Thread: Fast vs. Smooth

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Three things have to come together to make an exceptional edge
1. The Razor
2. the right stone for that razor
3 the skill in the hands

Many stones, on many razors, in many hands, make great edges but those exceptional edges are few and far between, and there is only a minute difference between Great and Exceptional...

I hope that makes a bit of sense...

Yes, it does. And it's why I've decided to keep a honing diary. I've read mentions of them here and there, and thought "Wow, that's overkill." But as the RAD and HAD duke it out (one's the lub, one's the dub, and on an on they go) I have more variations to try and to track.

It's good to learn that what I thought was a specific question is still pretty broad.

The keen and smooth holy grail. There's a preference portion here also. I have a preference for smooth - partially 'cause I don't want to bleed if there's some transgression in technique. What started the obsession with smooth was getting that magnificent Williams blade from Riooso - who finished it on an asagi - also from So Yamashita. It doesn't feel very keen, doesn't respond to normal tests that well. 'Won't lop a fine head hair (.0018" thick). Yet that bad boy leaves a cleaner cut than any blade - until I got the asagi.

As a Honer, I'm a beginner - about 55 blades. On the Asagi - I'm not safe outside without my mother . Months of reading from many diff. sources did almost nothing to clarify how to really master a jnat. F.M. Voodoo. I will say that even my awkward first blades on it were better than most of my edges from the C12k. I've yet to find a method of manipulating slurry that surpasses the finish from just water. I've not read others whose asagis behave like this. Most said just water left a harsh finish. My stone is SLOW. It does seem that for a soligen or US steel of any grind - it gives very pleasing edges.

As you can see from the above, Glen is very right - there's alot to it. My experience with heavy Sheffields tracks exactly as he said - they don't like the asagi. The guy I listened to most about the jnat said his stone didn't like the heavy sheffields either - so he used a Coti, which I don't have. There's no funds for a coti at the moment, but I'd love to try one - and an Escher/Thurry. It may be premature, but I posted 2 sheffields on the classifieds 'cause I don't like the edges they get, and don't like the feel of the blade on the face. 3 sheffields all felt the same. Sharp, but I don't like them.

My curiosity is over what techniques on a given stone - makes for smooth. Sham said in one post that on the coti & the Escher, he uses slurry until it's dry - no dilution. His edges are somewhat legendary. There's an antique show coming up later this month, so my SAD (skills acquisition disorder) will have some fresh fodder for the stones.