New hone from Japan, pictures

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Originally Posted by jeffus

I gave her a price range and had her ask for something hard and fine for final finishing of western straight. She took a picture of one of my straights and my Nakayama Kiita so she had examples.

The first store she went to the guy was rude and would not help. We guess because she is a female, because he was nice to a man who came in while she was there.

At the next store the guy did not want to sell to someone who would not be using the stone, but he relented and gave her several choices. There were no stones between US$200 and $500, and she said there was not much choice for the $200 stone. But there were several options at $500 and I had her just pick one randomly - and she chose based upon color.

She brought them back in her check-in luggage, and they survived, yeah. I should also mention that she is from Japan.

Hopefully I get off work early enough to try it tonight. Want to lacquer it first, but don't want to wait 2 weeks before trying (apply 1 coat and wait 1 week, apply 2nd coat and wait another).

It's an expensive gamble when buying J-nats, and this will be my last time (let's hope). My coticule with water gives an acceptable touch up, so I can live with that if need be, and just have Sham do the honing when needed.

regards

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Intereting story. Makes sense. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by jeffus

But there were several options at $500 and I had her just pick one randomly - and she chose based upon color.

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Looks like she chose well!! :beer1:

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Originally Posted by jeffus

I should also mention that she is from Japan.

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A relevant detail, to be sure. ;)

Beautiful stones, thanks for posting them. The yake shading on that first stone is gorgeous. If it hones anywhere close to how it looks, you have a real winner.

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Originally Posted by thanks

Nice Goban and nice stones!

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Interesting play on words...

Go stones are slate and shell. I wonder
what type of hone the slate used to make
Go playing stones from would make.

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Originally Posted by Woodash

I'm curious about how your wife wound up with what she got. What specs did she ask for? How do you know what you get - other than trying it out some time after purchase? Very interesting.

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At ALL of the hone shops I went to in Kyoto, they had a honing station and encouraged me to try any stones before using them. So, if you're going, take a razor. I was stupid, and didn't.

As for specs, you want something hard and fine. Most of the honeshop owners I talked to (including the one that was rude to Jeffus' wife, which I feel bad about for recommending it) were very familiar with sharpening, and had some idea about razors, but they all emphasized that trying was the best way to know. Tanaka even talked me into trying out the stones at his shop with a plane blade, emphasizing that of course it was different from a razor but was better than nothing.

Wow - I didnt know that they had shops dedicated to hones in Japan. I assumed they had knife shops, with hones, but dedicate hone shops? What a great country.

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Originally Posted by Mijbil

Wow - I didnt know that they had shops dedicated to hones in Japan. I assumed they had knife shops, with hones, but dedicate hone shops? What a great country.

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Sounds like a Pilgramige is in order :p

My wife would tie me up and bury me in the closet if I ever mentioned I'd be going to store dedicated to hones :p

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Originally Posted by Mijbil

Wow - I didnt know that they had shops dedicated to hones in Japan. I assumed they had knife shops, with hones, but dedicate hone shops? What a great country.

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Kyoto being what it is, they have them there. But most of the shops are actually distributors/wholesalers, who happen to have storefronts.

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Originally Posted by Woodash

Intereting story. Makes sense. Thanks.

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Why would you have to wait two weeks? What laq takes a week to cure?



>>>>whoops quoted the wrong thread, but still why 2 weeks?

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Originally Posted by kevint

Why would you have to wait two weeks? What laq takes a week to cure?

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That's what Old_School taught me, so I'll stick with it. Japanese lacquer.

But the guy at the store did tell Keiko that we don't really need that specialty lacquer and can just use any type of sealant. This rock appears very dense and does not seem likely to fall apart easily.

Not sure I will have much choice here in the States though. Will just have to get what I can.

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Originally Posted by jeffus

That's what Old_School taught me, so I'll stick with it. Japanese lacquer.

But the guy at the store did tell Keiko that we don't really need that specialty lacquer and can just use any type of sealant. This rock appears very dense and does not seem likely to fall apart easily.

Not sure I will have much choice here in the States though. Will just have to get what I can.

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You don't need to lacquer it at all. You can if you want to, but...really, it's not necessary.