Thread: Simple J-nat question

Why is it preferred that J-nats are finished on only one side?

I have a kiita-asagi mix that's finished on both sides. The side without the stamps seems to give a better finish, and of course has the advantage of not wearing said stamps away.

Can't imagine why one usable side is better than two.

most of the j-nats have skin on the back which is considered very valuable.
The skin tells people that know stones where the stone comes from, all the stamps can be faked not the skin.

Originally Posted by pcb01

Why is it preferred that J-nats are finished on only one side?

I have a kiita-asagi mix that's finished on both sides. The side without the stamps seems to give a better finish, and of course has the advantage of not wearing said stamps away.

Can't imagine why one usable side is better than two.

There is nothing wrong with it when in your situation, both sides are usable. Many times, the "skin" is left on the one side to help identify the origin of the stone. I bought one from a former member here that had both sides usable so I picked the side without the stamps on it for honing.
I remember one member saying that he had one where one side was more aggressive than the other so for him it was like having something like a natural combo like a coti.

You are quick stefan!!!

Originally Posted by mainaman

most of the j-nats have skin on the back which is considered very valuable.
The skin tells people that know stones where the stone comes from, all the stamps can be faked not the skin.

Are fake stamps much of a problem?

Originally Posted by pcb01

Are fake stamps much of a problem?

The most important thing is that the stone works for you.

Some stamps garner VERY high prices, stamps don't sharpen razors... While I fall into the habbit of getting excited when I see or hear of stones from high end mines (ala good stamps), I don't act unless I have assureances that I'm getting what I want/need EI a return ability if the stone doesn't do what it's advertising.

Think King vs Chosera, both get you what you need but one costs $25 and the other can run $300. If someone put a Chosera stamp on a King and found an area to sell them... Now imagin that $300 was more like $3000...

For me it's all about how the stone works for me...

It would be interesting if from studying the layers one could determine that the skin on a given stone were actually the top. At least I have always assumed the skin is on the bottom. The bottom based on how the stone was deposited/ lays in the ground.

The best ones seem to be those that have only the thinnest covering before transitioning to the true strata, but on some it is still a bit soft and chalky before you get to the harder material.

It could be that once you are into the good part you are into the good, or perhaps the heavier, more trash like particles have precipitated to the bottom. And, it would depend on how thick the given strata were, if you could cut multiple stones before encountering the next transition.

How much better if you had 6 sides? You can only effectively use 1 at a time. If it did act like a combo; but with no clear demarcation, how would you know which was the dominant feature. Over time the stone will thin so if you are using up the coarse side as well; It has the potential to break before you use up the good side.

None of this is intended to tell anyone what is the right and proper thing to do. That is between you and your stone.

Originally Posted by kevint

It would be interesting if from studying the layers one could determine that the skin on a given stone were actually the top.
.

In the world of geology, Things that were the bottom, many times end up being the sides or even top over geoligical time. There are probably very few people alive today that can tell by looking at the stone, how the skin was oriented in the mine.

I guess that is why we treasure the few vendors that are willing to work with those of us that seek the best. The vendors need to have lots of patience, and the buyers unquestionable trust.

Fewer still are vendors that are knowledgeable, and many more buyers are skilled enough to understand the differences. Buying Jpn stones has been likened to a crap shoot buy some members, IMHO it is more like the odds of winning the lottery.

Originally Posted by kevint

The best ones seem to be those that have only the thinnest covering before transitioning to the true strata, but on some it is still a bit soft and chalky before you get to the harder material.

It could be that once you are into the good part you are into the good, or perhaps the heavier, more trash like particles have precipitated to the bottom. And, it would depend on how thick the given strata were, if you could cut multiple stones before encountering the next transition.

How much better if you had 6 sides? You can only effectively use 1 at a time. If it did act like a combo; but with no clear demarcation, how would you know which was the dominant feature. Over time the stone will thin so if you are using up the coarse side as well; It has the potential to break before you use up the good side.

None of this is intended to tell anyone what is the right and proper thing to do. That is between you and your stone.

+1 Kevin. This world is so deep and complex that interacts with our own capabilities. As we grow in ability, what we are so sure of today could very well be obsolete in the future.

Bottom line is, if it is working for you now, consider yourself fortunate.

Please guys, rocks don't have skin. If the sample was found with a side facing the environment it's a weathered surface. If not they just grind one side flat unless the sample is from a contact point with another rock and the the rock on that side is different.

Originally Posted by pcb01

Can't imagine why one usable side is better than two.

Many of them are delicate and totally irreplaceable, so I don't think it's a case of one side being better, but probably safer. Damage prevention is foremost as watering or storing some of them incorrectly can ruin them. If you don't have to use both sides to avoid some variation in the stone, it's hard to justify the risk. More than just identification or aesthetic considerations behind this practice.