Thread: Help! Too many Jnats

Gents, I'm pulling my hair out trying to make a decision, and I want to avoid buying both stones and returning one. Please offer me your opinions, and help me decide. The large odd shaped looking one has 6.5" inches or so of a straight edge to work with on the short side, and about 7.5" on the long side. It is 3.5" wide, and about 1.5 or 2" deep. It is a nakayama karasu, and my research tells me that this is a rare and valuable stone. My only concern is that I LOVE using a stone that has a 8" long cutting surface, and 3" wide, I like the large cutting surface. The second stone, a large, light colored Ozaki Asagi is almost exactly 8"x3", and supposedly another fine finisher, sold by a trusted vendor. My only concern is that it is too thin, being only 1/2" deep.

I cannot make a decision on my own. Please help. I thought I wanted a large, deep stone, but now I'm thinking it would be nice to stack up my norton, coticule, and Jnat (all 8x3) in a neat little pile and be able to store cleanly in a box... Ideas, people? What would you get?

CMON people, I need help here, this is a lifechanging decision, here!

buy both, send them to me, I'll return the one I dont want. I have no jnats.

I also like the 8x3 surface and am facing a similar dilemma, but my vote is for the 8x3

As it turns out, the nakayama karasu is closer to 5.5"x7"x3.5" on the surface, and 1.5" deep. As rare and beautiful as it is, I had to go with the Ozaki asagi. It's less expensive, and compact enough to fit in the boxes I use for my other 8x3 stones. Damn--this Jnat bug has hit me hard, and all I want is to buy them all...damn you, JHAD! I HAVE NO MORE MONEY FOR YOU!!!

are you able to try them out before you buy them?

I suppose I could buy them and return the one I don't want, but I want to avoid inconveniencing the sellers more than I have to. As it is, I kind of feel bad because I led one of them on that I would purchase their stone, and had to back out. But, I consider that better than buying it then returning it.

If you really can't decide, just buy both. Sell one later. See if the seller will give you a break (Hah!) for buying two stones....Good luck...

FWIW, Karasu is a rare stone, but I like the other.

It looks like you picked up a pretty sweet stone. How hard/fine/fast is it?

Still - that Karasu is gorgeous.

I recognize where the second stone comes from. My favorite little finisher (which is only about 6x3x1/2) has been lapped little and I expect it to last all my life. If in 20 years, it starts to become thinner, I'll just adhere it to a backing.

You can preserve the life of that stone, if you'd like, by getting it ultra flat once, and then doing all of the prefinishing on a less fine hone. Then that fine stone will work its magic without taking much wear. I haven't lapped my stone in several months. I don't plan on lapping it again until or unless I notice it getting out of flat.

As pretty as the karasu may be, you want the stone that gives you the best for the money, (unless you specifically want karasu). Thick stones are nice to look at and impressive, but the thickness of the stone doesn't sharpen your razor, and it costs you a lot of extra money.