Inexpensive Straights, Hones, Strops, etc. for Beginners.

That’s do-able, but you may have to look for a while at that price point. Best bets are Chef’s Knives to Go JNat koppas when they have them, and Japanese Natural Stones (Maxim Evenoldsen) seconds page. The bad thing about JNS is shipping from Denmark. Also email Takeshi Aoki at AFrames Tokyo and see if he has anything.

 

Rabbit Hole.

 

I just want to find a good finisher for a beginner !! I mean It could be one of the "Mini" ones that I could do the edge on I have synthetics from 320 up to 8k but nothing above except wet dry which I have dabbled with using to finish and a barbers hone,

 

Also if you do social media, contact Takeda, the knife maker. He used to supply CKTGs Nakayama koppa and all that I’ve encountered (3) were excellent. You’re probably looking at about $150-175 these days for one of those koppas.

 

Yeah I’d like to maby borrow one from a fellow shaving buddy to see how I like it. That if get one from a shaving buddy in the USA

 

Maby I can find one on the BST, that or I’ll try my hand at a COTTY EDGE?

 

The ILR’s are strange so I’m not going to even try them lol, I don’t like that sticky DR. Matt routine

 

Your requests at borrowing an expensive, and hard to come by hone, might be a difficult task. Once you have proven yourself to be an "Experienced" sharpener of razors, you might have more luck. Patience Grasshopper.


..

 

These guys have them shipped to the US for around $115 USD

https://www.fine-tools.com/ozuku-koppa-natural-sharpening-stones.html

You have to put in the work to get them mounted and set onto / into a stand

 

Thanks G, I’ll take a look.

 

@gssixgun it says all are about 7k. Is that even a finisher?

 

Ahhhh there is the question

This is why you saw the post "Rabbit Hole",

See this is where the hole gets deep

There is no such thing as a grit rating on Naturals, the Garnet size on a Coti is 8k and bigger under a microscope what does that even mean???
Most Japanese hones are thought to have Frangible Slurry how does that effect the grit comparison??
Is the base stone thought to be 7k or the slurry release before working it is 7k, how was this measured ???
You are wanting a Tested and Graded stone at a price that is just too low...


I am just kicking the surface of this rabbit hole, with those simple questions, If you want to learn J-Nats two things will happen

#1 Your wallet gets thinner
#2 You WILL be frustrated


*** Keep in mind this also applies to Synthetics and their Grit numbers***

Those grit rating ONLY applies to the same Brand and Series IE: Shapton GS 4k only relates to a Shapton GS 6k that doesn't mean it relates the same to another Brand or even a Shapton Kuromaku the same way.. Different type of Grit, different Binder, different Density of Grit, this all matters.. This is why doing grit comparisons is more witchcraft than science

Make Sense???

 

Most of theses JNat koppas sold as Ozuku are pretty good razor finishers, though they’re usually hard. They can exhibit a range of finishing qualities depending on whether you use thick slurry, thin slurry, clear water, etc. One of the risks with naturals is that some are better than others. The best bet is to buy from a seller that will accept returns if you don’t like it.

Oh, and the eBay seller Ikkyu Avenue (or something like that) has a very good rep, and I’ve bought a couple of small stones from her too and been very pleased. Send her an email/message and tell her that you want a small high quality razor finisher and I think that you will be pleased.

If you want to experience a JNat edge without buying, send me a razor or two and I’ll hone them for you.

 

Better yet, he should send you a couple of his best honed blades, so you can evaluate the edges first.

..

 

Yeah I knew that about natural stones and how there is no way to have a definitive grit rating. I was just thinking why would I use that after my 12k if it says rated at 7k? In my mind that would defeat the purpose.

if I get a J-NAT finisher I want it to Polish more than my 12k. If not I’ll just stick with my Naniwa’s. All that bring said I still would like to try it someday

 

Another thing is I would rather buy one off one of my shaving buddies because they can tell me more about it

 

aka A graded and Tested stone... There ya go

 

I seen 3 on eBay for like $120 ish

I think from the description 2 were medium level and one was a finisher. But they don’t come with naguras.

plus can you tell me more about what happens with some of the stones that have toxic cracks in them? Something like that? My lingo might not be 100%

 

I’m surprised you said that about synthetics because it’s common knowledge that with synthetics you get what you get? Can you elaborate? Or are you just blowing smoke?