you're rubbing an abrasive stone on the hone with much greater pressure (usually) than a non abrasive razor.

Cheers, Steve

I hear you.
However I raise slurries around the sides always and still find dishing to occur.

I guess it comes down to , how flat do you want your stones.

Maybe it is dished ever so slightly but that still means that some parts of the blade are receiving more pressure than others..
In my experience, the flatter the stone the better the results..
Thanks .
Joe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JOB15

I hear you.
However I raise slurries around the sides always and still find dishing to occur.

I guess it comes down to , how flat do you want your stones.

Maybe it is dished ever so slightly but that still means that some parts of the blade are receiving more pressure than others..
In my experience, the flatter the stone the better the results..
Thanks .
Joe

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Ha! I did that too Joe. I tried just using the edges and corners, and the stone became high in the center!

My stones aren't dished. The reflection is perfectly undistorted as it travels across the hone face. Like a mirror. If the reflection does not distort, the stone is perfectly flat.

Cheers, Steve

Ok, you win.
I'm sure if I had your stones , a pencil and my Shapton plate, I could prove you wrong..
:)
Still, a new stone, lapping would be my first port of call..
Thanks..

Thanks for the advice. I asked the vendor about this and he told me he lacquered the sides personally. He also lapped one side. He did not lap or seal the bottom of the hone as it is free of cracks,inclusions or damage and it could if i felt like it lap the bottom and use it to hone on. When it arrives i will post a pic. But it looks good so far.

This Ozuki Asagi is to arrive tomorrow. My probably silly question is, that the identifying stamp on the front of the stone. Is it important to avoid if possible removing it when using or lapping? Should a simple photo be taken of it, for the purpose of perhaps future re-sale? Ivee read where some like to preserve the stamp. Is that at all necessary? Of course I dont anticipate seelling at any time, but purely on the basis of the fact that to a lay-man they all look similarly, so that stamp has significance. i'm inclined to forget it, but Id be interested to hear others view on this.
thanks Bob

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Originally Posted by bobski

This Ozuki Asagi is to arrive tomorrow. My probably silly question is, that the identifying stamp on the front of the stone. Is it important to avoid if possible removing it when using or lapping? Should a simple photo be taken of it, for the purpose of perhaps future re-sale? Ivee read where some like to preserve the stamp. Is that at all necessary? Of course I dont anticipate seelling at any time, but purely on the basis of the fact that to a lay-man they all look similarly, so that stamp has significance. i'm inclined to forget it, but Id be interested to hear others view on this.
thanks Bob

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Take pictures. I also take a screenshot of the listing when buying from online vendors.