I just wanted to let you know, as of now I am a part of the Shoubu-Legion!
Shall the Shoubudani rise.
Recently I was in the market for another japanese natural. I do not know why, though.
My j-nat setup until recently has been:
- medium soft Kiita (probably something suita) for my kitchen knives.
Very nice, makes for perfect slicing edges - blue-greenish Oohira, slightly harder (but still in the softer region). I would guess 8-9.000 JIS
- Nakayama Kiita Nashiji, Maruka and Maruichi, as well as Nihon Kamisori stamp. Quite hard, quite slow, extremely fine though. Gives simply outstanding shaves.
- several smaller pieces that serve as Nagura, Uchigomori, and a couple of Suita.
I was contacting Maksim over at JNS and it was just too tempting.
So instead of a small Ozuku I bit the bullet for a huge Shoubudani Asagi.
I was not expecting a stone that could match my beloved Nakayama.
It is a true Nakayama, after all.
But the moment I got the stone and tried it, I fell in love.
Don´t get me wrong, both the Nakayama and the Shoubu shine at being a finisher for razors.
The Shoubu Asagi is yet harder (I would rate it
hard) and quicker at that!
At least that is what I believe so far.
I seldomly use the one-stone method, but a variation of it.
I start with a Tsushima Nagura Slurry on my Ohira for setting a bevel that needs little resetting.
When I´m satisfied I switch to the Shoubudani with Mejiro Slurry. Sometimes I add the Tomonagura in between the next step.
Then I take out my Naniwa Super 10.000. With a light slurry, raised by a DMT card or a ~12.000 Mesh Micromesh paper.
This really gets the bevel shiny. Perfect mirror.
The edge is quite keen then, and ready for shaving.
This is the time for the Shoubudani to do it´s work.
The Shoubudani (mine at least) does not diminish the outstanding mirror (even under high magnification),
but smoothens the edge even further to the point of awesomness.
The shaves from the Shoubudani are outstanding. Smooth and keen!
Maybe (splitting hairs here) I would give the Shoubudani edge a bit more keenness
whereas the Nakayama has a bit more smoothness.
But then again, the varaince produced within two sets of razors sharpened on one of these stones
would be far greater than the difference I just described.
Maybe I will make a picture of my current j-nat collection soon.
I am really, really wondering about the Ohzukus from Maksim.
His ultra-hard 5++ Ohzukus must be wonderfull. Maybe another time I will not be able to withstand :gl:
But for now I am extemely delighted with my Shoubu.
Ah, and btw. I have not yet lapped it. I want to savour the stamp a little further.
But I gave it a good polish with my Nagura, Mejiro and Tomo.
The stone quickly took on a good mirror