Thread: New hone from Japan, pictures

Originally Posted by kevint

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

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.

Originally Posted by kevint

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?

That's OK - never stopped me from responding.
Now, where was I.....?

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.

Looks like she chose well!!

Originally Posted by jeffus

I should also mention that she is from Japan.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sounds like a Pilgramige is in order

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

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.

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

Originally Posted by jeffus

My wife just returned from Japan and picked up a new stone for me. Price was US$500. I don't know anything about it yet, and have not tried it. Size is (roughly) in cm: 15 x 8 x 2.5, or in inches: 6 x 3.25 x 1.

very nice .......

Hello Jim
I do not think that Tanaka would continue in business, and he is a mine owner too, if he was covering flaws in so many stones. They are most likely very good stones and it is probably his understanding of the market that he is targeting, that providing a service by sealing up his stones prior to selling them will help his sales. At $4000 though I would want to see all of the sides and back of the stone, but if the lacquer is clear enough, well even then I would like to have a clear view of the stone at all angles. Like with Stefans stone, you can pretty well see the stone through the sealer, at at those price points that should be sufficient. Alx

Originally Posted by alx

Hello Jim
I do not think that Tanaka would continue in business, and he is a mine owner too, if he was covering flaws in so many stones. They are most likely very good stones and it is probably his understanding of the market that he is targeting, that providing a service by sealing up his stones prior to selling them will help his sales. At $4000 though I would want to see all of the sides and back of the stone, but if the lacquer is clear enough, well even then I would like to have a clear view of the stone at all angles. Like with Stefans stone, you can pretty well see the stone through the sealer, at at those price points that should be sufficient. Alx

Alex,
I just want to say I went full strength with the cashew lacquer on this stone, and its an overkill I think