First Japanese style razor

I got a wild hair. I've been learning the Jnats so I figured I should try to shave with a Kamasori. Found this one on eBay. It had a couple of small chips on the toe but I figure I could fix that. After fixing the toe I bet I didn't lose more than half a mm. Picked it up for a decent price range and got it in the mail today. This first pic is the seller's pic. I had to zoom in to see the chips he wasn't mentioning in the listing...

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When I got it the blue handle was dirty and the blade was tarnished so after a little cleaning and repairing of the edge I watched Glen's vid on honing these things. Not too difficult so I went for it. Here is what it looks like after honing and stropping.

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And a look at the edge I put on it. There was a little hone wear but not really much. The bevel at the toe is not perfectly even but pretty close.

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I felt it wouldn't be right unless I finished it on a Jnat and stropped it on a Kamayama so I did. Its popping hairs nicely. Maybe the toe could have used a little more work. Now to watch a vid or two on how the shave with one of these.

it's not that hard to shave with. You just have to be aware of two things. First you have a short razor with a double spike so you need really good hand control over the razor. Then if you shave with both sides you have to adjust the angle you use because of the asymmetric symmetry of the razor so those shaving angles will be quite different from side to side.

It feels very awkward at first but confidence comes quickly. Just go slow and easy like the first time you used a straight.

Watched a couple vids but i didn't hear or see much about different angles. With the unstamped side against the face, like its ment to be used seems like a standard angle. But the other way around im guessing you have to shave with the blade even closer to the face. At least that's what im seeing with the different angles.

Let me know if im backwards on this. I plan on giving it a try in an hour or so. Sunday night for me and Im training a newbie tomorrow. Would want to show up cut to shreads.

Inoue Tosuki are wonderful razors, congratulations, Jerry.

With the Omote (unstamped) side to the face I like it pretty much flat against it and with the Ura (stamped) I like it about a spine width away.
Just play around with angles and you'll find what works best for you.

Kamisori can also take a Gok 20k edge really well.

Good luck with the shave Jerry....

Standing by for the results.

Pete <:-}

I went by feel.

I have to admit the pointed heal got me. Dammit! Not bad, just enough to draw blood. I very rarely cut myself shaving but I guess it just had to be. I've never blunted a point as I feel it keeps you on your toes, but I think I will rethink this pointy heal.

Thanks for the reply, Mark. What I found is I liked the Omote side against the face, as it should be, and this felt like a normal edge just smaller. Nothing odd about the angle. But when you turn it around you need more angle to cut. But too much and it is not comfortable against the face. And that angle that is right has a very small window. Now I know.
My shave was nice even though I did cut myself a tiny bit. The edge felt smooth when the razor was turned the right way. It was ok the wrong way but not as nice of a feel. Practice needed! And thank for pointing out a 20k stone works nicely with them. I love a 20k edge!
So my first try with one of these razors was nice. If I happen to trip over a wad of money someday I think I'd love the buy a set with a left and right. But for now, I will just learn to get along with the other side. :tu

Now for my SOTD pic.

Good buy there Jerry. Looked like a straight forward edge restore with nice results.
Don't feel guilty about putting a slight mute on the toe & /or heel. You won't lose any precision at all.

Thanks, Oz. Now I find that I'm going to need to make another box. Had to figure out what to do with it now that I'm done with it today.

And a question came to mind...
Do you do anything special to strop these? Or just strop it like normal? :confused:

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Originally Posted by Gasman

Thanks, Oz. Now I find that I'm going to need to make another box. Had to figure out what to do with it now that I'm done with it today.

And a question came to mind...
Do you do anything special to strop these? Or just strop it like normal? :confused:

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I always strop as normal but just watch it when you flip to the omote (non stamped side) as there are kinda 2 angles there, ie above & below the middle ridge.

If you go back in the posts several years you will find a heated debate here about the issue of "Is the Kamisori a razor designed to be used on one side only". I guess the consensus was yes it is but people use it on both sides anyway including barbers in Japan.

The debate was never settled.

Yes like Oz said strop like normal just watch the flip.

