Thread: Shoobie Doobie Asagi

A while ago I picked up a Shoubudani Asagi from Max at JNS.
I finally got around to lapping this bad boy last weekend. What a chore that was, even with the D8XX. This thing is hard, very hard...I think my DMT was scared...It took a good while, Two corner's were low, and remain unlapped, but it won't interfere with honing....Anyway....

The hone itself is an awesome finisher on it's own. I took a DD GE that was beginning to pull and tug. An experienced shaver would be able to shave with it, a novice would have difficulty. I decided to give it a go on the Shoubudani Asagi I got from Max. This is one big chunk of rock, nearly 8x3, and almost an inch thick. It came with a slurry (Tomonagura) It's ideal for using the Nagura progression. It's hard enough....

Once I got it lapped, I took it up to 1000 grit sandpaper. You really need to with these hones. The surface is smooth as glass and has sparkles in it. It's really quite nice to look at. I guess you have to be a rock hound to appreciate it. I'll get around to using the Nagura Progression on it, Botan, Koma, etc...

It excells as a finisher, I did 5 sets of lapps. It doesn't give up slurry easily, but it can be coaxed. My first set of ten x strokes were sticky, stuttery, like lot's of Asagi's. It turned out to be too wet. After I figured that out, I did 15 circles down the hone, 10 more x strokes, and another 15 circles, diluting as I went, and finally finished up with 10 lapps, just water...

I stropped her up on TM's horsehide strop, The blade was just amazing, reallly, really, smooth, very keen, but not irritating. A very nice shave...Kudo's to Max at JNS....I highly recommend the Shoubudani Asagi.
Here are some pics, Of course the Kanji went away during lapping....