not loving my kamisori

i understand what appeals to me about kamisori style razors, but i recently acquired a size 2 iwasaki in great shape and the shaves off of it have been nothing stellar in comparison to my self honed straights...

i read a ton, watched a bunch of vids and this morning had to put down the kamisori after two short strokes and finish with a joey allen med. grind which melted the 60 hr beard right off. this kamisori is supposed to be wicked sharp when properly honed right? that just makes sense.

please confirm a couple things before i put the kamisori on sabbatical... you shave with the back side of the blade which is the flatter of the two sides, “Omote”, not with the side of the blade w/ stamped “Ura” side.

honing is anywhere 3-7:1 omote:ura with some slight pressure on omote side and back pull with ura only... watched glenn's youtube for reference

thanks for any suggestions...

The only thing I'll tell you is when properly honed the kamisori will give you the best shave you will ever get period. The trick is getting it properly honed and getting the right shaving technique down. As far as the honing goes most of the strokes are going to go on the shaving side of the razor and I'll leave another to discuss the sides issue. In the end the razor will shave equally well no matter which side you use though it's designed as a one sided shaver.

OK shaving with one, watch these vids as they are really really good, and have some awesome blade handling techniques for keeping the razor right.. Honestly I am not that good with one myself, I still use both sides sometimes but like TBS says you can but you have to do a bit of angle adjustment...


http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ori-shave.html.

Kamisori Shave - YouTube


For sharpening, it looks much easier than it is, the pressure is the trick, I try and explain that in the vid but honestly it is something you have to play with to learn...
Watch and listen to what I say about using the thumbs to push the edge into the stone, and about how the pressure reverses to the spine on the single draw back stroke..

And yes it should be so sharp as to want you to use no pressure more like a gliding over the face rather than trying to cut hair stroke...


Give it another soild attempt at getting the honing down if it doesn't work for you then pm me and I'll hone it for you N/C.. Once they are dailed in, they are very easy to manintain, but yep getting them dailed can be a chore

I've been trying to find one...anyone have any leads to where I can find an Iwasaki? *sigh*

Don't they sell them on SRD?

I shave with both sides of kamisori and it works just fine for me.

Also if honed correctly they really shave great.

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Originally Posted by avatar1999

I've been trying to find one...anyone have any leads to where I can find an Iwasaki? *sigh*

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Check the classifieds, there's one there now. Straight Razors - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Howard

Ok, here's another question. Glen says in his video that these razors NEED a high finishing stone above an 8k. My concern is that I will have to find some really expensive hone to keep this thing in shape. I guess the question is, what are my options for a stone for an iwasaki? And would anyone be willing to hook me up with a great deal? LOL

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Originally Posted by avatar1999

Ok, here's another question. Glen says in his video that these razors NEED a high finishing stone above an 8k. My concern is that I will have to find some really expensive hone to keep this thing in shape. I guess the question is, what are my options for a stone for an iwasaki? And would anyone be willing to hook me up with a great deal? LOL

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This is one of the few times that I really feel that a high grit stone is in order,,, These razors really should just glide over the skin IMHO... Most times I am all for the keep it simple solution and really I can't feel huge differences for the money when talking shaving, but with Kamisori I can feel the difference :(


Yes go right ahead a call me a Kamisori snob :p

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

This is one of the few times that I really feel that a high grit stone is in order,,, These razors really should just glide over the skin IMHO... Most times I am all for the keep it simple solution and really I can't feel huge differences for the money when talking shaving, but with Kamisori I can feel the difference :(

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So basically...I'm gonna have to fork out big bucks for another hone huh? lol

Does it have to be a Jnat? Or would something else work?

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Originally Posted by avatar1999

So basically...I'm gonna have to fork out big bucks for another hone huh? lol

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I would at least try that excuse with the SWMBO see how it goes :)

Seriously though a Naniwa SS 12k or a Shapton 16k would do there are a few more out there too...

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

I would at least try that excuse with the SWMBO see how it goes :)

Seriously though a Naniwa SS 12k or a Shapton 16k would do there are a few more out there too...

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Unfortunately, no SWMBO to speak of...wonder if I can write it off as an expense for my barber shop...LOL

Have you considered a PHIG? I know that finding a good one is close to finding a coti you like but the PHIG I have is super hard and puts an amazing edge on a razor.

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Originally Posted by bharner

Have you considered a PHIG? I know that finding a good one is close to finding a coti you like but the PHIG I have is super hard and puts an amazing edge on a razor.

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I have 2. one that is 3" and the other is, I think, 2 or 2.5" wide. If that would work, I'm set...just didn't know how high I needed to go.

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Originally Posted by avatar1999

I have 2. one that is 3" and the other is, I think, 2 or 2.5" wide. If that would work, I'm set...just didn't know how high I needed to go.

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That's gonna be best left to someone else as I sadly have no experience with a kamisori. Hopefully one of these days I'll get to try one out. My PHIG is hard and it does well with putting an edge on all three razors I've put to it. My sheffield wedge gets touchy with it but my Genco and my Torrey both get great edges off it.

Besides, if you've got it and you don't think the edge is great now, a PHIG shouldn't hurt it.

The thing with the Kamisori is because of the asymmetric edge you really can get it honed up to a further degree than a Western type and the higher grit hone is what the Dr. ordered for that.

The design of the Kamisori IMHO lends itself to a single handed shave if you want to use just one side of the blade. A very light touch is a requirement by nature and the point on these is something to be very careful with. Also, the angle feels much different. Don't get discouraged, they truly are amazing shavers.
Glenn

My grandfather never owned Japanese car, mainly because he served in the South Pacific in WWII. I think if I ever considered shaving with something like the Kamisori he would be spinning in his grave. My two cents.

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Originally Posted by cflaageriv

My grandfather never owned Japanese car, mainly because he served in the South Pacific in WWII. I think if I ever considered shaving with something like the Kamisori he would be spinning in his grave. My two cents.

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try it you might change your mind.

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for Japanese engineering skills and discipline. For me, like using the old stuff here, it's my personal choice. And, not that I would go so far as to say I'm trying to distinguish myself from our fathers' past, there is, for me anyway, a bit of comfort in trying to live a little like our fathers did. In fact, some of the razors in my collection are local razors, from New York and MA.

i re-honed this with the following... la nouvelle coti with some slurry --> PHIG --> nakayama kiita

it shaved much nicer than before, but not as nice as i imagined... i'll keep at it for a bit.. thanks for the suggestions and offers. if i get down on the wa-kamisori, then i'll give in and let someone else hone it..

I tried one before and after a few shaves promptly sold it. It just wasn't my style although most hold them in high regard.

Both sides can and will shave well. You just have to practice. Using the omote side only is a choice not a requirement.
Good luck

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Originally Posted by avatar1999

Ok, here's another question. Glen says in his video that these razors NEED a high finishing stone above an 8k. My concern is that I will have to find some really expensive hone to keep this thing in shape. I guess the question is, what are my options for a stone for an iwasaki? And would anyone be willing to hook me up with a great deal? LOL

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Pretty sure the Iwasaki forge recommends the Shap Pro 12k if you don't have a Jnat but can't see why similar stones wouldn't work. The Jp. Pros are fast cutters so suited to the hard steel.
I, however, am in Glen's Snob Club :p