Nakayama Update

Hey all,

So I've been using my newly acquired Nakayama Maruichi a lot lately and have been having trouble getting away from it! I absolutely love it. There are no words I can use to describe how awesome this stone is. The finish it produces on the bevel is truly one of a kind (at least for me, maybe not for Nakayamas :p). It does not produce a truly mirror finish on the bevel as you might expect, but rather a really uniformly dense hazy finish. I was looking at other sites that sell Japanese finishing stones, and Japan Tool mentions that these stones produce the renowned Kazumi (hazy) finish. I can't see any scratches under 30x, it's ridiculous, just this bevel that's completely uniform in it's finish. I've seen the edges my coticules and my yellow/green escher produces (still quite impressive I might add), but the nakayama wipes out all of the scratches and finish of even the escher, and leaves the bevel looking spectacular.

And the shaves are spectacular (wait, didn't I already use that word?)! The edges are super-duper silly sharp, but are remarkably gentle on my skin. I've used it on a few razors now and have been impressed each time.

For anyone who's considering buying a high-end finishing stone, pick up a Nakayama. I can't recommend OLD_SCHOOL enough for this. His prices are substantially less than market prices (oh I've looked, and Nakayamas don't run cheap at ALL on some other sites), and he is extremely helpful in answering all of your questions. Not only that, but he hand tests them all, so you have his experience on your side. I know I've probably said all of that before, but I cannot speak highly enough about his service and the fantastic stones he offers.

Thanks for reading, I cannot sing enough praises for this stone. :)

That's awesome, Dave. Thanks for the review and the update.

I've got to find more time, blow the dust of this one and start using it a ton.

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Chris L

You know your killing us that want one and can't aford one just yet ARRGGHH!!!!!!

O_S rocks and nakayamas rock :rock:

And that stone is HUGE Chris (and gorgeous I might add)! Or does it just seem big because of the pics?

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Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

Hey all,

So I've been using my newly acquired Nakayama Maruichi a lot lately and have been having trouble getting away from it! I absolutely love it. There are no words I can use to describe how awesome this stone is. The finish it produces on the bevel is truly one of a kind (at least for me, maybe not for Nakayamas :p). It does not produce a truly mirror finish on the bevel as you might expect, but rather a really uniformly dense hazy finish. I was looking at other sites that sell Japanese finishing stones, and Japan Tool mentions that these stones produce the renowned Kazumi (hazy) finish. I can't see any scratches under 30x, it's ridiculous, just this bevel that's completely uniform in it's finish. I've seen the edges my coticules and my yellow/green escher produces (still quite impressive I might add), but the nakayama wipes out all of the scratches and finish of even the escher, and leaves the bevel looking spectacular.

And the shaves are spectacular (wait, didn't I already use that word?)! The edges are super-duper silly sharp, but are remarkably gentle on my skin. I've used it on a few razors now and have been impressed each time.

For anyone who's considering buying a high-end finishing stone, pick up a Nakayama. I can't recommend OLD_SCHOOL enough for this. His prices are substantially less than market prices (oh I've looked, and Nakayamas don't run cheap at ALL on some other sites), and he is extremely helpful in answering all of your questions. Not only that, but he hand tests them all, so you have his experience on your side. I know I've probably said all of that before, but I cannot speak highly enough about his service and the fantastic stones he offers.

Thanks for reading, I cannot sing enough praises for this stone. :)

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Can you show me where there are market prices for comparisons?

See, Aren't you glad you bought it now....I told you it was like a "Religous experience....
Congrat's Man, Enjoy your hone....I know that you will.

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Originally Posted by kevint

Can you show me where there are market prices for comparisons?

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I don't really know of a lot of sources, but the prices here: NAKAYAMASHOP are quite a bit more. Granted they're also quite a bit larger, so perhaps the prices aren't so unreasonable afterall. :shrug:

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Originally Posted by zib

See, Aren't you glad you bought it now....I told you it was like a "Religous experience....
Congrat's Man, Enjoy your hone....I know that you will.

