Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 34
Like Tree28Likes

Thread: New stone Japanese natural, Ozuku Asagi

  1. #11
    < Banned User >
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Saratoga, CA
    Posts
    597
    Thanked: 59

    Default

    Totally feel your pain Marshall, for a long time I felt coticules were for the most part garbage. Then I started focusing in on certain veins and I have to tell you, there are some awesome coticules out there.

  2. #12
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Virginia, USA
    Posts
    2,224
    Thanked: 481

    Default

    I try hard not to knock them. Just because mine was hard to work with doesn't mean they all are. I'll probably buy another down the road, but I'm not just gonna buy another one from Ardennes sight unseen. I'll wait until I can either try it out, or at least get a known good stone that someone is simply looking to trade off in the classified section. That won't be anytime soon though.

    I think I may give that and my Jnat a revisit. I've not used either in a while, I'd like to see how they perform following my 12k synthetic. That was also intended as a response to your question about Shoubudanis too. I'm fond of mine. I almost hate to say it, but the little fella gives my translucent Arkies a run for their money.

    I was told they can have little black inclusions that can be toxic/detrimental to honing. My stone has black dots, but they're not detrimental. That's something to be mindful of if you pick one up. But overall I'm happy with it.

  3. #13
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    758
    Thanked: 104

    Default

    The best advice that I respect is pointing me to acquiring some nagura stones, from Botan to Mejiro to Tomo. It's all a learn for me at the moment, my only plan was to get a few genuine very hard, fine finishing jnats and go to them after a 10k synthetic edge. That's what I've done do far, but of course I'll advance my thoughts by listening to other more knowledgeable folks.
    Marshal likes this.

  4. #14
    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Bodalla, NSW
    Posts
    15,595
    Thanked: 3747

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bobski View Post
    It's all a learn for me at the moment, my only plan was to get a few genuine very hard, fine finishing jnats and go to them after a 10k synthetic edge.
    That's all you need. Of course if you wanna play in the mud, ie Nagura, it can be fun.
    Marshal likes this.
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

  5. #15
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    758
    Thanked: 104

    Default

    Name:  jnatedge.jpg
Views: 356
Size:  237.7 KB

    Above is a photo from my USB 400x cheap scope, it is the final edge on a Dovo 6/8 Stainless blade, from the Ozuku Asagi. I took it from a 10k Naniwa Superstone, then fairly light strokes with slurry made from DN, I let the slurry dry out a fair bit as I lightened things right off to blade weight only. I stropped it up on the Kanayama and had a comfortable shave. (This photo is pre the stropping). It wasn't a spectacular shave, I still have some technique to smooth out, but more than acceptable. The photo is a little blurred but the best I can do on the USB device. Under my loupe it looks better than this fairly high magnification. Any comments or advice is welcome.
    Bob
    ScoutHikerDad likes this.

  6. #16
    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Bodalla, NSW
    Posts
    15,595
    Thanked: 3747

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bobski View Post

    Above is a photo from my USB 400x cheap scope, it is the final edge on a Dovo 6/8 Stainless blade, from the Ozuku Asagi. I took it from a 10k Naniwa Superstone, then fairly light strokes with slurry made from DN, I let the slurry dry out a fair bit as I lightened things right off to blade weight only. I stropped it up on the Kanayama and had a comfortable shave. (This photo is pre the stropping). It wasn't a spectacular shave, I still have some technique to smooth out, but more than acceptable. The photo is a little blurred but the best I can do on the USB device. Under my loupe it looks better than this fairly high magnification. Any comments or advice is welcome.
    Bob
    It's a nicely polished bevel. If you dilute the slurry as you go, even down to plain water for an experiment, the edge may well improve more.

