Thread: Jnat finishing

So I have bought a Nakayama Lv. 5 to finish on. So far I am pretty happy with the results. I usually got to the Jnat after an 8k Norton. I slurry with the provided Tomo and begin honing switching from 10 half strokes to 20 circles and adding two to four drops of water between sets. Once I get down to near water I rinse everything and just use plain water to finish. The suction created is absurd and I take it as a good sign for my edge. I am happy with the edge and look forward to getting even better on my stone. What do you guys follow for your jnats? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated as well!

I get somewhat confused by all these new numbers

What is Lv. 5 ????

Under Magnification is the bevel hazy or mirrored..

Have you tried using just the slurry from the stone itself.

Have you determined if the stone's slurry is friable ie: is it getting smoother the more you work the slurry.

I stopped finish on water only long time ago, I like the results off slurry better.
I also get on my finisher after 10k Super Stone, and do several dilutions with Mejiro nagura, then tomonagura.

I have found slight slurry finishes better. BUT I do have a few hard suitas and asagis even that finish water only very nicely. As was said, look at the bevel and see how polished or scratchy it is after slurry, or water. If you see polishing, then there is further refinement, if not then the edge is degrading. Some stones scratch water only, and HHT is reduced sometimes after water only depending on the stone. Hone and shave trying different things will get you where you want to be. Heavy resistance and suction sometimes causes stone particles to be sucked up out of the stone and wreck the bevel. You can have the best of both if you rinse the stone but leave some residual slurry on the blade.

Stefan it makes sense for me to finish with the slurry built up on my shobundi since it continues to become smaller as I work the razor over the stone. The smaller particulate continues to smooth the edge of my razor IMHO.
Semper Fi,
Tom

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I get somewhat confused by all these new numbers

What is Lv. 5 ????

Under Magnification is the bevel hazy or mirrored..

Have you tried using just the slurry from the stone itself.

Have you determined if the stone's slurry is friable ie: is it getting smoother the more you work the slurry.

Not answering for anybody but Lv 5 is a hard stone, they can be graded harder like 5+ ++ and +++, but it depends who is grading them. Its not rocket science thats for sure. JNS and Alex Gilmore use these numbers among others. Takeshi from A frames uses a 1-10 with decimal points as well. Again not rocket science.

The level 5 comes from JNS where I purchased the stone. The bevel is hazy which I thought you wanted from a Jnat? I assume the slurry is breaking down but I don't have the knowledge to tell since this is my first Jnat. I haven't tried slurry straight from the stone since I was told to steer clear of using a dmt. I don't know much about the tomo I was sent but trusted maksims expertise.

Originally Posted by aa1192

The level 5 comes from JNS where I purchased the stone. The bevel is hazy which I thought you wanted from a Jnat? I assume the slurry is breaking down but I don't have the knowledge to tell since this is my first Jnat. I haven't tried slurry straight from the stone since I was told to steer clear of using a dmt. I don't know much about the tomo I was sent but trusted maksims expertise.

Honestly you have answered most of your own questions...

Until you become familiar enough with how the stone works, and you start experimenting, then stick with the instructions given with the stone..
One of the allures of J-nats is that each stone has it's own combination, we can of course tell you what works for us on our stones but that might actually take you in the reverse direction on your stone..

Get a standard routine that works down, then start changing only one aspect of that routine, and see if a well known razor reacts better or worse from it..

Yeah, you're right just was hoping for some street signs. I am already very impressed with the results though so I can only imagine a few months from now. I am shooting for a hazy finish though right? Not the mirror of a Nani 12k.

Originally Posted by aa1192

I am shooting for a hazy finish though right? Not the mirror of a Nani 12k.

I shoot for a good shave. A hazy finish just means irregular sized scratches that reflect lighy unevenly. Small scratches mind you but uneven.

Working J/knives sometimes have hazy dinishes on the bevel so food doesn't stick etc. This can be achieved with a 1k King & slurry.
A full polish, on the other hand, altho coloured by the stone will be quite reflective if the stone is fine. See pic.

My prepolishers will leave a nice hazy finish but I prefer a finer edge tho they do improve an 8k shave.