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I bought myself an inexpensive yanagiba for a practice polish. It was pretty crooked so I straightened it up & have started working on the ura (back hollow).
I started at 800 grit but now I'm using the 280 grit stone in the picture. The diagonal grind lines are slow to go. My hat's off to the guys that do this all the time.
Started at the 2 ends & meeting towards the rear atm. Not sure if I'll go coarser or stick with the 280 for now. Will be glad when I finish the 'hard' side . :)
great, now i have two knives to polish. just what i needed...:p
If you don't mind my asking, to what end do you polish it? Just for the looks? I am completely ignorant in the world of knives.
I don't know that polishing is the right word. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurens
The idea is to create an even hollow on the back so that the bevels are tiny on spine & edge. It makes for longevity, good geometry & easy sharpening.
The front polishing is both cosmetic & also to create a certain visual effect on the fish by the way the oils react to the cut that won't happen with other knives not polished traditionally.
The final sharpening is of course part of the process too.
Thanks! So you really put it flat on the hone? That sounds pretty tough for me, considering I used 3 layers of tape on my near wedge.
The back is hollow so I used the tips of the stones in the picture to evenly do small amounts at a time. After the 800 I used some wetndri paper up to 2000 grit to smooth it more. Next will be small Jnat pieces called Hazuya or Jizuya to colour & further refine the back. Haven't started the front of the knife yet. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurens
When I hone it, this side will be laid flat on the stone & fingers X'd, will result in small bevels at spine & edge
I see, nice! I look forward to seeing the results. You prefer to do this by hand rather than using a buffer?Quote:
Originally Posted by onimaru55
:hmmm: I probably could have used a buffer on some areas to speed things up but certainly not near the tip.Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurens
On the omote where the front needs to be flat above the shinogi line, a stone is probably best. Depending on how wobbly the bevel is a belt sander or stone will be my choice to remove any dips.
Using a buffer on fine Japanese steel? dear lord save me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurens
It's the application of the tool that is important. This knife was originally ground on a huge belt sander after all. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
I was thinking a 2" wheel & some greaseless compound my have saved some of the 180 grit drudge work prior to hand sanding.
Some of these cheaper knives are about as straight as a washboard but of course on fine Japanese steel it would not even be necessary.
If a cheap Knife than a buffer would work I suppose,would be a treat tho to see it all done with stones in the traditional way.
I'll get there but I'm not seeing any obvious grain in the steel as yet.. The synthetics are just quicker for the heavy lifting.Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
Here is the front after an exploratory rub on some rocks. Some obvious irregularities in the surface
320 grit Shapton pro. Nearly done with the flat above the Shinogi.
320 grit Shapton pro. Done.
Almost have a straight Shinogi line too . :)
Shapton pro 1k. Still only doing the flat . Bevel will be next.
Don't know why but I decided to go to my 800 grit King. Has rendered the blade very dark. Did bevel & flat.
Sorry for the lousy pics. Was losing light & the iPhone struggled.
Soon you're going to sit there with your finger stones, polishing knives for hours on end! :)
I am enjoying the journey with you, thank you...
I'm afraid time constraints have curtailed my progression of pics so I'm at the end of the journey.
I didn't like the colour from the 800grit King so went back tot the Shapton pros 320-1k-2k.
This is the finished blade right up to fingerstones & nugui. I can see all the mistakes & scratches I left behind but for a working kitchen knife I'll just accept those for now. Wow this is much more work than razors but I guess that's from the perspective of a first timer on hochou.
These are the Jnats I used after the 2k Shap..
Top to bottom Tsushima - Okudo Suita - Yaginoshima Asagi.
Ohira Karasu Uchigomori Hazuya (fingerstone) on the chopsticks
Blade looks fantastic.would not kick her out of bed:)
If mine I would put an ebony handle on that puppy, with some Ivory spacers:)
+1 to what Bill said, that looks like a very fine knife to me! So, how does it shave?
Couldn't care less how it shaves. But I'll be mad if doesn't cut tuna. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurens