Thread: New stone Japanese natural, Ozuku Asagi

This is the Ozuku Asagi natural stone I wrote about yesterday. Like the Wakasa, it is a full sized stone at 212 x 78 x 38 and 3 lb 10 oz or 1664 grms. I also bought this one from Takeshi at Aframes tokyo. since those photos I have now lapped it completely, so the identifying stamps are gone, preserved only by the photos. In my post about the Wakasa,I wrote that this Ozuku was supposedly finer than it, (Wakasa), I can report that it took some lapping, with a good 25 minutes of hard work with an Atoma 600, but once it was flat, I had a brief play with it, with some slurry, and it is a very hard and fine finishing natural. Aframestokyo described it as a hone for finishing razors, and from all accounts it seems to be exactly that. I have a razor in mind to put on this stone, and its a TI C 135 steel, so should respond well to this type of natural. I point out too, that this is a double sided stone, although I haven't lapped the other side yet, but doesn't have the toxic skin, is seemingly the same as the primary surface. Its just another option.
I wrote yesterday I was relieved at how good an edge was obtained from the Wakasa. What it has done though is the normal side effect of once again looking for other 'opportunities' as to possible other jnat acquisitions. Has anyone had any good luck with Shobu stones, sometime known as shoubudani. I have left the most lauded stones alone (Nakayama) as they cost a lot, and a lot of that is on reputation, so I figured I'd rely on advice from a trusted source. I'd still be interested in members views on the Shobu mined stones. I know JNS have sold a lot of Shoubu-dani, at fairly cheap prices compared to the Ozuku pictured. So any views are welcomed. When I do go through with a razor on the Ozuku I will show some pictures of the stone, post lapping, and its colour differences when wet to the Wakasa. One video actually of Keith Johnston, showing a number of different types of stones, and then using a finishing Ozuku in the demonstation , was a great help. As far as Im concerned, Nagura progressions, and tomonagura are a bit above my station at the moment, but at some stage I'll look at them.
Bob
I should mention that I sealed the four sides with Shellac, and the same with the Wakasa. ( I left the bottom side alone as it may be lapped and used in its own right)