Thread: Finishing with slurry on Japanese naturals

Originally Posted by joke1176

This is a small but interesting point that is not mentioned enough. On my current setup it takes almost 5 minutes to make a good slurry without a diamond plate.

I can tell the difference in the feel and finish of the edge when using a diamond plate vs. tomonagura. Since the slurry does the work, it's definitely worth the time to whip up the optimal finishing slurry.

I'd like to hear more about this. I've never used a diamond plate to raise slurry, but this isn't the first time I've seen remarks like yours. Lots of people say that diamond plate slurry is not the same as the tomonagura. Anyone want to speculate why?

Originally Posted by JimR

I'd like to hear more about this. I've never used a diamond plate to raise slurry, but this isn't the first time I've seen remarks like yours. Lots of people say that diamond plate slurry is not the same as the tomonagura. Anyone want to speculate why?

I got it from a very reliable source that a diamond plate should be used and the results would be the best possible from most stones. He insists that it is possible to sharpen a plane well enough that one could read through the curl that is produced using the above procedure.

Later,
Richard

I'm curious, Does anyone use their J-nats with just water, without a slurry stone?
I get great results off my Nakayama Asagi with just water. ( I do have matching slurries, or Tomonagura) As previously mentioned, The razor is shave ready. The J nat just takes it to another level. I also agree that you should stick with one stone for a while and get to know it...The kiita is a good choice..or the Maruka....I'd get your razor shave ready, then try the Kiita again, Try it without a slurry, see how it does....

Originally Posted by zib

I'm curious, Does anyone use their J-nats with just water, without a slurry stone?
I get great results off my Nakayama Asagi with just water. ( I do have matching slurries, or Tomonagura) As previously mentioned, The razor is shave ready. The J nat just takes it to another level. I also agree that you should stick with one stone for a while and get to know it...The kiita is a good choice..or the Maruka....I'd get your razor shave ready, then try the Kiita again, Try it without a slurry, see how it does....

The Japanese Naturals that I use are Asagi, Kiita and Ohzuku and as stated previously, I am only using water at this point. Sorry about this and for using such a limited amount of strokes.......

Have fun,

Lynn

I have used just water on an Asagi and have found that the razor is very keen. For me, just water polishes the edge and the bevel at the same time. I think of the slurry as a polisher of the bevel but ever so slightly rounds the keenness off, which I like. I am convinced that I am able to adjust the two different parts of a razor's edge, the bevel and the cutting edge, to my liking.

Later,
Richard

Originally Posted by riooso

I got it from a very reliable source that a diamond plate should be used and the results would be the best possible from most stones. He insists that it is possible to sharpen a plane well enough that one could read through the curl that is produced using the above procedure.

Later,
Richard

why a diamond plate vs a piece of J-nat stone as a slurry stone?

Originally Posted by joke1176

why a diamond plate vs a piece of J-nat stone as a slurry stone?

Because nagura will most likely be scratchier & coarser than a slurry made from the polisher. If your aim is to cut that's fine but if you are just polishing the final edge the diamond plate gives a finer slurry.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Because nagura will most likely be scratchier & coarser than a slurry made from the polisher. If your aim is to cut that's fine but if you are just polishing the final edge the diamond plate gives a finer slurry.

I think that depends on how fine the slurry stone you used is. I think some people advise the use of a diamond plate to ensure that the slurry formed is 100% from the finishing stone. Whereas if you used a small piece of similar stone the slurry will be some mix of the slurry stone and the larger finishing stone. This is not so much of an issue if you are using a really fine (as fine as the finisher) slurry stone, but can be if it's not quite as fine as your base stone. There are also less variables when you use a diamond plate, since you know that the slurry comes 100% from the finisher so you're not wondering if the results are from the slurry stone or your stone.

I hope that all made sense.

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

I think that depends on how fine the slurry stone you used is. I think some people advise the use of a diamond plate to ensure that the slurry formed is 100% from the finishing stone. Whereas if you used a small piece of similar stone the slurry will be some mix of the slurry stone and the larger finishing stone. This is not so much of an issue if you are using a really fine (as fine as the finisher) slurry stone, but can be if it's not quite as fine as your base stone. There are also less variables when you use a diamond plate, since you know that the slurry comes 100% from the finisher so you're not wondering if the results are from the slurry stone or your stone.

I hope that all made sense.

Yup agreed but I did say Nagura which is coarser than most finishers,not slurry stone of identical or finer grit. That would work equally well but not have the lapping advantage of using a diamond plate as mentioned above.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Yup agreed but I did say Nagura which is coarser than most finishers,not slurry stone of identical or finer grit. That would work equally well but not have the lapping advantage of using a diamond plate as mentioned above.

Sorry, didn't catch that. Nagura would definitely be scratchier and coarser. They still have their place, but don't compare to the final finish of the finishing stone.

There's something I don't quite like about using a diamond plate to produce the final slurry....I think it's just the idea of using a big hunk of man made metal on a beautiful natural stone. Sort of ruins the zen of honing on a natural for me.