Big day for my doorstep!

[Paxaddict]

Well, aside from my Lilac Vegetal coming in, which is exciting, and my custom made shaving bowl (also super exciting), today my Jnats came in.

Now, It's not a super impressive stone. It's a pretty small Oozuku, but it'll get me started. Once I have all the Naguras I can focus on upgrading my stone to something a little bigger.

Tomorrow, I should have a Koma going into the mail (still discussing with the supplier, who is in Japan, and who doesn't speak a whole lot of English. Loads more than the amount of Japanese I can speak, though.)

Now, the great thing about this, was not only was the Oozuku on sale (for $136.84) and the Naguras a reasonable price. I emailed them two days later asking if I could add a Tomo Nagura to my order, and they could send me a paypal invoice. I never heard back from them, and later that day got a notice that my order had shipped, so I figured I was going to be out looking for one.

Well, when it came in, Huzzah! Tomo Nagura was included for free!
Plus, considering the international shipping, they came quick! (Placed the order on the night of the 20th, and received the 26th)

So, I've been told I can make due without a Koma, which means I've got enough to hone an edge.

Now...

How do I hone an edge?

 

[jpcwon]

Nice looking stone, Pax!! I am, however, completely clueless when it comes to JNATS, so I'll go ahead and step aside now....

 

[ACorazza]

I would search for Doc226's YouTube channel (I think his name is Doc226shaver). He has videos using different stones to hone razors some of which are JNATs an his JNAt edges are highly recommended.

 

[Paxaddict]

Thanks! I had planned on spending some time on youtube this weekend, and just dedicate sunday to honing.

 

[Gamma]

First you lap the Awase, be sure it's flat and the edges chamfered.
Than - make sure all sides of the Nagura are rounded and free of sharp edges. Including the Tomo.

Seal them if you have to.

Then read Iwasaki's pamphlet on honing razors a few times.

 

[gumbo]

The veg is clearly the best part of that shipment

In all seriousness, good luck with the honing!

 

[AjaxLepinski]

Awesome!!! Congrats, they look like nice rocks!
... and good luck with the Veg!

+1 to Gamma's suggestion about reading this a few times: http://strazors.com/uploads/images/articles/Honing_Razors_and_Nihonkamisori.pdf

 

[Paxaddict]

Thanks for the link! Gives me something to read during my 24 hour shift tomorrow at work.

Now I need a GD to tear to little bits.

So, I know Jnats don't exactly follow a grit scale, but I've got a 1k king stone, and now the jnats. If I'm setting a bevel, would you suggest anything after the 1k? Or just jump straight into the 'nats?

 

[AjaxLepinski]

I believe, that when using an Ozuku as a host stone, there are four progressively finer nagura: botan, tenjou, mejiro, koma and finally, tomo nagura. You finish with a tomo nagura (same stone as the host stone). So, technically, there may not be a grit scale, but there is a grit progression. I'm not sure what their grit # equivalents are but, some of the other guys will be able to give you that info.
Here are some good vids:
http://www.doc226.com/Doc226/Instructional_Videos.html
http://www.youtube.com/user/japanblades?feature=watch

 

[Kentos]

I would jump into your botan slurry after the 1k.

 

[Gamma]

Try it. See how it goes.
A lot depends on how much effort you're willing to put into the Botan stage.
That effort depends on your Botan, your Awase, the steel, and your technique.
Won't know what's up until you try it out.

 

[Paxaddict]

Try it. See how it goes.
A lot depends on how much effort you're willing to put into the Botan stage.
That effort depends on your Botan, your Awase, the steel, and your technique.
Won't know what's up until you try it out.

Yeah, I don't mind a challenge, but I'm concerned about a challenge when my first Jnat (or sharpening anything, actually) experience will be a challenge as it is.

I think I'll just dive in this weekend and report back.

Wish me luck!

 

[Paxaddict]

Okay.

So I need to get lapping film for my stones, right? round off the edges of the nagura, and to lap my main stone (Awase?) flat. Okay. Is there a way to preserve the stamps on my main stone? It's my working surface, so my instinct is that I'm about to lose them, which will eat up resale value.

Should I just take pictures to confirm it's identity in the future? So if I need to resell, I can prove it's origin? I plan on upgrading to a larger stone at some point (if I don't give up and commit to lapping film) so I do plan on trying to retain some value here.

 

[BJJ]

Nice

 

[AjaxLepinski]

Okay. So I need to get lapping film for my stones, right?

Lapping film is not used to lap stones. Film is used to hone razors - see this thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/283576-Lapping-film-try-it

I believe Gamma recommends 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper for flattening stones? DMTs are also used to flatten stones.

Here is a recommendation from JPCWON for a DMT to lap your stone:

http://www.amazon.com/DMT-D8C-Dia-Sh...ywords=dmt+d8c

http://www.amazon.com/DMT-D3E-Dia-Sh...arpening+cards

The DMT card can be used for generating a slurry on the host stone.

 

[Paxaddict]

Okay. So I use my host stone to lap my Naguras. How do I lap my Awase (host stone, if I'm reading this right)?

 

[AjaxLepinski]

Ooops! Sorry, I misunderstood.
Sounds like your talking about flattening and rounding the edges of your Naguras and Awase prior to using them to hone your razor?
If this is the case, you use a DMT or, sandpaper on a flat surface. I don't believe you would want to lap your Naguras on your Awase.
First draw diagonal lines all over the surface to be lapped flat.
Using a figure 8 motion, lap the stone and when the lines are all worn off, you know you have a flat stone.

 

[Gamma]

Sandpaper for the Nagura and the Awase. You do not 'lap' Nagura - you just round the sharp edges if there are any.
A DMT can be used for either job but I prefer to use w/d paper for both. I use up to 2k sometimes. Not often though - 600x is usually good enough.
Sometimes, I finish-polish the tops with a BBW, or another Awasedo. Or both. I've used Cotis and Choseras also.
I pretty much stop at 600x most of the time now. I don't believe the stone needs to have a mirrored top and I think it actually gets in way with some stones.
But - that's just my take on things.
I don't recommend using a DMT anything on the finished lapped top of an Awasedo, including those little cards.
Occasionally - I do use an Atoma 1.2k as a diamond Nagura - but lightly and not often. I prefer using a natural Tomo.
There's a world of difference between a DMT and an Atoma - you have to use one to see the difference.
People swear by DMTs for slurrying though. I see the liability and pass.. it's a personal choice.

Pix of the stone will show a prospecitve buyer what it looked like when you got it, and the stamps.
Losiing the top stamps is part of the deal - unless you lap the bottom but I wouldn't do that to a stone that has skin/Kawa.

 

[Paxaddict]

Yeah, the bottom looks like a completely different stone, so I'll have to lap the top. So I'm gathering "lapping" means to make completely flat? That's why it doesn't fit with the Naguras, when I'm only rounding down the edges.

Is there anything special I should do while lapping? Is there a technique to it?

Thanks again for all the advice guys. I plan on not using anything but natural stones on this bad boy, and I'll follow your suggestion and keep it to 600 grit.

Hopefully I don't screw this up too badly.

 

[Gamma]

go slow, don't press, let the weight of the stone do the work.
Keep the w/d flat on a tile or whatever and let running water take the swarf away - fig 8 passes work well for this.
use a grid pattern in pencil to judge the flatness. When done - let the stone drip dry and then check for flatness.
If needed - lap again.
You may want to seal the sides with lacquer to prevent water from creeping into the stone through the sides.
Do not bang the stone on the sides of the sink.