ScottGoodman

Originally Posted by maxim207

Hi Alex

I think you misudestand me, you are right !

But I was talking about stones avelleble now for razors, sword polishers use some "soft stones" comperd to ones we use for razors !! And they use them on much softer steel, tamahagene sword are made from much softer steel then any of us think And for that steel softer stones is much better and give more contrast to the hamon and makes that sandblasted finish. I did some polish on mine Tamahagene knife with softer stones and hard stones, harder will only make skraches more viceble.
Now what stones they used before and what we use now its hole another story ! I will not say that they was better
Scrachy stones can be super pure too but they will only skrach "soft" steel like on sword or laminated blade. On western razor it will feel much more smoother.
It is nothing to do with if its pure or not just hardnes of the stone and the steel you use it for.

Sword polishers they go just for softer stones that is super pure and some of this stones is now almost imposseble to find and will cost a fortune but its another story and nothing to do with western razor hones

I used to restore & polish old Japanese swords and some edges were just as hard as straight razors if not harder. I have an old wakizashi that I haven't finished the polish on, but it's edge hardness would easily compare to one of our Western razors. The main body & spine is much softer steel as you mentioned. As far as the stones used...pretty much the exact same as we use on the straights as too soft of a stone will wear away before you finish...there is a lot of steel to polish/remove (compared to straights) before you move on to the next stone.