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I am glad I bought it, and I do indeed plan to enjoy it for many years to come. :D

Congratulations Dave! I knew you'd like your Nakayama.

I've only had mine 4 months, and it has turned me into a honing fanatic, I didn't need much of a push. My Nakayamas have raised the level of my honing pretty dramatically. Not because they are magic and can turn any edge into a laser. It's because if I can use other hones to first form a sound, sharp edge, the Nakayama can then take it to a new level. It's entertaining to see how sharp they can get, if I do my part.

The Nakayama has made me appreciate my other hones more, and the constant honing practice has improved my technique on it and my other hones. The better the edge I get before the Nakayama, the further the Nakayama can take it.

You will love yours more the more you use it, I bet. Dollar for dollar, it's the best money I've ever spent, maybe other than the natural combo coticule I bought from Howard last year. Or my iPod a few years ago. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

I don't really know of a lot of sources, but the prices here: NAKAYAMASHOP are quite a bit more. Granted they're also quite a bit larger, so perhaps the prices aren't so unreasonable afterall. :shrug:

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I have never been to japan and haggled with a miner for a pile of rocks so i have no idea what they go for. Size, age, there is a lot to it. The main thing:effectiveness. which is speed, consistency (i think anyway) it's all good.

I love these things and am happy for you! happy honing

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Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

You know your killing us that want one and can't aford one just yet ARRGGHH!!!!!!

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Sorry! But you know you want one...:mace:

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Originally Posted by FatboySlim

The Nakayama has made me appreciate my other hones more, and the constant honing practice has improved my technique on it and my other hones. The better the edge I get before the Nakayama, the further the Nakayama can take it.

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I agree completely. I've only used it on razors that have been very sharp already, I imagine my results would not have been so positive if I expected it to sharped a razor from dull to light saber sharp. I know I can still benefit from getting to know it more and how many laps are really necessary. But I know it can perform. :tu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kevint

I have never been to japan and haggled with a miner for a pile of rocks so i have no idea what they go for. Size, age, there is a lot to it. The main thing:effectiveness. which is speed, consistency (i think anyway) it's all good.

I love these things and am happy for you! happy honing

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Thanks. :D I know there are a LOT of factors with Japanese hones (well, no more than other types of hones, I'm just very unfamiliar with Japanese ones). But I've come to the realization that I don't need to know everything about the different qualities of Nakayamas because I only really need to get to know one, mine.

I find myself looking for stuff to hone, Everything I have is shave ready, Damm the bad luck.....Maybe I could accidentally dull one...Ha....

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Originally Posted by zib

I find myself looking for stuff to hone, Everything I have is shave ready, Damm the bad luck.....Maybe I could accidentally dull one...Ha....

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I know what you mean. I don't have RAD, so I only have 3 razors now! (I sold the rest, I'm much more of a HAD person) Needless to say, all 3 of those razors have spent plenty of time rubbing up and down that Nakayama these past few days.....:rofl2:

To me they go hand in hand. You can have RAD without HAD but if you do have HAD chances are you will want to hone razors. I have two on the way and more on the watch list. It never ends.... well it will one day but not yet. :) I have a friend who had serious HAD but he wasn't into honing razors. He liked to lap the hones and check out the slurry and look at the structure under a microscope. He honed some razors but that wasn't his main wheel. Me I like to hone and I like razors so as long as the money holds out it is like a horse and carriage.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

To me they go hand in hand. You can have RAD without HAD but if you do have HAD chances are you will want to hone razors. I have two on the way and more on the watch list. It never ends.... well it will one day but not yet. :) I have a friend who had serious HAD but he wasn't into honing razors. He liked to lap the hones and check out the slurry and look at the structure under a microscope. He honed some razors but that wasn't his main wheel. Me I like to hone and I like razors so as long as the money holds out it is like a horse and carriage.

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Dear Jimmy,

You need a nakayama.

Sell a couple razors in the classifieds and buy one already!!

That is all.