Thread: Nagura Progression going backwards?

Just wanted to pose a question for jnat users-
Has anyone noticed razors going backwards when using a seemingly finer nagura? By backwards I mean by whatever test you use (HHT, etc).
For me, I can start with botan, get nice HHT with mejiro, then after koma, it seems like my HHT is considerably worse. I haven't done enough testing yet to see if that means anything (like how it shaves). Just wanted to see if anyone else has noticed the same thing. Could my koma actually be taking me backwards? It actually feels courser on the stone. Does a nagura have to be "broken in"?

Shane

I don't think your koma should feel more coarse. Mine certainly does not.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "broken in"? You need to make sure that there aren't sharp edges or corners, etc. that might break loose small chips of Nagura. I round off edges and corners to prevent that. If your Koma still feels gritty after that precaution, I'd just skip it and work the Mejiro a little longer. It'll give basically the same result. My understanding is that the binder is the main difference between Mejiro and Koma and that effecting how quickly the Nagura breaks down..............Well, and now the big difference is the price....sheesh!!

Regards,

Howard

Originally Posted by SirStropalot

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "broken in"? You need to make sure that there aren't sharp edges or corners, etc. that might break loose small chips of Nagura. I round off edges and corners to prevent that. If your Koma still feels gritty after that precaution, I'd just skip it and work the Mejiro a little longer. It'll give basically the same result. My understanding is that the binder is the main difference between Mejiro and Koma and that effecting how quickly the Nagura breaks down..............Well, and now the big difference is the price....sheesh!!

Regards,

Howard

Thanks Howard. I didn't know if there were a certain amount you needed to take off to get to a consistent layer, kind of like you're saying so you don't get small chips and what not.
But yes good advice. The mejiro was working well. Maybe I should stick with not fixing it if it isn't broke

Howard, that is an excellent point about potential chunks or chips off of the koma. It's a matter of the macro vs the micro. The koma may contain fine grained material but if chunks of this fine stuff break off, then it ain't so fine.

Originally Posted by RoyalCake

Thanks Howard. I didn't know if there were a certain amount you needed to take off to get to a consistent layer, kind of like you're saying so you don't get small chips and what not.
But yes good advice. The mejiro was working well. Maybe I should stick with not fixing it if it isn't broke

I think you are misinterpreting the advice. You don't need to take a full layer off. You just need to make sure there are no fragile corners. You can do this by rounding over the corners in the same manner as chamfering the edges of a hone.

I'll let the experts respond but my understanding is that Koma nagura is rather rare or in short supply and it may be that your Koma is not exactly what it was promised to be? In the end, it's a rock and the absolute quality of it will never be guaranteed. As far as I know, what you describe should not be the case. I personality have never passed a HHT off of a Mejiro. I will only get there off of a tomo or the base stone with plain water. But those are my rocks and their qualities.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I think you are misinterpreting the advice. You don't need to take a full layer off. You just need to make sure there are no fragile corners. You can do this by rounding over the corners in the same manner as chamfering the edges of a hone.

Well to be sure I'll just make sure that surface is smooth also. Just like the "sides" are not as smooth as the surface you use to make slurry, at some point I assume even that surface was "rough".
I'll double check and give it another go.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

I'll let the experts respond but my understanding is that Koma nagura is rather rare or in short supply and it may be that your Koma is not exactly what it was promised to be? In the end, it's a rock and the absolute quality of it will never be guaranteed. As far as I know, what you describe should not be the case. I personality have never passed a HHT off of a Mejiro. I will only get there off of a tomo or the base stone with plain water. But those are my rocks and their qualities.

True. Anything is possible.
But I did get it from another respected member here and it's asano stamped.
I'll have to do some more testing. To make sure I really know how it's behaving.

Originally Posted by RoyalCake

True. Anything is possible.
But I did get it from another respected member here and it's asano stamped.
I'll have to do some more testing. To make sure I really know how it's behaving.

Again refer to the experts but perhaps try using a lighter slurry with it. That may be a potential edge destroying problem. Maybe Utopan will give you the advice you need or try PMing Stefan.