Thread: Jnat

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I heard that with the really good ones you bow to the four directions, point the stone to the east and lay your razor on it and it is immediately honed to perfection.

Nice try Jimmy, but it doesn't work quite like that. You forgot to add a sprinkle of magic wiffle dust...

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Nice try Jimmy, but it doesn't work quite like that. You forgot to add a sprinkle of magic wiffle dust...

Regards,
Neil

I thought you merely prayed to your ancestors while it is on the stone. I guess I'll have to go back and ask the in-laws how these things work in Japan...

You all forget the part about drinking sake before & after honing! Only way to get a properly sharp edge!

Originally Posted by PA23-250

You all forget the part about drinking sake before & after honing! Only way to get a properly sharp edge!

Doh...! How could I have forgotten that?! Especially as I had a friend who used to regularly hone vast numbers of razors each week on jnats. He doesn't hone anymore (the tremors in his hands don't allow it) but he can be found most nights lying in the gutter, looking at the stars and cursing the day he ever started honing...

Regards,
Neil

Don't forget Japan Tool

Awesome hone-porn pics.

I loved Jimmy's irreverent post. A couple months of reading all over, and coming back to: its FM (F*ing Magic).

Some of the stones are pretty. But what I read says looks don't matter, Name don't matter, strata don't matter, and just when you think you have it - someone says it's all wrong. Utterly baffling.

Maybe due to density between the ears, I went to what should have been 'plan-A'. Find the expert. I'm in the process of buying from Mr. Yamashita. Every good thing you read about him is true. 'A totally wonderful man - the kind you'd be proud to know whether you or he had anything to do with razors or stones. 'Would love to meet him over Sake with Onimaru & Johnmrson.

I expect a protracted learning curve, but one thing Mr. Yamashita said that was most encouraging. Using a good stone will increase your skill - without your noticing it. 'Sounds too good to be true, but I'll let someone else argue with it.

Why mess with it? I'm getting very pleasing edges off the humble c12k. What's not to like? An then I had to go any get a blade that was finished on a very nice Asagi, by Riooso. He asked why kind of edge I prefer. I like smooth more than ultimate sharp. The edge he delivered was not at all normal. One wtg pass and a bit of normal fussing w/ difficult concave areas - a 10-15 min. 90% shave for a guy that normally takes an hour. (2/3 of the time is spent on difficult areas - trying to conquer them). The blade just does NOT want to cut flesh. It's just not normal. So the jnat infection was planted.

I'm told HAD is much more severe than RAD. I'd rather sit that one out. I don't have the budget. I'd love to know how many stones and how many dollars guys have spent finding the right jnat. I fear the quest can stay infectious longer than I can remain financially solvent. That's why I want to work w/ Mr. Yamashita, and not have to buy and sell rocks until I'm happy. So far - no one has written that they've been disappointed w/ a rock from him. I can't wait to get my hands on that stone.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

They are remarkably beautiful stones and I could imagine myself going for them to the point of bankruptcy .... another reason why I've avoided opening that door even a crack.

For a moment there, I was tempted to join the HAD crew.
I have 2. One narutaki stone which I got from Jimbo, and one Nakayama I got from So. The Nakayama was really expensive. And really good as a finisher. I decided there and then that having 2 of such stones is not going to get me anything that 1 such stone cannot also do for me.

But it was touch and go

+1 Bruno.

I have only been one to get stuff that "works"! The problem that I have is that it has been observed by others in this forum that I tend to have the "Princess and the pea" syndrome. I spent about $600 chasing the J-Nat edge that I would like and frankly it was scaring me because it just wasn't happening. I ended up with a very nice rock from So and my search was over, I am happy. The only problem that I now have is that I enjoy honing a lot and I have stopped buying razors and only have 6 total because they "work". It has been brought up to me that So is making a handsome living selling hones and I am sure that he is. When you look at the closed society that these hones come from they have to be overpriced in my book not unlike diamonds which you can pick up off the ground in certain parts of Africa.

Well enough rambling.

Take Care,
Richard

Originally Posted by riooso

. When you look at the closed society that these hones come from they have to be overpriced in my book not unlike diamonds which you can pick up off the ground in certain parts of Africa.

Well enough rambling.

Take Care,
Richard

Also these stones are a finite supply & as they become more & more rare the prices will rise.