Diluting Slurry on Nakayama

[StraightRazorDave]

Hey all,

So I've been experimenting a little with my Nakayama. I've finished a handful of blades now with my Nakayama with just water, and they were very very sharp and shave-ready. But just to see how the feel of the razor would compare, the last couple of nights I've tried finishing a razor on the Nakayama starting with a slurry. I have another small piece of Nakayama that I use as a slurry stone for my stone, so there is no cross-contamination, i.e. the slurry is pure Nakayama slurry.

So I just did a bunch of laps with the initial slurry, adding a couple of drops (literally) as I went along, and wiping the blade, until I had pretty much no slurry on the stone. Then I rinsed the blade and the stone off completely, to ensure no slurry was left, and did about 30 laps on the Nakayama with just a thin layer of water.

I stropped and shaved, and the shave with both razors was extremely pleasurable. The edge was very forgiving I found, and left my skin feeling very comfortable afterwards. But it was still really sharp. I was able to shave against the grain beside my chin without any pulling, and that's a very stubborn area for me. The alum block produced no sting at all, and my face felt really good afterwards on both nights when I used different razors finished the same way.

So I have produced really sharp edges (using Shaptons and chromium oxide for example), but the most comfortable shaves have been when I used my Nakayama last without a doubt.

I even tried a fairly heavy slurry at first which darkened slightly, so I know metal was being removed at a decent rate. But it really didn't seem to have a dulling effect, or at least not after I slowly diluted it. I like being able to use a slurry on it since it makes it more aggresive and faster, but can still produce a fantastic edge when I dilute it slowly.

So I'm not expert with honing or Nakayamas, but I can tell you that I like the edges that this stone has produced for me. It has provided me with some comfy edges. I just felt like sharing

Oh, and if you don't have one already, get a Nakayama! I'm already planning on getting my second in a while....

P.S. I also thought I should mention that this method leaves a nice looking finish on the bevel. It looks very different from polishing on anything else I've used other than a Nakayama. It's sort of a hazy looking bevel, which is probably a combination of the Nakayama finish and because slurry was used. Not really a mirror finish at all. But it looks very uniform under 30x.

[hi_bud_gl]

thank you for sharing this information Dave.
Nakayama is a great stone to have it.
Bevel looks like rainy when you done with it.

[khaos]

That hazy finish is called Kasumi and is prized by japanese honemeisters.

[JimR]

That hazy finish is called Kasumi and is prized by japanese honemeisters.

Funny, "Kasumi" means "mist" or "haze" in Japanese...It's almost like they call it...

A hazy finish!

[Lesslemming]

oh, I adore Hon Kasumi Finish!

[Doop]

Interesting to read about Nakayamas and slurry, even Nakayamas and water because I am unable to get a suitable edge with either, until finally I tried the stones dry and "Volila" there it was. I now prep my stones with a light (very light) sanding with a fine sandpaper to remove any loading from the last razor I honed, clean and dry the surface, and start honing away. I get what is IMO a wonderful edge and I do not go to chromium oxide any more with a Nakayama edge, just strop and this made an improvement.

Ever hold one of your finishing stones up to the light at a shallow angle and look across it. Try it, looks like glass.

Marc

[mparker762]

Are you using a nagura to make slurry? If so then you might want to try honing without it. The blade will raise a thin slurry all by itself. Also asagi's are good if you like this sort of thing since they are hard and make a thinner slurry normally.

[zib]

I have one, but never used a slurry on it. I too have a small piece of Nakayama stone for a slurry. The Nakayama does give some of the best edges you'll ever feel. Very sharp and very smooth. After I bought mine, I was on here singing it's praises.

[StraightRazorDave]

Are you using a nagura to make slurry? If so then you might want to try honing without it. The blade will raise a thin slurry all by itself. Also asagi's are good if you like this sort of thing since they are hard and make a thinner slurry normally.

It's a small piece of Nakayama that I use as a nagura. I have used it with just water and really liked the results. Well, even when I was using slurry at first, I did finish with just plain water and still really liked the results. Mine's actually a kiita, but it's hard one and slow. It works well with just water, but it's admittedly a bit slow. It won't make a dull edge sharp, just a sharp edge better

[Kingfish]

Hi David,
Your passion for the Nakayama contagious! Do you still use the 30k before you get to the Nakayama?
Mike