Thread: HELP!!! Please help verify if stone is Karasu

Hi all, I am new here but I have visit this forum quite a number of times before I finally decide to switch from triple blade to straight razor shaving due to sensitive skin(whenever I finish shaving using triple, my whole mouth is red and itchy).

Here comes main topic :

Today, I have receive 2 stone(Karasu & Iyo Nagura stone) which I have purchase online but I am not sure if the seller send the wrong item. Please help verify if the grey stone is Karasu. By the way, on the side there is a huge crack and there is some glue like substance. Does anyone know if the stone will just crack into half overtime? Iyo Nagura stone seems good to me but I just take it's photo just to show you guys.

PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to SRP. In due time Old_School, JimR or one of our other members who know these stones and read and write Japanese will be along to help you out. In the meanwhile here is the SRP Wiki where you will find the beginner's guide and much more. Also here is a thread on the topic of Japanese natural stones that may help you out.

Karasu has spots from what I have seen in pics here on the forum.

Well, it looks like you got a couple of beauties from 330mate.com.

The grey one has some spots that look vaguely Karasu-ish, is all I can tell you. Someone with more experience will have to tell you more, but please remember, from all the resources I've seen, Karasu just means that it looks like it has black feathery spots (karasu means crow in Japanese)--it has no reflection on quality, fineness, etc. They're expensive because they're cool looking, that's it.

As for the glue stuff on the side, I have no idea. It could be Japanese lacquer (urushi) or just glue. Whatever the reason, it certainly looks like it's there to hold the stone together...

Good luck with it...

@JimmyHAD
Thanks for the link

@mainaman
Thats what I thought and wish to clarify.

@JimR
How did you know I get from 330mate? ._.
Btw this is Daniel, the one who did some enquiry with you on your strops.
Thanks for your previous advise.
Sorry, I couldn't afford your strop at the moment.

@OLD_SCHOOL
I am not very sure of its origin but I was quoted Yamshiro Karasu. Is it good?
Is it Iyo stone or the grey stone that require lapping before honing? Both?

Thanks all for your reply

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I was referring to the gray one, those white spots look like some type of pitting in the stone, but only you can tell for sure since you have the hones. Pictures can only tell a person so much.

The Iyo one, I can't tell if it's just the pattern or if it too has a lot of pitting. I can however see a number of possible cracks, or severe layer separation. Either of which could cause significant damage to your edges.

I see...even though the stone is just before my eyes, I still can't tell if it a pattern or not but the white spot on both grey & Iyo stone is feel smooth when I move my finger around it. But I can feel the center crack line, will the crack line affect the honing?

If you bought it on ebay the only two sellers I see that sell J-nats offer an exchange with the buyer paying shipping. I haven't delved into these stones yet but I follow threads on them with interest.

I've read at least one member say that 330mate will work with you and send a better stone if you offer more $. I would tell the seller, whoever it is, that I want to exchange for a hone that is in better condition and appropriate for honing razors.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If you bought it on ebay the only two sellers I see that sell J-nats offer an exchange with the buyer paying shipping. I haven't delved into these stones yet but I follow threads on them with interest.

I've read at least one member say that 330mate will work with you and send a better stone if you offer more $. I would tell the seller, whoever it is, that I want to exchange for a hone that is in better condition and appropriate for honing razors.

I see...I did pay pretty good money for it though.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Yes, if you can feel the crack and it's in the center of the honing surface, there is a good chance you will damage your edges.

Signz...think i need to get it change. What do you think about the grey stone?

Maplelite - I think all the hones are likely to need lapping. If you are considering returning it, I wouldn't do anything to the hone until you settle with the seller. If you lap it, it is yours.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Karasu from the Nakayama quarry is actually high priced because of it's rarity. Karasu is said to come from the deepest parts of the mountain. Though with the more figuring in Karasu, the more the price goes up, same with size.

This is not what I had been thinking. On So's write up on Naori layers he says:

There are total of 80 stratum in this naori, and the detail is as below.
Aka-pin
Tenjyou suita (uchigumori, nagagumori, sotogumori, shiro) x4
Hachimai x8
Senmai x2
Tomae x48
Aisa x4 (Karasu is sometimes found in this strata)
Namito x8
Hon suita x6
Shiro suita x2

these are listed from deepest to shallowest in the Hon-Kuchi Naori.

One of the complaints he (So) voiced to me is that Karasu are often too soft and sometimes too scratchy for razors. The Karasu I have has some "su" so I am guessing it is from the transition from Honsuita to Namito. Honing on it has a soft buttery feel unlike the Nakayama I have from you (which feels hard). My Karasu is from Ozuku. I am using it for medium finish before my Nakayama. I have been told that Karasu are faster cutters. The one I have seems to go along with that.

I don't know what you paid nor can I tell what size your stones are; and if you should decide to return it that is up to you.

You say you paid "pretty good money". This is a relative statement; compared to what?

I have had one stone break and that is a bummer. It was about 1/2 inch think and showed to cracks. That tells me ultimately you never know what a rock may decide to do.

As well, because of some ugly looking issue you are being told how bad the stone is. That it surely is not this or even that; even though from a picture we can tell you very little.

I can guess the stone will be a hard one, it is from Kyoto, and little else.

If it were mine. first I would try it out, then get some of that thin CA glue and let it soak in the crack on the side. Then I would cut the stone down to remove the rough on the left side. I tried to salvage an aoto that had multiple cracks by resawing it and it did not work very well. I have also cut up a shinden suita to get a non-toxic surface- which did work and in all made 4 hones from a single piece. 1 good, 2 that are good enough and one that is still scratchy.(they are small which is what I wanted.

Unless you have other awasedo to compare it to, you may not be able to tell if it is good or not. (i am always puzzled when a member describes his first jp nat as an awesome stone after a cursory use. How does he know it's not just run-of the mill?)