After using one Id say yes. It was made to be used on one side. But as you said, you can use both sides. Thanks for the answer on stropping. I can see KAD starting. Too bad they sell for so much.

Nice addition, Jerry. Tom sent one to me to play with, once. Gotta great shave, but I didn't care for how it felt in my hand. Guess 30 some years with a typical straight, has this ol dog set in his ways.

Haaki Saki waa... Jerryson.

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I thought the rubber handle would not be to my liking, but it helped to keep it solid in my hand. Id like to get one without the rubber sleeve to see how it feels holding. Thanks for the comments guys.

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Originally Posted by Gasman

I can see KAD starting. Too bad they sell for so much.

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There is a seller on the bay that sells lots of older, well used kamis for not that much in vintage storage boxes. Out of the lot I bought, five out of the six were able to be cleaned and honed to be fantastic shavers.
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My favourite of all razors to hone, I love honing Kamisori razors, they can take killer edges, you may have to sort out the Omote before you get an even bevel.

Explain this sorting Jamie. I seen a lot of them with hone wear a 1/2" wide. Id be afraid they would have lost too much thickness. Id like to hear more.

And please let me know what seller you are talking about. Via pm would be best. Id like to take a good look. I plan on shaving with mine again tonight. It can only get better.

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Originally Posted by Gasman

Explain this sorting Jamie. I seen a lot of them with hone wear a 1/2" wide. Id be afraid they would have lost too much thickness. Id like to hear more.

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I think Jamie may be referring to hollowing out the omote so you have two points of contact for honing rather than honing on a fat wedge-like bevel ?
They are intended to be used down to a stub but of course geometry changes can make them like a piece of obsidian on a stick :p

I've seen a few worn down very little. Thanks for the explanation Oz. Can this hollowing out be done with a round backer and sandpaper? Just like a Western? It must be some hard stuff to shape?

Goodnight all.

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Originally Posted by Gasman

I've seen a few worn down very little. Thanks for the explanation Oz. Can this hollowing out be done with a round backer and sandpaper? Just like a Western? It must be some hard stuff to shape?

Goodnight all.

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Sure, no problema & it's easy to shape as it's simple iron, forge welded to the hard steel back. Japanese use a file called a Sen but it's hard to get a neat job like sandpaper unless you have the practice.

Jerry, Oz explanation is spot on, you may need to even out the Omote so the entire edge is sitting correctly on the hone.

So the back side (bump side) is the hard steel. Ok. I thought it was the other way around. I guess as long as the wear on the back is not extreme and the width of the blade has not been worn down to a 5/8 or less i should be able to fix these with some work. Great info guys. Thanks for explaining. Now, as long as i dont end up with as many Kami's as Western....

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Originally Posted by Gasman

So the back side (bump side) is the hard steel. ...

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The back or ura on a kami has the stamps. Both sides are hollow except for the section above the ridge.
Below is a cross section of an Iwasaki. You can see the thin, dark, hard steel on the "back" or ura.

Ok. Got it. Boy was i wrong. Thanks for correcting me on this Oz. This now makes more sense.

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Originally Posted by Gasman

Ok. Got it. Boy was i wrong. Thanks for correcting me on this Oz. This now makes more sense.

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All good Jerry. Pics worth a thousand words :)

This has helped. I can now see why if one had a wide hone wear pattern on the Omote side (softer steal so easy to happen) and was to just sand out the hone wear, it could cause more of a wedge shape on that side. So cutting a hollow again would be the answer. And it looks as if its not much of a hollow, as in very deep.

So here is another question...
How do you measure one of these to figure the bevel angles of each side, and what is proper? :shrug:
Like how 17 to 18 degrees is best on a Western.

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Originally Posted by Gasman

How do you measure one of these to figure the bevel angles of each side, and what is proper? :shrug:
Like how 17 to 18 degrees is best on a Western.

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No idea but you wouldn't change the Ura angle as it shouldn't be worn. The omote will wear down as you hone but will remain serviceable a long time.

Dunno if this is of help Jerry ?
https://sharprazorpalace.com/advance...vel-angle.html

I agree that the Ura changing would be pretty minimal.