Thread: Natural Stone Magic\Natural Steel

Over the past year or so, natural stones have replaced many of my synthetic stones especially at the finishing stages. Who can fault the squigee smooth edge of German water stones, or the silky velvet edge left by Jnats.

I have found them at their best with carbon steel blades. Repeatedly, I have gotten good edges on SS blades, but some how there is still something just shy of perfect when these amalgumated Chromide steels resist the magic of naturals. For these modern steels, Synthetic stones still give me the best edge. Anyone else find this to be true?

A half baked but documented hypothesis, could be that the weak acid Hydrogen phosphate salts in naturals are indeed part of the natural magic, and the SS alloys resist whatever action this mild chemical action transforms the carbon steels?

If that idea holds any merrit, carbon steels are literaly "organic" by nature, what better marraige then they should be harmonious with their natural stone mates.

I don't really know anything about the chemistry of steels or hones, but I have gotten some really nice edges on the new Dovo Micartas using my Thurry and Asagi.

I am not so sure about the chemistry either but my observations are close but not exact...

Carbon razors can be sharpened on just about anything...

SS and the newer Super Steels tend to get the best when stroked across the Naniwa SS and the Shapton GS stones...

Of course every time something like this comes up you have to realize that we are all just talking about minor differences here...

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I don't really know anything about the chemistry of steels or hones, but I have gotten some really nice edges on the new Dovo Micartas using my Thurry and Asagi.

Yes,They do give very good edges....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am not so sure about the chemistry either but my observations are close but not exact...

Carbon razors can be sharpened on just about anything...

SS and the newer Super Steels tend to get the best when stroked across the Naniwa SS and the Shapton GS stones...

Of course every time something like this comes up you have to realize that we are all just talking about minor differences here...

This has been exactly my experience Glenn, that little something extra is what I am talking about. Like the difference from outstanding to extraordinary. Minor, but noticeable on my face.

Going back to carbon, I like the tooth left by Jnats and German Water stones even if they have been finished on 30k syn, I still run them on the naturals.

It is amazing how many stone systems, and razor styles, tempers and grinds, even obsessd amatuers like myself learn hanging with you guys.
It took me almost two years to really figure out the German Stone, the Jnat seemed easier for me. Bare in mind I was raised on a synthetic diet.

Other than bevel setting I had gotten away from synthetics for some months now but I've been returning to them lately. Still tend to finish with the Escher. I don't have any J-nats so I can't comment on them but I am curious.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am not so sure about the chemistry either but my observations are close but not exact...

Carbon razors can be sharpened on just about anything...

SS and the newer Super Steels tend to get the best when stroked across the Naniwa SS and the Shapton GS stones...

Of course every time something like this comes up you have to realize that we are all just talking about minor differences here...

Thanks Glen, I was just thinking of posting a thread on what people like to use to finish Stainless. Do you find this also hold true for really hard carbon blade like the New TI carbonsong 135 blades?

Originally Posted by superbleu

Thanks Glen, I was just thinking of posting a thread on what people like to use to finish Stainless. Do you find this also hold true for really hard carbon blade like the New TI carbonsong 135 blades?

I have never had problems finishing hard steels on a Jnat. The TI carbon song 135 blades I have honed all were pretty easy to work with.

I have also noticed that stainless blades (kitchen) tend to be a pain in the butt on anything not synthetic. My Shapton glass stones do a very good job there on the stainless. I don't have any stainless razors so I really can't comment fully but I would expect the same issues.

Funny as I switched to naturals for my razors and kept the synthetics for my kitchen knives. Steel hardness has been less of an issue for me than stainless vs carbon... Stainless just doesn't like me...

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Other than bevel setting I had gotten away from synthetics for some months now but I've been returning to them lately. Still tend to finish with the Escher. I don't have any J-nats so I can't comment on them but I am curious.

I admire your self dicipline? I really could not have just one finsher.

Originally Posted by superbleu

Thanks Glen, I was just thinking of posting a thread on what people like to use to finish Stainless. Do you find this also hold true for really hard carbon blade like the New TI carbonsong 135 blades?

This is where it gets dicey, see I want to say yes the C135 blades are exactly what I would go to the Naniwa SS with, but I also don't want to say the Naturals won't do it...

Lets just say I have enough stones, and enough time on them, to pick and chose what I think is going to give me the most consistent, comfortable, close edge to my face and my honing style... There, was that PC enough ????

Some razors react better with some stones, but I have never not been able to get a close comfortable shave off any of them..Again we are talking minute differences here...