New Maruka Kiita From Alex

[jpcwon]

Here are some pics of my new Nakayama Kiita that I got from Alex Gilmore. The stone measures 135x80mm so it's perfect for handheld honing. There is a damaged corner of the stone that a previous owner lacquered back into place (will not affect honing as it's just the corner). And right next to that repaired corner is a faded Maruka stamp. Now Alex says that he has every reason to think that the stamp is legit, so that's good enough for me! The stone must be a winner if someone went thru the trouble of lacquering that corner back into place. Alex included a matching tomo with the stone, so I am excited to give it a whirl! I will be sure to report back when I have a chance to use it. Alex says that the stone is rather fast and very fine, so we shall see...enjoy the pics!!

 

[duderdo]

Great looking stone! Alex knows his stuff for sure.

 

[Steve56]

I was admiring that one too - be glad you got to it first! Let us know how it does.

Cheers, Steve

 

[Brooksie967]

I can tell it won't be good. Please send to me.

 

[jpcwon]

I can tell it won't be good. Please send to me.

Go wait by your mailbox!!

 

[Brooksie967]

Your stone is unsightly and I could hide it for you?

 

[buca3152]

Nice! Let us know how it goes. Good luck with it. Beauty!

 

[jpcwon]

Well I knew Kiitas tend to be on the fast side, and this one certainly does not dissapoint! I took my "test razor", a Theo A Kochs "Fairfax" 5/8" and dulled it on glass. I then raised a DMT slurry and did circle & x strokes until I was able to shave arm hair. The slurry quickly turned dark with swarf and it took me no time at all to make the razor shave-ready again. I stropped 50 on leather afterwards and got an hht4-5, so it should shave well!

The stone is very fine and fast and is a joy to hone on....I am certainly happy with the initial testing!! Next I am going to play around with the matching Tomo that Alex included....My plan is to do the same thing with the tomo that I did with the DMT slurry...we shall see how it goes!!

 

[Gamma]

Nice score!

 

[jpcwon]

Nice score!

Thanks, Gamma! I haven't done any "comprehensive" testing or comparing/contrasting with my other JNATS yet, but my initial "test drive" proved to be very promising. I still have to play with the tomo Alex gave me and I also got a new Kiita tomo from Takeshi, so it'll be interesting to throw those into the mix....

 

[MarkO]

Great looking stone JP congrats :-D

 

[Cobre]

Very cool looking stone JP!

 

[Danricgro]

Nice! I want it!!!!

 

[alx gilmore]

Your stone is unsightly and I could hide it for you?

You know Brooksie, you are right and I know your sort of joking. This toishi is not all elegant looking, it has been broken and mended. In a certain way this to me is one of the genuine and endearing aspects of this and many other tennen toishi. Each and every one is so totally unique, and with humble beginnings hand dug on leased land, hauled down steep mountain trails in the old days (and this is no joke) on the backs of young girls, only to be chipped and shaped in small dingy shops.

The fact that this stone was broken and repaired gave me an inkling when I found it last year, that it had special sharpening qualities. The idea that it was most likely a third thicker and maybe longer at one time before it was damaged and mended, showed me how cherished a good hone can be held here in the land of some of the finest blades ever made.

Alx

 

[Brooksie967]

Alex, I'm actually being a sarcastic ***; I actually think the stone is gorgeous and I just want JP to give it to me for Christmas this year.

 

[buca3152]

That is one sweet looking stone.

 

[alx gilmore]

Alex, I'm actually being a sarcastic ***; I actually think the stone is gorgeous and I just want JP to give it to me for Christmas this year.

I know you are and you are funny. I hope you Santa stops at your door.

Alx

 

[jpcwon]

Well I am continuing to get great results from this stone! I have touched up a few razors on it now, and I've found that I get great results when using the matching Tomo.. If I want to speed things up a bit, I will raise a DMT slurry from the Awase and hone on that. I have found that the DMT slurry is a bit quicker than the Tomo slurry. My theory for this is that the Tomo "smooths out" the Awase while the DMT kind of roughs it up which increases the speed. I would also think that the particles from the DMT slurry are a bit bigger which would also increase speed....Is this true or am I way off?

 

[alx gilmore]

JP
You are spot on with your observations. Some of the DMT products are aggressive and that is their nature, the Atoma plates can be aggressive also but it is all relative to what "feel" you are used to or expecting the surface of your stone to be like. The nap that is raised from a diamond nagura product does enhance the speed of the stone and this is compensated by the slurries action to calm down the stone as honing/sharpening proceeds. What you have here is a complete grit sequence all wrapped up in one stone. If you bevels are set already then it is all about refinement from then on out. This is the fundamental idea or gist behind TheAxMethod. The tomo nagura is the icing on the cake and is one of the refinement steps that Steve is researching and is most likely going to prove to be the most rewarding step that gets documented.


I know it is about having fun,

Alx