Time to give a Kamisori another try.

**shakin_jake** · 06-07-2012, 01:30 AM

Originally Posted by Doc226

That is a nice looking one, Kami's are one rabbit hole I have yet to go into-don't want to either.

~~~+1, sorta....

I had some email with Jim Rian many months ago (late last year?)...came close to buying a razor from him then he suggested I needed a J-Nat to go with the Kami and that he'd see what he could find over the weekend. that's when I lost interest...

I suppose it would be best to hone a kami on a JAP stone...how about the others here, Kent, what say you, didja ever hone a kami on a coticule?=:-)

Best,

Jake
Reddick Fla.

**Legion** · 06-07-2012, 01:53 AM

I've honed one on a coticule. And a Cnat. I've also stropped them on Crox. They are just a sharp steel blade, and not that mystical. It is nice to be authentic in the tools you use, but if you are not nobody makes you cut a finger off.

The technique is slightly different for a kamisori, but I see no reason why the rocks need be. Western hones work with Japanese razors, just like Japanese hones work with western blades.

If you want one get one, and use the tools you have. Just read up on the techniques and pitfalls first.

**Luc** · 06-07-2012, 04:31 AM

Nice Kamisori John!

**johnmrson** · 06-07-2012, 06:18 AM

I used Shapton Ceramic Pro hones up to 8k and then a JNAT as a finishing stone. I did a ratio of 6:3 (omote : ura). The steel is very hard. Judging by the arm hair shaving ability, it looks like it's got a very nice edge. I'm looking forward to tomorrows shave.

**Kentos** · 06-07-2012, 03:34 PM

Yup, I honed one with a diluticot, and then a run through the sprayed balsa. It was a good shave.

I think a jnat brings it up a little more tho, the sharper the better for me

.

Originally Posted by shakin_jake

~~~+1, sorta....

I had some email with Jim Rian many months ago (late last year?)...came close to buying a razor from him then he suggested I needed a J-Nat to go with the Kami and that he'd see what he could find over the weekend. that's when I lost interest...

I suppose it would be best to hone a kami on a JAP stone...how about the others here, Kent, what say you, didja ever hone a kami on a coticule?=:-)

Best,

Jake
Reddick Fla.

**johnmrson** · 06-07-2012, 09:12 PM

Well that was a very interestng experience. Considering I only gave the kamisori a very quick hone, it is ridiculously sharp. Shaving with it felt very different. The thin handle felt like it was going to twist in my hand a couple of times. The last kamisori I had, had a fat plastic handle. I do like the historical aspect of the thin wrap on the handle though and I won't be changing it. Also getting used to having to do more strokes due to the shortness of the blade was different but no great problem. I can imagine it will take a while to get fully comfortable shaving with one but that's a journey I'm happy to go on. I'm happy with this one for now but I can see another one or two joining it sometime in the future.
I swear whilst I was shaving, I could hear Japanese stringed instruments twanging away in the background and a couple of young Geishas giggling as they watched the large Westerner grappling with their razor.

**Trenton** · 06-07-2012, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by johnmrson

The kamisori arrived safe and sound last night. I've honed it up today and I'll test it tomorrow. When I looked at the edge under to 60x loupe, I could see very small wavy lines running through the steel, a bit like micro damascus. Is this the same layering that they used in the making of their swords?

The swords are kind of interesting the way they were made if I understand correctly is the out side was laminated Iron. they kept folding it over and forge welding it together to introduce carbon and make steel, the more layers the more homogeneous the material. This laminated steel was forge weld to the core which was blister steel for the cutting edge and welded to wrought iron no or very little carbon. So you basically have 4 different pieces of material, the high carbon cutting edge, wrought iron behind it and sandwiched between the laminated steel. I was told by a sword maker that the sword was made straight and flat, that when they heated it you to heat treat it and quench it that if they did everything right it would form the curve. If it curved off to the side then they made a mistake and it was garbage, and they made another. The reason it took two years to make a sword is you didn't want to get your head cut off for a simple mistake. By today terms they had really poor materials but they figured out how to make this best of what they had, and made great tools.

**ladykate** · 06-08-2012, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by shakin_jake

~~~+1, sorta....

I had some email with Jim Rian many months ago (late last year?)...came close to buying a razor from him then he suggested I needed a J-Nat to go with the Kami and that he'd see what he could find over the weekend. that's when I lost interest...

I suppose it would be best to hone a kami on a JAP stone...how about the others here, Kent, what say you, didja ever hone a kami on a coticule?=:-)

Best,

Jake
Reddick Fla.

I hone them with what I have. They are usually wicked sharp. Just got through with a passaround that was incorrectly honed - it was almost as if the omote was held up high and an artificial edge attempted. Took quite a bit to get it all ironed out using a coarse DMT but I then went to lapping film and then diamond and then back to lapping film (did I mention that it wasn't in very good shape?). Ended up very nice. I have also honed them with a 4/8 Norton and a Chug. And also finished with diamond paddles. As was said, it is steel and you put an edge on it.

I am reasonably convinced that the nice edges are as much a factor of the relatively short blade. I've made 'Western' kamisoris from chopped off symmetrical blades and they were also easy to sharpen and took nice edges.