Pass that Kool Aid.

[KZero]

So, chalk me up as another convert to the JNAT edge.
I sent four of my razors off to Doc226 to be honed. I wanted to try something different than the lapping film I've been using to date.
Ye gods, I can't get over how smooth the shave is now. I'm not dumping on film, I know for myself that it works, but this is the smoothest shave I've had so far.
I'll also take this opportunity to plug Doc's honing services; very quick turnaround, and very professional to deal with. And of course, I'm clearly happy with the results. I know there are a lot of good honemeisters here, but if you decided to deal with Doc, do so with confidence.
Of course, now I'll have to mortgage my property and spend the next couple of years learning how to hone with JNATs, but I suppose there are worse habits to have...

 

[ANeat]

I hear ya, Im liking the Jnat thing as well. Wasnt to bad price wise. You can get a small finisher, a set of naguras, about $200 Honestly one of the easier honing experiences Ive had.

 

[KZero]

Sounds not too bad.
I need to study up a lot more on it though. In the mean time, I'm keeping Doc's address handy.

 

[Kentos]

I think Jnats with a nagura progression are good if you like to hone. Maybe hone up a razor on your films and send it to Al for a finishing on tomonagura slurry then water. If you like that edge you don't need to jump into a set of nagura right off the bat.

 

[KZero]

That's a good idea, Kent.

 

[professorchaos]

The truth requires no Kool Aid!

 

[jpcwon]

I hear ya. I was a coticule guy for the longest time. Then I bought a razor off of a member that was honed by Doc on JNAT, and it was the smoothest shaving razor I've ever shaved with. Needless to say, I now am the proud owner of 4 JNATs!!

 

[Doc226]

Very glad you liked the edge.

MoJolicious.

Like Kent said, taking a "shave ready" to tomo slurry and honing from here will give you most of the JNAT experience. I do think a full nagura honing session is a tad better (I've tried blind tests and "think" it was better) but not necessary.

I have been trying this progression and it works very well. Chosera 1k, naniwa 5 and 8k stones to tomo slurry.

I use a loupe and make sure the 1k scratches are gone when honing on the 5k and then again the 5k scratches gone on the 8k. When I take the razor to the tomo slurry the bevel is almost mirror like.

 

[Gamma]

Doesn't cost much to get into Jnats, unless you really want to get in deep.
There are good stones around from 50-100, a good Tomo can be 20-50, and a Mikawa Botan/Mejiro Nagura set are about 50-60 or so. Stamped pieces may cost more, depends on a few things.
Doesn't take long to learn how to get a good edge with them either.
It will take a good amount of time to really get into a stone and/or Nagura though. But that's part of the fun and that's pretty much the same for any stone or system though, in that sense, Jnats are no different than Cotis or whatever.
The rabbit hole is deep - but you can choose how deep you go.