Thread: slurry stones vs surface stones and what is this jnatism?

It is entirely possible, though bevel setting can be done a synth or fast Washita is probably better.

Mikawa nagura are chalk-like stones (though some can be very hard indeed) that have different grits in different layers. They were originally used in sword polishing. In the 1960s, Iwasaki promoted the use of small mikawa nagura slurry stones as a sequence in razor honing. The usual sequence from coarse to fine is botan-> tenjou -> mejiro -> koma which is then followed by a tomonagura. Tomo means 'like' or 'friend' in Japanese and is a final fine slurry stone matched to the finisher.

Not all Japanese stones require slurry; some are soft enough to auto-slurry without a slurry stone, however stones this soft are almost universally too soft and coarse to finish a razor. In the jnat world, harder stones are finer. Many times you can use clear-water finishing to 'bump up' the keeness/sharpness but you just have to try it with each stone. I usually prefer a stone that's hard and fine enough to finish on thin slurry, slurry smoothes and mellows the edge.

Cheers, Steve

thank you for your answer!

i just realised, that i should have posted this post in the honing section.
if an andmin would be so kind to remove it there...thank you.

I never considered it, but I see no reason why I couldn't try nagura on a Charnley, Frankonian, Lyn Idwall, Turkish Oil Stone, or surgical black Arkansas. Those are my hardest non-JNats off the top of my head and it might be fun to try this.

Actually, come to think of it, about 5 years ago there was a craze about using various slurries on the Spyderco UF. That's another hone I have not touched for too long.

You can, but maybe not effectively with jnats ... Both myself and Alex G have transplanted jnat slurry to glass, and it 'wears out' pretty quickly. Apparently the jnat slurry 'energizes' grit from the host or base stone. I don't think that the same effect happens with jnat slurry on non-jnat stones, but please give it a try and let us know!

Cheers, Steve

What you might find from examining this issue more clearly is that slurry is just buying more stones. When you buy one larger stone and then several smaller (slurry) stones that's not really any different than just buying a large 1k and then several smaller 4k and 8k hones as is more commonly done.

You can use coticules in a similar fashion. I don't think there is a real necessity to it just like there isn't a real necessity to a Japanese tea ceremony. It just has a different vibe to it.

It also has a different result. Have you used used JNats with nagura?

Originally Posted by Utopian

It also has a different result. Have you used used JNats with nagura?

I get that slurry (depending on where it comes from) can either slow down (soften) or speed up the cutting but the end result is no different than just buying a few smaller hones and using their slurry (or not) and water.

Have you ever been to a Japanese Tea ceremony? The ritual can be quite elaborate. The tea tastes the same although some tea is a lot better than other tea.

Originally Posted by Steve56

Apparently the jnat slurry 'energizes' grit from the host or base stone. I don't think that the same effect happens with jnat slurry on non-jnat stones, but please give it a try and let us know!

I use JNAT slurry on Charnley Forest and result is very good. Side effect is better surface on my CF after sharpening with slurry. So JNAT slurry interacts with CF.

At the suggestion of a member very wise and experienced I used a nagura to create a thick slurry on my 8k Norton. The secret was in the mud! I appreciate his suggestion and thought I'd pass it on here for others to follow. Thanks Glen!!!