Thread: Share cost for a top Japanese stone?

Hi, I am in a position to get a top Japanese stone. Quite a load of $, but it's fairly big. Much bigger than I need for sure - at least twice as big.

Was wondering if anyone is interested in pitching in: then we can have the stone cut in smaller (narrower) hones. In my experience narrow hones work great. And we will have something over 20K grit, possibly up to 40K. Compare this to a Coticule or Escher

Actually, a person in Japan who is very knowledgeable will offer me a choice of a number of stones from his collection - and I am just exploring interest here. If there is no interest - I will still get something very nice and high grade for razors, but it probably would not be as good as what we can get if we combine resources. The catch is that by myself I will have a bigger but lower than top grade hone. I would much rather have a smaller top grade rock. If the person had smaller top grades I would just get one and forget about it, but as it happens his top grades are not small and command higher prices...

Cheers
Ivo

How useful are such stones for straight razor shavers? Isn't a coticule/Norton etc enough? Does it add to the experience? Or do I have to see this as a must have thing?

BTW: what sort of price range are we talking?

Originally Posted by Kees

How useful are such stones for straight razor shavers? Isn't a coticule/Norton etc enough? Does it add to the experience? Or do I have to see this as a must have thing?

BTW: what sort of price range are we talking?

I have to be honest: I do not know! Coticule, Escher, and Nortons are lower grit, of course. Seems that high grit Shapton can make a straight as sharp as a Feather. This may even be too much, actually? I cannot say.

I am sure it adds to the experience though. Claims are that edges last longer, too. Since they are used for Japanese razors (high carbon content steel), I would think they should work for ours. Seems that the Japanese used the best stones available for razors which is not different for other straight shavers - if we consider Belgians and Eschers. This means they are also the expensive stones. Moreover, turns out they like to keep the best stones as large as possible... Unlike me.

Price: I am thinking I am willing to go to about $300 on my own, but obviously prefer to spend less. I may be able to get a small top grade by myself if I am lucky. It will be bigger than I need, so if someone is interested I may still split it in two and share. But I may also decide to get something of a somewhat lower grade for about $150 I don't know yet. Just in case... It will still be a razor hone.

I am starting to lean towards getting something on my own, because I have no knowledge, really, and cannot guarantee anything to my potential partner - except my earnest enthusiasm. I must say I trust the person who is offering the stones - but this does not mean that you have to / can do so too.

Cheers
Ivo

Hi Ivo,
Depending on what the exact price ends up being I am interested.
What would be the dimensions of the stone I would end up getting?
Btw, how high is the risk of the stone shattering during sawing?

Originally Posted by Bruno

Hi Ivo,
Depending on what the exact price ends up being I am interested.
What would be the dimensions of the stone I would end up getting?
Btw, how high is the risk of the stone shattering during sawing?

I am certainly interested, depending on price but would like to know the experiences of SRP members who tried a similar stone on their razors. I am not a collector but like to have things useful.

BTW Shapton 30K at Japanese Woodworker sets you back $ 475.--

Originally Posted by Bruno

Hi Ivo,
Depending on what the exact price ends up being I am interested.
What would be the dimensions of the stone I would end up getting?
Btw, how high is the risk of the stone shattering during sawing?

Hi Bruno,

I was thinking somewhere about 25mm - 40mm wide and as long as it is (they are usually longer than 125mm, as far as I understand)

I was asking the person if he can cut it for us before he ships it but it turns out that he cannot do it. So no idea how to go about it.

Originally Posted by Kees

I am certainly interested, depending on price but would like to know the experiences of SRP members who tried a similar stone on their razors. I am not a collector but like to have things useful.

BTW Shapton 30K at Japanese Woodworker sets you back $ 475.--

Hey Kees,
I am not a collector by any means either! Just searching for the ultimate edge. I have some top (and expensive) razors, it made sense to me to try to use some top (and expensive) stones.

I also have a thing for natural stuff. By the way, there is a cheaper 30K Shapton - ~ $300, one friend here has one and loves it - not sure if he cares to share. But I prefer natural stones, and it may be about 40k! Mamma mia!

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

Hey Kees,
I am not a collector by any means either! Just searching for the ultimate edge. I have some top (and expensive) razors, it made sense to me to try to use some top (and expensive) stones.

I also have a thing for natural stuff. By the way, there is a cheaper 30K Shapton - ~ $300, one friend here has one and loves it - not sure if he cares to share. But I prefer natural stones, and it may be about 40k! Mamma mia!

Cheers
Ivo

Hi Ivo,

Do you knwo where he bought it so cheap? The price I quoted is Japanese wood worker. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Kees

Hi Ivo,

Do you knwo where he bought it so cheap? The price I quoted is Japanese wood worker. Thanks.

Kees,

I think this here

Glass series should be cheaper and more than adequate for you?

Cheers
Ivo

I would like to know

from where this stones exactly come from, ( where broken from..)
the area.

It is true some of those japanese natural waterstones getting rare and very expensive however, such waterstones are much more delicate to use
and to store.

Quite receptive to humidity and dryness of the storage area.

I bought last year when I was in Japan - Kyoto an Honyama ( from the Honyama Mountain, near Kyoto ) -
waterstone which become quite rare - and payed about 100 dollar US. The grit of this stone is about a 12'

Not to forget no soaking necessary, but need to use an nagura stone too
for an nice slurry surface.

Maybe we should start a High-Dollar-Jap-Stone club?

LOL.

J.