    Where you are now, adding 5-6 strokes, at a time, on the gok 20 may get the same results or better.
    Test shave between groups of 5 not to push things over the edge, pun intended.
    Last edited by onimaru55; 06-16-2017 at 08:27 AM.
    zib and ScoutHikerDad like this.
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to onimaru55 For This Useful Post:

    bobski (06-16-2017)

  8. #17
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    NW Indiana
    Posts
    1,060
    Thanked: 246

    Default

    For some JNats I get a much more comfortable edge with tomo slurry. Before you attribute that "not quite there" comfort level to your lack of skill, try some work after that 10k with tomo slurries. The straight water or dilution is worth trying as well, but I never seem to have much luck with that on very hard JNats unless it is very few strokes.

  9. #18
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    2,110
    Thanked: 458

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bobski View Post
    The allure of the natural stones is strong. People get caught up in the romanticism of them. About 18 months ago I went down the coticule path. I'm not criticising coticules generally, but I had no good fortune in them. I bought two 8 x 3 select grades, and another two bouts. After converting half a dozen razors over to their edge I was disappointed badly. The shave wasn't good at all. I'm not arrogant enough to blame the coticule entirely, but I do know how to hone. I sold them at a loss.
    Now I've gone back into naturals. I bought the stones above, the Ozuku then the Wakasa. I've gotten great results from both of them, so now I have that confidence to really contemplate getting a few more. If feel, that the noise about them is justified. I remember when I first got edges from the Gok 20 and raved about how sharp they were. They are still the sharpest edges going round! They are acute though, really clinically sharp, one slip and your cut!.
    I noticed with my Ozuku that, yeah they were sharp, they did a nice job. Not a Gok 20 edge, but a toned down version, it felt as though I could have closed my eyes and not cut myself. I guess they are more forgiving. That's not a bad thing. Anybody have any conclusions coming off 20k edges?
    I never liked the gok edge. I don't think it's more refined, I think it's less.

    I found the same thing with coticules as you. You can finish with all of the ones suitable for razors, but they are not as reliable as jnats (jnats are generally different in speed, but only lacking fineness if a seller lies to you and says something like "you can finish a razor with this stone with a little work". Good jnats don't require you to do much other than rub a razor on them, and good doesn't mean expensive, it just means fine with no toxic stuff and not too soft).

    In my opinion, natural stone edges stay more consistent and are more amenable to linen (good linen, not some modern coarse untreated incantation) and good leather.

    I sold my gok a long time ago. It makes a usable edge, but because of the mechanism of delivery, short of what you could do if you just used graded chromium oxide. You will get better with the jnats than you are with the gok. I never use any powders any longer, just natural stones and seldom honing.

    Side comment - I'd bet 100 years ago, people using coticules both had better stones on average (the ones that pike imported, etc) for razors and at the same time, often didn't remove the entire edge when honing, because the edge that's been subjected to a couple of hundred trips to good leather and linen will surpass any edge that's freshly honed. You just have to mind the thickness of the edge itself and work the bevel to keep it from getting fat and dull.
    Marshal likes this.

  10. #19
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    758
    Thanked: 104

    Default

    I hear you re the Gok 20. I'd never sell mine as I've had several years of great edges from it. That being said, I'm visiting family this weekend and I picked out a razor for my trip. I used Dovo Bismarck that before leaving home, gave 6 laps on the gok20. First shave was close, but a few hours later I ended up with a weeper. Bloody annoying, when I get home I'll put it on my hardest natural I have, the Wakasa,

  11. #20
    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Bodalla, NSW
    Posts
    15,595
    Thanked: 3747

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bobski View Post
    I hear you re the Gok 20. I'd never sell mine as I've had several years of great edges from it. That being said, I'm visiting family this weekend and I picked out a razor for my trip. I used Dovo Bismarck that before leaving home, gave 6 laps on the gok20. First shave was close, but a few hours later I ended up with a weeper. Bloody annoying, when I get home I'll put it on my hardest natural I have, the Wakasa,
    You do realise the Gok20 is finer than any Jnat that exists so the edge is therefore sharper. To avoid weepers is literally in your hands ie less pressure & flat angle.

    @ DaveW : I can't fault the Gok 20 edges. YMMV.
    zib likes this.
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •