More Jnattery

[jgjgjg]

You gents may remember that I posted asking for translation of the text on an ebay stone. Using your input (thanks!!!) I was able to argue that what he was selling was not quite what he was advertising. I got the stone for very much less than.

Last night, I lapped it. And here let me say that if any of you develop a time machine, please ask those fine mining gentlemen of yore to scribble scrabble their kanji on the sides and back!!! It's just a shame to lap that off.

Anyhooo.....he advertised the stone as a 'little bit softer' than the typical very fine and very hard stones from the nakayama mine. While I can't evaluate 'softer' I can say it was 'silkier' than my very hard, very fine (and verified) nakayama stone. He claimed 'nakayama' but the stone said 'atagoyama'. He also claimed "pre WWII, very old". I can believe this. It came in a ornately woodblock stamped cardboard box, within which the stone was wound in a fine but very brittle tissue paper. The box itself, though showing no water marks or damage, crumbles a bit more every time I touch it. Typical of very old but not 'acid free' paper products.

You may also remember that I've been trying to coax 'more' out of the nakayama. Last night I honed on this stone. The first indication was the hanging hair test. With my other stone, I have to slap the hair down on the blade pretty hard to get it to cut, and I have to be super super focused on a very light touch when honing. But it shaves. With this, I still have to focus, but it cuts the hair without effort or sound. I shaved with it this morning, and it was noticeably sharper and smoother. I cut off a few different skin bumps this morning without even feeling them--which is very new for me. You can bet I felt it when I took the styptic to them!!

I'm certain this is 'me', and me learning how to use different things. It's remarkable to me though how widely variant the results are with different rocks.

[bill3152]

Yes they certainly are. The descriptions and names are almost irrelevant, the stone that works well is the one your looking for. Even though they share similar characteristics. Keep playing around and who knows what you will find! But its about finding what works and not doing what doesn't work. When I started using Jnats, I honed to a 10k chosera and was recording my progress in keeping or losing sharpness. Now I typically set a bevel on 1k and do a full nagura progression. Or use a softer jnat before my harder ones. The Japanese say one minute to learn and a lifetime to master. I shoulda started 20 years ago LOL. Have fun with that.

[jgjgjg]

recording my progress in keeping or losing sharpness.

That's a great idea!

[Lemur]

Some very fine stones comes from Atagoyama, good luck with it and keep playing around with it in any way possible... except with oil!

[OCDshaver]

I'm certain this is 'me', and me learning how to use different things. It's remarkable to me though how widely variant the results are with different rocks.

This is so true. My first experience with a natural stone was very inconsistent. I assumed that I was the problem. And perhaps, I was. But once I got another stone, one that produces great results, the edges I was able to achieve were suddenly blowing away every other edge I've ever put on a razor. The struggling I was doing on other stones may have helped in that it was causing me to try to be perfect in every step along the way.....only to see them fall apart at the very end. Now with better performing stones, the results are remarkably better. I still leave open the possibility that I may crack the code on one of the more difficult stones but I'm currently adopting the theory that certain stones are only capable of doing X. Trying to get them to do more than they are capable of is an exercise in frustration and failure. I now have two small Jnats. One Shobudani and one Ozuku. The edges on the Shoboudani are very sharp and keen. The Ozuku edges are not as aggressive and its been much harder getting them to their final level of sharpness. The Ozuku seems to be a much slower stone too. The difference in the edges is actually quite remarkable in how they both feel. A good problem to have but none the less a problem, is that all of my razors are currently in good condition as far as the edges go. So I don't have more razors that I can hone right now to keep learning the differences between them.

[bill3152]

What I like the most about jnats and natural stones in general as these tools were used before modern grinders etc. Take a stone, rub your naguras on it and keep going til shes sharp. I got 6 and got my eyes on another one. Love the hobby. Synthetics are great also, but the allure of the jnats has me fascinated. I have 3 cotis, a labeled dark blue Escher and a cnat also. But the jnats got me hooked!

[jgjgjg]

Bill, OCD, I think we're putting the cart before the horse. The sentiment seems to be "find a stone to fit your razor". But given the relative cost of razors to jnats, and the "drive it off the lot" discount of jnats relative to razors, I suspect it should go the other way. Should we have the view of "buy the best jnat you can, and then buy/sell razors until you find the 2 or 3 keepers that work well on the stone."?

[OCDshaver]

Bill, OCD, I think we're putting the cart before the horse. The sentiment seems to be "find a stone to fit your razor". But given the relative cost of razors to jnats, and the "drive it off the lot" discount of jnats relative to razors, I suspect it should go the other way. Should we have the view of "buy the best jnat you can, and then buy/sell razors until you find the 2 or 3 keepers that work well on the stone."?

I suppose that's great as long as you only have one form of access disorder.

[bill3152]

If I was only interested in shaving, I could have very well stopped at my norton 1k, 4/8 and naniwa 12. I like fiddling around, trying different stones. I never had one that wasnt good btw. Its just some you like more than others. My softer jnats I use as prepolishers for my harder stones. But ive shaved off of each of them and they all get used. And one of these days I can sell them and settle on a few. I dont expect it all but something nonetheless.