Thread: Need help with Japanese hones!

All the information is very confusing and sometimes contradictory. What you need is a supplier you trust to find the hone you need.

I got mine from So Yama****a who used to be one of the very few selling them. With the increased interest in Nakayamas a few more guys are selling them. Apparently there's no written information as it used to be a couple of small family businesses that ran the mines and selling their stones. Knowledge was passed on from father to son.

I don't speak Japanese, but still have tried cruising 330mate's site to glean what I can. It appears there is a lot of info there and often the translations make little sense (one I got was: Ardently the clouding catfish inside iris sect five 郎 system ) because grammar and referents are all lost.

I have put in some time trying to figure out which stones might make good hones for western style straight razors. It's kind of interesting.

330mate, I see you have added some graphics for HGAL ratings. I like that but the numbers that go along with the graphics would be helpful as well. I presume that is just on the stones most recently added.

If someone found a specific hone on your site and emailed you, you would be able to tell us if that stone would be suitable for our razors, correct?

I would think (and others here can correct me) we would be most interested in hones that have very high hardness, grit and abrasiveness.

(mods feel free to tell me if I am getting too close to being commercial here)

OK gents, I'm on this one...

"Iron Flower" appears to be the direct translation of the Japanese term for what we call "swarf"...the metal worn away by the hone. So if the slurry turns black quickly, then the hone is very hard and should be good for razors...

Originally Posted by 330matecom

Hello.

I have been to Nakayama mine some times.
It's a pic of the factory in NAKAYAMA and the entrance of Mizumafu mine.
There are more than 6 sub mines of Nakayama.
At the bottom is Mizumafu.
He provide blue gray hard stones well.
Most of entrance was broken.
And Mizumafu will be broken in the near future.
Pillars are corrupt.

My elder master is the last miner of Nakayama.
He is 75 years old.
Nakayama closed about 30 years old ,but few uncut stones are available in his home.
I know some miner of Nakayama ,but most of them are died.

nakayama pictures by mifuqwai - Photobucket

Thanks

Hello, and welcome to the forum.
Do you have a picture of the narutaki mine as well?
I think we would love to see some of those pics from your blog of you digging

What are the differences between stones from Hitomi-san and Yamakan-san. What is the availability of Kouzaki-aoto.

Ok thanks

Thanks Nakaoka.

kanekkui, kanechiki, sorry I do not know the kanji.

What are they or how do they occur? Is it hard particle from the stone, or the steel?