Help! Too many Jnats

Gents, I'm pulling my hair out trying to make a decision, and I want to avoid buying both stones and returning one. Please offer me your opinions, and help me decide. The large odd shaped looking one has 6.5" inches or so of a straight edge to work with on the short side, and about 7.5" on the long side. It is 3.5" wide, and about 1.5 or 2" deep. It is a nakayama karasu, and my research tells me that this is a rare and valuable stone. My only concern is that I LOVE using a stone that has a 8" long cutting surface, and 3" wide, I like the large cutting surface. The second stone, a large, light colored Ozaki Asagi is almost exactly 8"x3", and supposedly another fine finisher, sold by a trusted vendor. My only concern is that it is too thin, being only 1/2" deep.

I cannot make a decision on my own. Please help. I thought I wanted a large, deep stone, but now I'm thinking it would be nice to stack up my norton, coticule, and Jnat (all 8x3) in a neat little pile and be able to store cleanly in a box... Ideas, people? What would you get? Attachment 87821Attachment 87822Attachment 87823Attachment 87824

CMON people, I need help here, this is a lifechanging decision, here! :rant:

buy both, send them to me, I'll return the one I dont want.;) I have no jnats.:angel:

I also like the 8x3 surface and am facing a similar dilemma, but my vote is for the 8x3

As it turns out, the nakayama karasu is closer to 5.5"x7"x3.5" on the surface, and 1.5" deep. As rare and beautiful as it is, I had to go with the Ozaki asagi. It's less expensive, and compact enough to fit in the boxes I use for my other 8x3 stones. Damn--this Jnat bug has hit me hard, and all I want is to buy them all...damn you, JHAD! I HAVE NO MORE MONEY FOR YOU!!! :gth

are you able to try them out before you buy them?

I suppose I could buy them and return the one I don't want, but I want to avoid inconveniencing the sellers more than I have to. As it is, I kind of feel bad because I led one of them on that I would purchase their stone, and had to back out. But, I consider that better than buying it then returning it.

If you really can't decide, just buy both. Sell one later. See if the seller will give you a break (Hah!) for buying two stones....Good luck...

FWIW, Karasu is a rare stone, but I like the other.

It looks like you picked up a pretty sweet stone. How hard/fine/fast is it?

Still - that Karasu is gorgeous.

I recognize where the second stone comes from. My favorite little finisher (which is only about 6x3x1/2) has been lapped little and I expect it to last all my life. If in 20 years, it starts to become thinner, I'll just adhere it to a backing.

You can preserve the life of that stone, if you'd like, by getting it ultra flat once, and then doing all of the prefinishing on a less fine hone. Then that fine stone will work its magic without taking much wear. I haven't lapped my stone in several months. I don't plan on lapping it again until or unless I notice it getting out of flat.

As pretty as the karasu may be, you want the stone that gives you the best for the money, (unless you specifically want karasu). Thick stones are nice to look at and impressive, but the thickness of the stone doesn't sharpen your razor, and it costs you a lot of extra money.

It's all about performance for me. Which one performs better? All I've read about so far is which one fits into a box.

James.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimbo

It's all about performance for me. Which one performs better? All I've read about so far is which one fits into a box.

James.

---

I am not at liberty to try out both stones and decide based on performance which is better. According to both sellers, both stones are fine finishers and have the attributes I am looking for. Assuming they are both accurate in the descriptions, my decision then is based on which dimensions fit my need better.

The Karasu's I have tried have been pretty hard and slow for finishing, but very very nice. I'm in the both camp........

Have fun.

The problem is it is hard to say just from pics which is better.
Grab both try them return the one you do not like if you can or sell it.

I have a few jnats and one karasu. I will say the karasu is the easiest stone for me to get a good, consistent finish on my razors because of how smooth it is. The others don't really come close.

I just recieved the ozaki asagi in the mail yesterday and tested it on a dubl duck and dovo :)

My requirments to Alex were this:

A stone around 8x3"
"Velvety" feel honing on stone, as opposed to "like honing on glass."
Fast cutter with slurry
A stone fine enough to follow a coticule, which I can strop after honing and have a perfectly sharp edge
A stone 1" thick

The ozaki asagi Alex sent me (pictured in this thread fit all the requirements I gave him, with the exception of the 1" thick requirement, due to my price limit.

In short: I love this stone. It feels like I'm honing on butter, even with straight water! Excellent feedback on the razor, easily accomplished ATG shaves with only stropping.

I highly reccomend working with Alex :)

Grr, don't say these things! I'm trying to convince myself that I'm perfectly content with my coticule, and posts like these are wearing down my resolve just too fast!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tlittle

Grr, don't say these things! I'm trying to convince myself that I'm perfectly content with my coticule, and posts like these are wearing down my resolve just too fast!

---

Listen, I have a big la dressante (its called a "creamy" la dressante because even on water it gives that velvety, "creamy" feedback) And 3/4 of the time I can get a smooth, nice shave from it. But this Jnat, it has a velvety feeling too, in fact, even more so than the coticule, and it is a much finer grit stone. With those two razors (dubl duck and dovo) I couldn't quite dial it in with the coticule. (I tend to get better edges from wedges) But, I put them on the Jnat, and lo and behold, an effortless, ATG shave. I can see myself using this stone frequently, especially when I just can't quite get it with the coticule. You would be VERY happy with a nice Jnat in your arsenal :) (I'm evil, I know :)

Ooh, you stinker! I've been flip flopping for a while, but I think when I get the funds in order I might have to spring for one. I've been keeping my eye on the narrow kamisori toishis on thejapanblade.com and watching out for traveler sized hones on japanesenaturalstones.

good idea. I think there is a link on the 1st or second pages here that brings you to those websites(or other ones). I think a quality hone is one thing you won't feel too bad spending a ton of money on :)

Get the Karasu stone. It's hard to tell on these Japanese stones, you really need to test them a lot to see which you like more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Disburden

Get the Karasu stone. It's hard to tell on these Japanese stones, you really need to test them a lot to see which you like more.

---

If the karasu had a larger honing area, I would've gotten it. But I've found that I really prefer at least 8" of length, and at least 2" wide, if not more. I went with the other stone, and haven't looked back. It is exactly what I wanted in regards to size, feedback, versatility, and that perfect, final edge :)