Once in a while, I'll find something really cheap in Japan on their version of Ebay and order it. This post is two of those.
First, three stones. I saw this listing in the barber section and believe someone was using these stones to sharpen razors. How recently, no clue. the reason I bought them was two things:
1) there's a whole array of fine india stones finer than anything we can usually get here, and they bring almost nothing. They're quite nice for actual sharpening - imagine something like a shapton without the stick part, a little slower cutting and slower to dish. It's just a fine artificial oilstone, but in a format of a wider stone. The concern for lateral hollowing is zero because they can be lapped once in a very great while and they won't hollow like waterstones. They are vitrified type just like india, too, and not a stone that's baked clay or resin binder.
2) Cost for these three before shipping - $8.80.
there just isn't much market for used things in japan, and I found out a few weeks ago one of the reasons for that - a lot of the population is suspicious that used goods carry the spirit of the original owner with them, and that's more acceptable if there are sentimental reasons (like it was a relative) and maybe unlucky if not.
That sort of solves why I can get chisels and plane irons really cheap from there if the seller isn't aiming at euros or americans (the folks specializing in that would buy something like this and sell the three for $100).
Oh, and I think the third stone may actually be a very fine washita stone- that's what caught my eye. It has been used with some kind of slurry and the surface is glassy. These stones do better with oil and a bit of a heavy hand - I'll find out immediately in about 5 minutes if it's a washita by putting a laminated tool to it and seeing if the surface perks up.
Second item - 10 professional level crosscut saws. These are resharpenable, but with eastern style crosscut teeth. The seller listed all of them for the equivalent of $88 and I figured they'd be either big (novel) or a little big (useful in the shop to screw around with - especially considering they have a much longer life than disposable saws and the plates are stiffer but by no means brittle.
The guy selling these had them on the floor with no mention of scale.
Turns out they're really big. Generally around 2 1/2-3 saws, and I think the set varies - some are intended for dry wood and others not. They are all sharp, none are used. a 265mm z saw is shown for scale.
This whole thing was a treat - I thought I was going to get away with practically legal thievery but the shipping options are wacky now and shipping was pretty expensive. Not enough to spoil the deal, but enough to make it a little less sweet.
First, three stones. I saw this listing in the barber section and believe someone was using these stones to sharpen razors. How recently, no clue. the reason I bought them was two things:
1) there's a whole array of fine india stones finer than anything we can usually get here, and they bring almost nothing. They're quite nice for actual sharpening - imagine something like a shapton without the stick part, a little slower cutting and slower to dish. It's just a fine artificial oilstone, but in a format of a wider stone. The concern for lateral hollowing is zero because they can be lapped once in a very great while and they won't hollow like waterstones. They are vitrified type just like india, too, and not a stone that's baked clay or resin binder.
2) Cost for these three before shipping - $8.80.
there just isn't much market for used things in japan, and I found out a few weeks ago one of the reasons for that - a lot of the population is suspicious that used goods carry the spirit of the original owner with them, and that's more acceptable if there are sentimental reasons (like it was a relative) and maybe unlucky if not.
That sort of solves why I can get chisels and plane irons really cheap from there if the seller isn't aiming at euros or americans (the folks specializing in that would buy something like this and sell the three for $100).
Oh, and I think the third stone may actually be a very fine washita stone- that's what caught my eye. It has been used with some kind of slurry and the surface is glassy. These stones do better with oil and a bit of a heavy hand - I'll find out immediately in about 5 minutes if it's a washita by putting a laminated tool to it and seeing if the surface perks up.
Second item - 10 professional level crosscut saws. These are resharpenable, but with eastern style crosscut teeth. The seller listed all of them for the equivalent of $88 and I figured they'd be either big (novel) or a little big (useful in the shop to screw around with - especially considering they have a much longer life than disposable saws and the plates are stiffer but by no means brittle.
The guy selling these had them on the floor with no mention of scale.
Turns out they're really big. Generally around 2 1/2-3 saws, and I think the set varies - some are intended for dry wood and others not. They are all sharp, none are used. a 265mm z saw is shown for scale.
This whole thing was a treat - I thought I was going to get away with practically legal thievery but the shipping options are wacky now and shipping was pretty expensive. Not enough to spoil the deal, but enough to make it a little less sweet.