Thread: New Nakayama

Just picked up this new Nakayama Maruichi Asagi Kan. There is kawa on the back and most of the sides. Do I still need to seal it with the kawa covering most of the non-working surfaces?

Very nice stone.....

If it were mine, I would seal the sides and bottom with several thin coats of cashew urushi. I generally use 3 or 4 coats.

Originally Posted by sqzbxr

If it were mine, I would seal the sides and bottom with several thin coats of cashew urushi. I generally use 3 or 4 coats.

Ok. Should I go right over the kawa or lap it off first? This is the first JNat I've gotten without the sides sealed. Also, I need to find a Tomo for it. Any ideas on what to look for when matching a Tomo to a stone?

Originally Posted by sqzbxr

If it were mine, I would seal the sides and bottom with several thin coats of cashew urushi. I generally use 3 or 4 coats.

Is Urushi the same as cashew lacquer? If not, are there significant differences. It seems easier for me to find lacquer.

Nice stone! Cashew or urushi is more durable and much more trouble to use. Urushi is basically poison ivy sap so wear gloves, use it outside - and it takes a warm humid environment to cure.

I just use regular brushing lacquer. It holds up well enough and can be removed in an overnight soak in alcohol if you wish.

Cheers, Steve

Originally Posted by Matt1222

Is Urushi the same as cashew lacquer? If not, are there significant differences. It seems easier for me to find lacquer.

No, cashew urushi is also known as cashew lacquer and is relatively safe and simple to handle; hon urushi is the traditional lacquer that is toxic and requires special handling and a controlled curing environment. This is the source I use: HyperCafe Japanese Sword Shop

I use cashew form the above store. Dilute it with distilled turpentine. I don't use gloves. If I get some on my fingers I use the turpentine to clean them Transfer some to a lidded glass jar, I use a plastic spoon since it's a mess trying to pour it. Then dilute and apply. In warm weather it dries fairly quickly. Few layers and you are done.
Just an anecdote. I was lapping a tomo, triangular shape, on an Atoma, no crazy pressure or anything and that thing just split in half. Despite that stone having
very thin layer of kawa on one side and no obvious fissures. Well now I have 2 tomos but it just showed my why it's important to seal.

Originally Posted by Jnatcat

Very nice stone.....

Thanks! I'm excited to get honing with it. Need to find a Tomo for it first though

I always leave the kawa intact and lacquer directly over it. If you thin your first coat sufficiently, you'll have no problems at all. I prefer a tomo of similar hardness to the honzan. If they are both fairly hard and difficult to slurry, roughing the bottom of the tomo on a diamond plate will solve that. I generally seal my nagura as well, leaving just a working face exposed.