J-Nat Honing

[HungeJ0e]

I didn't want to highjack a different thread, so I'm starting my own on J-Nat techniques. Two goals: one to share my approach, which has led to excellent, comfortable edges. Secondly to look for other methods to work from my stones... I need suggestions and a (semi) organized approach.

My initial route to keen edges: With a dull razor start using a synthetic bevel setter. I then used a very hard base stone, that was known as a solid finisher. I then used asano nagura to raise a slurry and work a progression... botan -> tenjyou -> mejiro -> koma. I finished with a tomo raised slurry, diluting down to water only laps.

I started altering that, however, by doing a 4K -> 8K synth, and then jumping into the nagura progression at the mejiro or koma. It was faster (although using nagura is pleasant, the entire progression would take well over an hour), and starting with a mirror edge provided a base to ensure I was working the entire edge when it would start to haze.

Picture time:



The base stones are on bottom with the various nagura on top. Base stones, left to right, are a tsushima black (facedown), kiita (hard, unknown), shobudanai, and two ozukus.

My first edges using the progression on the shobudanai were pretty good, roughly as keen as my 12000 SS but also with a "soft" feel on the skin... it wicked the hairs away but was more forgiving on the skin, leaving few weepers or cuts. The tsushima black was pretty cheap, and works pretty cheaper. Not a finisher... it's a mid grade stone. I haven't played with its nagura much. The kiita is fairly hard, and self-slurries when honing. It produces a good edge, but not as keen as the shobu. The ozukus I purchased trying for something similar to the shobu, but larger. The first one I received (far right) I discovered a hairline crack going about halfway through the stone after flattening and sharpening my first razor on it... the vendor sent me a replacement, and generously let me keep the original. Some CA glue fixed the crack, and after flattening I now have two ozukus... both give excellent edges.

My "goto" approach now is to use the ozukus as the base stone, starting with an 8K synthetic edge. I use the tomo on the far right in the photo to slurry and then dilute down to water. This provides very good edges, easily exceeding my SS 12000 both in keenness and comfort.

The shobu I'm pretty good on what it can do for me... it's a fine stone, but maybe not quite as fine as the ozukus, and small enough to make me wish I had a bigger hone every time I use it. Probably coming to a for sale page near you in the future. The kiita and tsushima I kind of don't know what to do with. Same for all the tomo to the left of the lacquered asanos...

I will probably start experimenting with self-slurries, raised with a diamond plate, in the near future on the kiita and ozukus. Any other suggestions/techniques folks have to share?