OK, so I got my JNAT from Alex a few days ago, and today I finally had some time to start messing with it.
I also recently received another ebay rescue, a 6/8 Wester Bros. in bone. It needs to be unpinned, cleaned, and re-pinned, but I figured it would be good to learn with while I try to figure out this stone.
I started by dragging the already-dull edge lightly across a glass. Then, I went to work setting the bevel on the 1200g side of my DMT plate. Once I got fresh steel all the way up both faces of the bevel, I checked it with my 40x loupe, and noticed a very tiny chip, and a short area near the point that hadn't been cleaned up.
So I switched sides to the 600g, and used a sharpie to mark both sides of the bevel, then went to work.
After maybe forty total laps, I checked again with the loupe. All of the sharpie ink was gone, as was the little chip.
I re-inked the edge, then went back to the 1200g side. After twenty or so laps per side, all of the ink was again gone.
Time to start with the stone, Okudo Gousa Kamisori Toishi.
After watching a few of Alex's videos on the "axe method," I did my best to replicate this on my stone. I used the matched nagura to raise a slurry, and went to it.
I didn't have any hair for a hanging-hair test (I shave my head as well,) so I planned to use the "tree-topping" hair test on my forearm.
I did a couple of sets using the slurry, and then tried it on the forearm. It popped a few, but not as many as I was hoping.
I almost decided to go ahead and shave then, but I decided to try something else first. I rinsed the stone clean, then wet it down good and did a set on just water. Then I stropped eight passes on fabric, twenty on the suede back of my strop, then fifty on the smooth leather side.
It seemed to pop a few hairs more than before, but not a whole lot.
Oh well, gotta start somewhere, so on to the real test. Did my usual beard prep, then lathered up some Tabac. I shaved just the right side above the jaw line, two passes. Very smooth! Very close shave and no feedback at all from the alum block.
Being (surprisingly) pleased with this, I next took my Ralf Aust 6/8 to the stone, following the same steps, minus the 600g.
Took it and shaved the other cheek with it, with the same feel and results. Now, I'm not about to believe that I've already got this stone "figured out," but I think I'm well on my way. Time (and other razors) will tell the story for sure. If nothing else, I seem to have found a good starting point.
Thanks to Alex for a great stone, and for his patience in working with me and my newbie questions. He's great to do business with, if you ever get the chance. Thanks also to Alfredo for referring me to Alex, and to introducing me to JNAT edges to begin with.
I also recently received another ebay rescue, a 6/8 Wester Bros. in bone. It needs to be unpinned, cleaned, and re-pinned, but I figured it would be good to learn with while I try to figure out this stone.
I started by dragging the already-dull edge lightly across a glass. Then, I went to work setting the bevel on the 1200g side of my DMT plate. Once I got fresh steel all the way up both faces of the bevel, I checked it with my 40x loupe, and noticed a very tiny chip, and a short area near the point that hadn't been cleaned up.
So I switched sides to the 600g, and used a sharpie to mark both sides of the bevel, then went to work.
After maybe forty total laps, I checked again with the loupe. All of the sharpie ink was gone, as was the little chip.
I re-inked the edge, then went back to the 1200g side. After twenty or so laps per side, all of the ink was again gone.
Time to start with the stone, Okudo Gousa Kamisori Toishi.
After watching a few of Alex's videos on the "axe method," I did my best to replicate this on my stone. I used the matched nagura to raise a slurry, and went to it.
I didn't have any hair for a hanging-hair test (I shave my head as well,) so I planned to use the "tree-topping" hair test on my forearm.
I did a couple of sets using the slurry, and then tried it on the forearm. It popped a few, but not as many as I was hoping.
I almost decided to go ahead and shave then, but I decided to try something else first. I rinsed the stone clean, then wet it down good and did a set on just water. Then I stropped eight passes on fabric, twenty on the suede back of my strop, then fifty on the smooth leather side.
It seemed to pop a few hairs more than before, but not a whole lot.
Oh well, gotta start somewhere, so on to the real test. Did my usual beard prep, then lathered up some Tabac. I shaved just the right side above the jaw line, two passes. Very smooth! Very close shave and no feedback at all from the alum block.
Being (surprisingly) pleased with this, I next took my Ralf Aust 6/8 to the stone, following the same steps, minus the 600g.
Took it and shaved the other cheek with it, with the same feel and results. Now, I'm not about to believe that I've already got this stone "figured out," but I think I'm well on my way. Time (and other razors) will tell the story for sure. If nothing else, I seem to have found a good starting point.
Thanks to Alex for a great stone, and for his patience in working with me and my newbie questions. He's great to do business with, if you ever get the chance. Thanks also to Alfredo for referring me to Alex, and to introducing me to JNAT edges to begin with.
