Hey all, I’ve recently started down the Japanese tool rabbit hole. Photos don’t really capture the sheen left behind by a Kanna, so I always convinced myself my Stanley with Hock blade had the same effect and results. Recently I got my hands on a “real” Kanna and just finished setting it up as a 70mm smoother and took some passes on an old piece of western red cedar. Now I’m in deep because I have proof positive that a properly tuned Kanna leaves a better surface... but now I go back and look at photos of kanna finishes online and they just don’t show the iridescence thats there in real life.
My question is:
Are there any tips on some more advanced Kanna setup or use to get an ideal finished surface, and how exactly do I know when I’ve hit the peak finish?
Please don’t tell me that the road goes on forever and the finishes just keep getting better; this rabbit hole has already consumed a lot of time and money.