Thread: Jnat Honing nightmares

I kinda gotta go with Jimboroo here Rich, you need to narrow down the variables first, if you are having trouble on multiple finishers and multiple razors then it is either you or a stone in the progression before the finishers...


Go back to the basics and stop after the Norton 8k and shave, if that is a go, then pick one finisher and proceed to just work that one on that razor until you work it out...

That was my 2 cents

@zib: are you having this problem with all the razors you finish on a Jnat? I.e. do you have razors that you were able to give a satisfactory final polish on a Jnat earlier but not anymore, or does this problem occur with razors you hadn't finished on a Jnat before? Do you strop after using the Jnat?

I have one razor (TI Silverwing) whose edge actually deteriorates on a Jnat (but also on an Escher). That razor will only take a good edge on a Tam o' Shanter followd by a CBN pasted strop.

I am not an expert by any means but I really took to J-Nats and have had very good luck with them.

I would suggest that your pressure on your razor need to be slightly more. I have found that the "no pressure" part of the honing process should be saved to the last step. When working with a slurry use the same pressure that you are using on a Coticule. I find that the finer the rock the more certain I have to be that the blade is really making good contact with the stone. I also slow down on really hard stones to make sure that I get the proper feedback. Let us know how you make out.


Take Care,
Richard

I've narrowed it down to the Ozuku. Different blades, different techniques, and still problems with the ATG pass. I looked at the edge under a loupe, and didn't notice any folding or anything out of the ordinary. Normally, I'll take the blade to my Escher if it happens, and I can fix it right up.

I'd really like to get one of these Ozuku edges I hear about, but I guess it's not happening. I'm gonna have to stick with what works. I think I'm going to send my Ozuku to Mainaman for testing...(At Maxim207's request)

I wonder if my shaving angle has to be reduced more when I shave coming off the Ozuku?

You can try changing the angle but if a razor is sharp it should cut OK at the usual angle methinks. To me it sounds like your razor is overhoned. First the skidding, second the fact that going down the grit ladder (from Ozuku to Escher) puts it right.

"I think I'm going to send my Ozuku to Mainaman for testing..." a good suggestion. I'm still thinking that the issue is the stone, not you. Stefan is a great resource and will guide you well. Good luck!!!!

Off to Mainaman it is....

Originally Posted by zib

to Mainaman for testing...

didn't you mean to say off to hoglahoo for testing?

good luck! I'm not sure whether to hope the stone tests good and you are the problem, or to hope you are not the problem and the hone tests bad. Either way I feel I am hoping against you, so I will just wish you good shaving and await the testing results and conclusion from mainaman japanese hone testing extraordinaire

I'm not sure what's up with that Ozuku, but my problem lies with that stone, and only that stone. I don't have any trouble honing, and can normally solve my own problems. In this case, a second opinion is warranted.

I touched up a Puma Silber today. Great blade, practially NOS. It still had the instruction sheet in the wooden coffin. It was shave ready, 10-12k level. I took it to the Shoubudani Asagi to see if I could get some more out of edge, and it's just spectacular. Very keen, and very smooth. Velvet Squegee....I didn't mess with all the Nagura, I just used Tomo, or the slurry stone that came with it.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

didn't you mean to say off to hoglahoo for testing?

good luck! I'm not sure whether to hope the stone tests good and you are the problem, or to hope you are not the problem and the hone tests bad. Either way I feel I am hoping against you, so I will just wish you good shaving and await the testing results and conclusion from mainaman japanese hone testing extraordinaire

Thanks for the insult Lee. I think, I'm not even sure what to make of that...?

Just trying to get some help here. I'm by no means an expert on all the variables of Jnat honing, that's for sure.