Thread: Nagura Progression going backwards?

BTW, what more are you hoping for if you're passing. HHT off of the Mejiro? Seems to me you hav a great edge already. Mejiro can be your last step in the progression. It a good, fine stone capable of being the final polish if you choose.

I have played with naguras but have nowhere near the experience that Stefan has.

I did a google search for "Koma nagura feels course" and the second thing that popped up was a page on Komas as tomonagura.com.
In his writeup he says "Like other Mikawa Nagura, each Koma can have its own unique personality. Some seem to create slurry that starts off coarser, yet winds up finer at the end of the session". Obviously it's pretty general statement, but maybe it speaks to the fact that each stone is different, same with naguras.
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions to talk with Stefan too - I'll have to hit him up.

If you can hone mejiro then tomo & get a good edge maybe your koma is a problem ?
You may be able to see if the scratch pattern looks coarser under magnification. On the other hand are you honing beyond a good edge ?

Originally Posted by onimaru55

If you can hone mejiro then tomo & get a good edge maybe your koma is a problem ?
You may be able to see if the scratch pattern looks coarser under magnification. On the other hand are you honing beyond a good edge ?

Why didn't I think about looking at the scratch pattern? Haha. Of course.
I've been fairly successful with the jnat but not a ton of razors across it, so yes I may be going beyond a good edge. I'm still learning this set.

I always hone with my big eyes handy.

Originally Posted by RoyalCake

I did a google search for "Koma nagura feels course" and the second thing that popped up was a page on Komas as tomonagura.com.
In his writeup he says "Like other Mikawa Nagura, each Koma can have its own unique personality. Some seem to create slurry that starts off coarser, yet winds up finer at the end of the session". Obviously it's pretty general statement, but maybe it speaks to the fact that each stone is different, same with naguras.
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions to talk with Stefan too - I'll have to hit him up.

If in fact this is the issue with your stone, you'll need to hone longer on it to break it down to its finest level of grit and polish. As I hone with mine, I do many many sets of circles and xstrokes to break down the slurry. You may already be doing that. But perhaps this one needs more than your others? If not, maybe try a tomo after your Mejiro instead.

Koma has a different feel than the other naguras IMO. Its starts out grittier but breaks very fast. A few circles and the slurry has started changing color. As was said a rounded edge will serve you better than a sharper corner. Are your slurry sizes consistent? I typically go smaller slurries on Koma. Slurry density is also something to consider so try to be aware of how it looks even to go as far as looking at the slurry with a loupe before, during and after. Maybe a touch more of water may be all that is needed.

Originally Posted by bill3152

Koma has a different feel than the other naguras IMO. Its starts out grittier but breaks very fast. A few circles and the slurry has started changing color. As was said a rounded edge will serve you better than a sharper corner. Are your slurry sizes consistent? I typically go smaller slurries on Koma. Slurry density is also something to consider so try to be aware of how it looks even to go as far as looking at the slurry with a loupe before, during and after. Maybe a touch more of water may be all that is needed.

Thanks Bill. I remember your advice on the small slurries, and I'll pay more attention now. I do notice the color change and consistency, so maybe it's behaving like it should. I just need to stop and inspect more to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

If you get bubbles in the slurry, any slurry look at them with a loupe, if the slurry particles are suspended in the bubbles then the particles are very fine.