Got me a new toy - Asagi stone!

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06-14-2011, 09:50 PM
Stubear

2 Attachment(s)

Got me a new toy - Asagi stone!

Hey folks,

So I'd been browsing around, as you do, and stumbled across this asagi at a really great price so I snagged it, and it arrived today.

Attachment 71426 Attachment 71425

Very pleased with this one! From initial inspection this is a very fine, very hard stone. I gave one of my razors (the C-MON in the pictures) a few swipes on it and I'll be trying it out tomorrow. The feedback is very silky and smooth, almost like honing the razor on a piece of rock hard silk.

I didnt use any slurry on this at all, just plain water for 30 X strokes. The stone came ready lapped but there are no ink kanji, just hand written pencil ones. Before I use it too much more I'll laquer around the edges and the base as well, just so it doesnt soak up too much water.

I'll let you know how she performs! :)

This stone will be coming with me to the London Razorcon as well, so folks who come along will be able to try it out.
06-14-2011, 09:52 PM
Mvcrash

Very nice rock. Let us know how it performs.
06-14-2011, 10:33 PM
lz6

Nice outcome of browsing around! That is a good looking stone.
06-14-2011, 10:35 PM
Maxi

That looks pretty awesome. Looking forward to performance ratings.
06-14-2011, 10:35 PM
mainaman

nice rock, let us know how it performs.
06-14-2011, 10:53 PM
Utopian

If you don't plan on soaking the stone, and I don't know why you would, then I don't think there is any need to seal the edges.
06-14-2011, 10:57 PM
Joe Edson

Very nice! I have a new Ozuku on the way from Maxim and am looking forward to giving JNats another go. Let us know how yours performs.
06-14-2011, 11:35 PM
Scipio

Stu's got HAD...
06-15-2011, 12:17 AM
onimaru55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utopian

If you don't plan on soaking the stone, and I don't know why you would, then I don't think there is any need to seal the edges.

Agreed. If it's as hard as you say, water will likely just sit on it for hours without soaking in. However I have to admit all my Jnats bar one are sealed :)
06-15-2011, 12:18 AM
zib

I love the finish off my Shoubudani Asagi....! Nice stone...
06-15-2011, 12:28 AM
mainaman

Quote:

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Agreed. If it's as hard as you say, water will likely just sit on it for hours without soaking in. However I have to admit all my Jnats bar one are sealed :)

yep mine too, I just like the lacquered smooth and reflective sides of the hone.
06-15-2011, 12:35 AM
pinklather

Stu, whatcha gonna use just before hitting the asagi? Or are you going to use nagura?
06-15-2011, 01:10 AM
nessmuck

Now that i have a pipe and tobacco AD,the funds have not been there for stones and razors!!! CONGRATS on the new HAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
06-15-2011, 02:53 AM
Utopian

Quote:

Originally Posted by zib

I love the finish off my Shoubudani Asagi....! Nice stone...

Ah-ha. Now I now what Lynn meant when he called one of his Japanese hones a Shooby-Dooby!
06-15-2011, 03:06 AM
mainaman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utopian

Ah-ha. Now I now what Lynn meant when he called one of his Japanese hones a Shooby-Dooby!

that was a pretty big topic a few months back
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...bie-asagi.html
06-15-2011, 03:07 AM
hoglahoo

You have my envy, Stu. enjoy your new old hone :)
06-15-2011, 03:08 AM
Utopian

Thanks for the link. That was from the period when I was stuck of a farm without internet access so I missed it.
06-15-2011, 08:38 AM
Stubear

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinklather

Stu, whatcha gonna use just before hitting the asagi? Or are you going to use nagura?

At the moment I'm predominantly using 1/4/8k Shaptons plus some sort of natural finisher, that's working really well for me.

I've also been using the 1k Chosera followed by 3&8k Naniwa SS but the Shapton system is so consistently good with every blade I've been using that more and more.

I really like the edges off the Naniwas but the warpage when wet has been bugging me a bit, and they tend to dish on heavy grinds and really hard steel I've found, so I've kinda drifted back to the Shaptons.
06-15-2011, 02:15 PM
alx

Stu
I picked up a Shapton Pro 2k last year and it is my bevel setter right now. They do stay while still cutting fast. Good luck with your Asagi. How about a photo of the back? Alx
06-15-2011, 03:12 PM
pinklather

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stubear

At the moment I'm predominantly using 1/4/8k Shaptons plus some sort of natural finisher,

So is the 8k shapton or nani used right before asagi, or 'some sort of natural finisher'?

Have you found how fast it is? How many strokes before darkening of water or slurry show?
06-15-2011, 03:53 PM
Utopian

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinklather

How many strokes before darkening of water or slurry show?

I don't think an Asagi will accomplish either in a few hundred strokes unless a nagura is used.
06-15-2011, 03:53 PM
Stubear

I come off the 1/4/8k Shaptons right onto the Asagi.

I only use naturals as finishers TBH, and the ones I'm talking about are either this stone, a nakayama Maruichi, Escher, coticule or Charnley Forest.

Yes I have HAD lol! :D

I did 30 strokes with just water and there was no darkening of the water. I didn't notice any swarf particles especially.

My other Jnat is the same, there's no swarf even after 100 strokes.

Both of them seem to be ultra ultra fine, I'd guesstimate comfortably over 30k.

Edit: Ron beat me to it! :) I agree, these are very slow and very hard stones.
06-15-2011, 06:04 PM
riooso

I sometimes have a hard time distinguishing whether a stone is cutting. I use a slurry from the stone and after about 50 laps I take the slurry off the stone and put it on white paper. When compared with just regular unused slurry on white paper, there is a huge difference. So I get a feel what is going on along.

Later,
Richard
06-15-2011, 09:12 PM
pinklather

Many Thanks, Utopian and Stu.

I notice a huge change in keenness depending on what I use just before the asagi.

Most recently, I tried a nani 12k before 50 strokes on the asagi (a very slow but pleasing stone). 'Among the best edges from a razor that was lackluster at best. If I may use HHT for reference, the N12k only gives an avg of 1/2-3/4 bump in keenness indicators over the coti (LPB or Dressante), but the difference in shave is much more dramatic. I may be expecting a feel from the coti its not capable of producing, or that I lack the skill to produce. It may be as simple as the full width of the N12 is easier for me to keep a high quality stroke on, compared w/ the more narrow (2" max) cotis.

Thank you both for your thoughts. I appreciate it.
06-16-2011, 01:50 AM
MODINE

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scipio

Stu's got HAD...

Poor Stu... I HAD to laugh. Been there. Done that. Somebody give the poor bloke a nagura to mess around with... I know who you can send the stone to if you want and honest evaluation, freight is cost prohibitive anymore though... London RazorCon guys will be able to offer insight...

That's the problem with the naturals. Some "extreme" fine stones are slow. Some just don't cut at all. You take your chances. I do not use a nagura anymore. I use a 1200 DMT to raise the stones own slurry and let the particles break down finer and finer. Then just water. If I am doing 100 passes on a stone it better be doing something to the edge.
Good luck.
Mike
06-16-2011, 03:14 AM
alx

Mike I'm with you, with a light slurry from a DN a fine asagi should be polishing out 6 or 8k scratches within 30 short strokes, and from there on it is refining the edge. After another 20 with the slurry and 20 light strokes with clear water you should be ready to strop. alx