Thread: Oohira and the Pipe

Well I got the Pipe in the mail today, and as expected the chips where pretty shallow. I'll post that part in the Razor section as I'm focusing on the shave test off the Oohira hone here

After the 8k Norton I went straight to the Oohira hone. Doing about 15 to 20 strokes from a palm hold. I like this stone in my hand better than on the table, the uneven chisle marks on the base make it unstable. Even though it is a long heavy stone I don't find it to much to hone this way with.

The feel of the steel on this stone is very different than with my US based razors, very smooth glide, softer steel?

Back to the 15-20 strokes... I checked the edge under 30x, still a bit to go, so I did 15-20 more. Now the edge showed the same patern rather evenly. Off the 8k I was not suprised that it didn't take long.

Off to the shave... I stropped the blade on just my hanging strop for 20 laps, took a shower and did 20 more (people keep saying I don't strop enough ) Lathered up and started my shave.

Now one thing I may add here is that I'm used to harder razors, so this test is with an unknowen razor compleatly. I did my usual WTG and XTG that I always do so I can get a feel for not only the razor it's self but the feel of the stones edge.

At the moment I'm thinking this stone is about on par with my Coticule. But not as smooth a finish. The shave had ever so slightly less smoothness. Nothing like the grabby feeling of the Shapton GS 16k though.

All and all I'm pleased with the stone and I'm going to have to see how it tests on a harder blade. Next time I shave I'm going to do a few passes on the coti with this razor and see how that changes the shave. So far I seem to get a great smooth edge when I use both these hones together. I seem to like the Oohira first than the coti... BBS

This is the ohira stone you got from a japanese tool dealer? so they had no idea what strata it came from?

Originally Posted by kevint

This is the ohira stone you got from a japanese tool dealer? so they had no idea what strata it came from?

Got it from Hida tool in Burkley, CA. All I could understand from the elderly man there was that this stone was for razors At $50 I was happy with what I was getting. I based my purchase of the stone on how it felt to me, he only mentioned that it was for razors when I took it to him to purchase.

If I was ever there again I'd have no problem buying more stuff from them, nice people with ALOT of stuff in that tiny shop.

Oh Hida, that's good.

you took what he said to mean- the stone material; or the dimensions?

The only way I can think of to easily test comparative hardness is to lap two together and guess which one gave up the most juice. Any ideas?

the point is what is and why is one a razor hone and another not?

I might propose: 1. It is too hard for another purpose. 2. It is too small for another purpose. 3. not good for anything else. 4?

Originally Posted by kevint

Oh Hida, that's good.

you took what he said to mean- the stone material; or the dimensions?

The only way I can think of to easily test comparative hardness is to lap two together and guess which one gave up the most juice. Any ideas?

the point is what is and why is one a razor hone and another not?

I might propose: 1. It is too hard for another purpose. 2. It is too small for another purpose. 3. not good for anything else. 4?

Well I grabbed at it for it's shape, I was looking for a fine stone with these dimentions. So I'd imagin it's a combination of grit level, size, and hardness.

The Oohira is hard but I wouldn't say extreamly hard. Not more than say a coticule. I have to add a couple layers of water before it pools on the surface, a one minute soak under running water usually does it.