New JNAT - Okunomon Suita

[jpcwon]

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to show you the newest member of my JNAT Fleet. It is an Okunomon Renge Shiro Suita. Okunomon, as I understand it, is a lesser-known mine that's right near the Ohira mine on Atago Mountain and is known for their Suita stones. This particular stone is rather hard for a Suita; Takeshi rated it at a 9.3 for hardness, and 9.3 for particle size (that's pretty darn hard for Takeshi's rating system!!). I emailed him back & forth and expressed an interest in using a Suita to hone razors, and he said that a lot of his Suitas are more suited for knives, but that this one in particular should be good for razors given its hardness...The razor has more Renge at one end, and the stone is completely smooth to the touch...

I have not tried to hone a razor on it as of yet (I literally JUST unpacked it), but I think it's going to be a good razor stone! This is my first Suita so I may have some questions about using it. I know that they tend to be on the fast side, so I will keep that in mind. I also got an Okudo Suita Tomo to go with it...

And now the good stuff:

 

[Gamma]

Im so glad that one finally sold.
I had to stop visting that page.

Nice stone, that one corner on the bottom seemed difficult but it's very hard so it'll probably be ok.
I considered getting it and lapping the bottom to protect that corner. I also thought about cutting the corner off and using that 'wedge' as a Tomo.
Then I stopped myself.

Congrats!

And Thank You!

 

[Sejanus]

Big stone and quite unique looking.. very nice!

Enjoy it!

 

[jpcwon]

Haha no problem Gamma! Glad I could help!

Yeah I thought about whether that corner was a liability or not, but I guess we'll see how it goes.. It seems like a wonderful stone otherwise, so we shall see...I am getting ready to lap it right now..

 

[buca3152]

My Man! Very nice. Now the hardness of 9+? Just curious as ive always seen them to 5 and of course the +s. Good luck with it!

 

[jpcwon]

My Man! Very nice. Now the hardness of 9+? Just curious as ive always seen them to 5 and of course the +s. Good luck with it!

Thx Buca! Yeah Takeshi rates his stones a bit differently than everyone else...Anything 9+ is very hard...He rarely goes over 8.9 or 9.0, so 9.3 is extremely hard!!

 

[Cobre]

Nice rock JP!

 

[jpcwon]

Nice rock JP!

Thanks, Carlos!! This is my first Suita, so I have a LOT to learn!!

 

[Steve56]

And the results? .....

Congratulations on a nice stone. I almost bought it too so I am interested in how it does.

Cheers, Steve

 

[jpcwon]

Well, I lapped this thing and something is bothering me. There's a spot right smack dab in the middle of the stone that feels 'rough', and upon further inspection it seems to 'shimmer' in the light. could this be something toxic? I tried to lap past it with my Atoma 400 (I then went to 600 then 1200), but it kept getting bigger.....Should I be worried about this spot? I don't know much about Suitas but this does not look good...The rest of the stone is dead smooth....

 

[buca3152]

I have a stone that has a line that shimmers, but i cant feel it nor does the steel react different.'The only way to find out I guess is try a blade on it. If you got a gold dollar or something.

 

[jpcwon]

I have a stone that has a line that shimmers, but i cant feel it nor does the steel react different.'The only way to find out I guess is try a blade on it. If you got a gold dollar or something.

Good idea, Buca...I'll try that. I've been emailing with Steve (Steve56) and he said it could be a Suji Line. He also said that I could 'puncture' the toxic material (if that's what it is) with a carbide scribe, then dig out the pieces....First I gotta find out if it 'hurts' the steel...I will keep you all posted!!

 

[jpcwon]

Well, I think I dodged a bullet here. I just ran a GD over the stone with a DMT slurry, and could NOT feel the spot underneath the razor. And the razor looked OK under the loupe, so I think I'm in good shape!! And no, that's not how I hone!! haha...I had to take my right hand off the shank to snap the pic....

The stone is very fast & feels very fine, so I think I got a winner!!

 

[Doc226]

Nice rock

I have a nakayama suita, it is a very fast stone, can be used for finishing but it takes a very light touch-very light.

 

[jpcwon]

Nice rock

I have a nakayama suita, it is a very fast stone, can be used for finishing but it takes a very light touch-very light.

Good to know, Doc..thanks! Yeah this is my first Suita so I have everything to learn! The stone certainly feels like I could finish on it...it feels even finer than my Okudo Karasu...I am going to use your "DMT Slurry" method to try and learn the stone...I will let you know how it goes!

 

[Doc226]

Good to know, Doc..thanks! Yeah this is my first Suita so I have everything to learn! The stone certainly feels like I could finish on it...it feels even finer than my Okudo Karasu...I am going to use your "DMT Slurry" method to try and learn the stone...I will let you know how it goes!

It is a good way to try it out IMO, not my method we can blame Alex for that

 

[jpcwon]

It is a good way to try it out IMO, not my method we can blame Alex for that

Ahh yes, but of course!!

 

[AjaxLepinski]

Congrats! That is a nice looking stone indeed! My Jnat AD is kicking in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jpcwon]

Congrats! That is a nice looking stone indeed! My Jnat AD is kicking in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Ajax!! Yeah mine already came & went...I think I am done buying JNATs for a while....(I know, famous last words!!)

 

[Gamma]

If that spot feels 'rough' to your fingertip - move slowly.
Some Suita, IME - harder ones from Okudo and Okumnomon, seem prone to having some 'issues' that read how you're describing that spot.


That doesn't mean your spot is a problem. Just means that it could be a problem.
Running one blade over it means little. Very little. Not feeling it is a good thing, cerainly.
But you may have an inclusion in there, or under there. If there was an inclusion above what is now the top and it's been lapped out and all you 'felt' was the very end of it, then it could be clear and you're ok.
Could be anything.
But - you should not be feeling 'rough' spots on the stone, not for razors anyway. That's for sure.


The thing is - when there's one thing like that, the possibility is high that there were or are others.
Suita are well known for undergoing extreme personality shifts from a simple lapping, Su, no Su, Toxic Su, sand bits, stuff like that.

What I've had happen with a very hard Okudo - it had a rough spot, but it lapped off. Seemed gone and I honed and it was fine.
Next time - when the stone was dry - I felt it again. I lapped again - seemed gone.
This went on for a few sessions. One day, while honing, the stone spit sand into the slurry.
Basically, what I think is that the sandy stuff just under the surface got wet, swelled, and decided to come out to play. Not fun.


I'm not trying to rain on your parade - just sayin' - I've learned to pay very close attention, esp when I've felt something 'off'.
I don't rely on the razor to 'feel' the issue. If I feel it with the blade, the damage is already done.