Thread: Finishing with slurry on Japanese naturals

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 joke1176

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

I have learned since I have started using J-Naturals that sometimes it is just best to take the word of people that have KOOK (Keeper Of Odd Knowledge) concerning such things. I know that it is kinda a B.S. answer but the quality of the edges that I have been obtaining from my Naturals are superior to any high tech. synthetic solutions that I have ever tried, thus far, so I just go with the flow. I have many Asian friends that tell me that I try to be to linear in my approach to many things and these J-Nats prove them right.... how to separate fact from V-Doo? Don't know, but this tip is something relayed to me by a person that has more knowledge about Naturals than I can probably imagine. One thing that a full size plate gives you is the ability to build slurry and at the same time keep the stone lapped which saves time and your stone because you are not washing any of your stone down the drain when you lap it.

Later,
Richard

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.

Diamonds are natural

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Diamonds are natural

Good one

More honing tomorrow...

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Diamonds are natural

Not the ones in DMTs--only the "bling" diamonds are natural!

Update: tried thick slurry on a 5/8 extra hollow that previously test-shaved great off the Norton--the shave was excellent and very smooth. Just for fun, I'm going to try this 3 ways:

• Jim's way exactly, finishing on thick slurry (worked great today)
• Thick slurry & then diluting to water
• Thick slurry, followed by water only w/o a dilution stage

As I mentioned, I tried using thin slurry, but the edges were always harsh. I'm thinking on my stone, thick slurry (allowed to break down) is the most important step, & the subsequent stages will mostly affect feel. We will see.

Originally Posted by PA23-250

Not the ones in DMTs--only the "bling" diamonds are natural!

Hang on. Even man made Diamonds are made from carbon which is organic, therefore natural