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Services
Collection of whetstone and tools, precious vintage straight razors are revived back to life with just enough steel material being removed to a shave ready condition and care taken on the razors lasting many years to come. All work are done in absolutehone are by hand to prevent overheating of steel which may effect the performance razors.
Honing / sharpening
Honing process is done professionally and methodically. Starting with quality synthetic stones from Japan 800, 3000, 6000 grit for a bevel setting progression. Once the Apex is met and chips has been removed at 6000 grit, next progression would be to a finishing stone.
Finishing, final honing progression with extremely fine top of the line highly sought after Ozuku and rare Nakayama Japanese natural stone with Mikawa Asano stamped nagura progression which consist of Botan, Tenjyou, Mejiro & Koma. Finally stropping with a smooth cordovan strop ensures the removal of micro burrs. Providing a buttery smooth and comfortably sharp shaving experience.
Japanese Natural stone has a unique properties in which a smooth buttery edge can be achieved. Japanese Natural stone was well revered during ancient times, giving life to sharp to blades and tools to further Japanese art and craftsmanship. Some of these stones were only accessible to a certain group of people with a certain stature. See more explanation below:
For honing and sharpening enquiries please feel free to contact me in instagram - @absolutehone or email - absolutehone@gmail.com, I will charge according to razors condition. International inquiries are welcomed.
Gear - Natural stones
Nakayama
The history of these mines goes back more than 800 years, when the first Nakayama mine was opened on land owned by a Buddhist temple. These stones quickly gained attention of the local lords, as whetstones were not only useful in military roles, but also in the vital work of carpenters building castles and temples. Since Kyoto was the home of the emperor, who had a vital role in the Shinto religion of Japan, it and the
nearby city of Nara, are filled with beautiful temples and shrines, each of which required the most skilled craftsmen working with the best tools to build and maintain. At that time, whetstones were a constant necessity for these workers. Also because of this, the mine had been protected for a long time by the Emperor of Japan, Shogun or the Japanese Government.
A real Nakayama stone especially a Maruka ㋕正本山 stamp, said to give a very fine finish, is a highly sought finishing whetstone even in Japan. Because the mine is closed, with dwindling supplies these are extremely difficult to find. The Nakayama mine is thought to be closed more than 30 years ago.
Ozuku
Mines that produce fine razor whetstones. There are over 30 of mines in the area Kyoto, but there are not too many mines that produces hard and fine razor quality whetstones.
Ozuku has a very fine grain, usually quite hard, sometimes too hard and scratchy. But if the condition is right, it can be an excelent stone for razor finishing. The quarrying has been stopped for decades but the rough stones that were quarried are still being processed into products.
Nakayama
Mikawa Asano Stamped nagura
The utilization of the Mikawa nagura - (a small stone to create slurry) is a cooperation with Iwasaki's family (famous kamisori maker) and Nagayuki Asano (lecturer).
when Iwasaki-san first started making razors he had trouble with honing. He was getting breaks and chips on his edges, which he eventually found came from the inferior Nagura that were being sold by the merchants–they were cheap, and easily found, and of substandard quality. So he began searching for a long lost source for the Nagura that had been used for centuries in the polishing of Katana.
Aichi prefecture is the only place in Japan that produced the Nagura that Iwasaki-san found suitable for the finest honing and polishing. Not only that, he identified the different seams of the mine, and with the help of geologist Nagayuki Asano divided
them based on their polishing effects, speed, and purity.
Iwasaki Kōsuke’ and ‘Nagayuki Asano’ developed a quality-control system for grading and authenticating Mikawa Nagura. Each piece was carefully inspected, and subsequently ink-stamped to qualify the layer and quality of each stone.
The mine was closed in 1976, all ‘new’ Nagura are cut from large pieces of stock that was mined and stored before then.
Progressions of razor honing
