Thread: A couple of JNat questions...

Originally Posted by MarkinLondon

My understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) is that the various slurries work on JNats because the Asewedo is hard enough to not produce its own slurry while the Naguras are being used. That makes me think that the Naguras will work on my Charnley in the same manner. That thing is as hard as, well, a rock.

How far off base am I in my thinking?

Not far at all.

Coming off a 1K, I routinely hone razors on Botan-Tenjou-Koma-Tomonagura (finsiher) slurry. I have tried a similar route on other hard hones, and had reasonably good results, though the finish makes a difference. I don't have a CF, so I can't say how it will work, but your assumptions seem sound.

So on a CF, I would recommend that same progression, though I have no idea how a finishing slurry would work.

As for the perceived contradictions, all I will say is this: botan slurry is made of particles that are larger than the particles in Mejiro/tenjou/koma slurry, and that's why you should wash your suita. How much bigger? No idea. That's why grit is irrelevant--grit, as a measure of size, is really hard to measure in natural hones.

As a frame of reference, I'll say this: I have honed chips out of Japanese Kamisori and hollow ground wetern style straights using all kinds of slurry.

To hone a chip 2mm long and about.5 mm deep from a full hollow razor, it took approximately 3.5 hours on finishing slurry. A similar chip took 20 minutes to hone out on Botan slurry. It took 10 minutes to hone a chip out of a Kamisori on an Aoto.

Originally Posted by JimR

Not far at all.

Coming off a 1K, I routinely hone razors on Botan-Tenjou-Koma-Tomonagura (finsiher) slurry. I have tried a similar route on other hard hones, and had reasonably good results, though the finish makes a difference. I don't have a CF, so I can't say how it will work, but your assumptions seem sound.

So on a CF, I would recommend that same progression, though I have no idea how a finishing slurry would work.

As for the perceived contradictions, all I will say is this: botan slurry is made of particles that are larger than the particles in Mejiro/tenjou/koma slurry, and that's why you should wash your suita. How much bigger? No idea. That's why grit is irrelevant--grit, as a measure of size, is really hard to measure in natural hones.

As a frame of reference, I'll say this: I have honed chips out of Japanese Kamisori and hollow ground wetern style straights using all kinds of slurry.

To hone a chip 2mm long and about.5 mm deep from a full hollow razor, it took approximately 3.5 hours on finishing slurry. A similar chip took 20 minutes to hone out on Botan slurry. It took 10 minutes to hone a chip out of a Kamisori on an Aoto.

This is the best news I've heard yet. So: I'll contact that Maxim fellow and pick up a set of Naguras. I'll set a bevel on my 1K and start in with Naguras on the Charnley. I've got a CF slurry stone, so I'll finihs like I always have. That should work. Once I decide if I like this kind of honing I can begin the seemingly intense process of choosing an Asewedo.

How's that for a plan?

Originally Posted by MarkinLondon

This is the best news I've heard yet. So: I'll contact that Maxim fellow and pick up a set of Naguras. I'll set a bevel on my 1K and start in with Naguras on the Charnley. I've got a CF slurry stone, so I'll finihs like I always have. That should work. Once I decide if I like this kind of honing I can begin the seemingly intense process of choosing an Asewedo.

How's that for a plan?

Sounds like a solid plan, Stan.

I'm going to go to a guy at a place who sells Naguras, but he makes no mention of price differences between grades, of which there are four.

What sort of questions should I be asking him? Are the higher grades simply prettier or are they more functional? I have 20 razors, and enjoy honing, but I don't expect to actually use up the entirety of a nagura. Do they last very long? I would expect that if i like slurry honing then I'd rather not replace the naguras when I choose an asewedo.

Also, must I reidentify the rocks when they arrive? I would laugh my butt off if I bought the naguras and then asked the forum for help identifying them.

What advice would you have for a first time nagura buyer?

Ask him were did he buy them That would actually mean are they real or not.
If you are comfortable with the answer, grab 1 or 2 sets of lower 3 and as much as you can of koma, you shouldn't regret it. My koma cost more than my other 9 or 11 sets of 3 combined

Originally Posted by MarkinLondon

I'm going to go to a guy at a place who sells Naguras, but he makes no mention of price differences between grades, of which there are four.

What sort of questions should I be asking him? Are the higher grades simply prettier or are they more functional? I have 20 razors, and enjoy honing, but I don't expect to actually use up the entirety of a nagura. Do they last very long? I would expect that if i like slurry honing then I'd rather not replace the naguras when I choose an asewedo.

Also, must I reidentify the rocks when they arrive? I would laugh my butt off if I bought the naguras and then asked the forum for help identifying them.

What advice would you have for a first time nagura buyer?

if you are getting them from Maksim, they are stamped and he also has posted the kanji translations for all the grades on his site.
Many people have bought from him and like the product. I personally really enjoy mine.

One or two sets of the lower three?? Are you suggesting that I purchase 2 or three Botans etc...? They must not last long.

And I was going to buy them from Maxim. He doesn't make a price distinction among the grades or the stones. He only posts a single price.

What are the grade differences? size or quality?

Lower 3 is botan, tenjo and mejiro.

Originally Posted by Traskrom

Lower 3 is botan, tenjo and mejiro.

And you are suggesting that I purchase more than one of each? How long do they last for you? How often are they used, and on how many razors?

Originally Posted by MarkinLondon

How long do they last for you? How often are they used, and on how many razors?

Good questions for the seller to answer And please, we are talking about amount of money less than 100 bucks.. don't take it too serious..