Studio Zero Works

01/11/2026

21/10/2026

Worth the price?

I got this JNAT recently. No providence from the kanji. Just a date (February 6/7, Showa 53), and a whooping 150,000¥. That’s around $695 in 1978, $3.3k in today’s money!!! As someone who collects these stones. I sometimes look back, and think how crazy my collection has gotten.

Anyways, this is a gem of a stone. It’s super knife friendly. Great for soft iron, and wrought clad. It’s also quite an easy polisher, and definitely a finisher.

09/10/2026

Mikawa Nagura (三河砥)

They’re consistent, fast, and prolly one of the most predictable JNAT. Brings out even the details of most cladding, and makes you feel like you’re good at polishing. I have 4 bench Nagura at the moment, but I gotta flex the prettiest one.

Thanks brother from France! 🫡

30/09/2026

The Checkpoint

I won’t lie.. When I first started polishing I focused waayy too much on pre-finishers/finishers. The more I polish, the more I learn to love coarse work. It’s definitely not glorious work, but it sets you up really for an amazing finish. Like everything else, proper foundation/fundamental is king.

Munetoshi Bloomery 240mm Gyuto
LuZi路子 240 Grit Diamond Stone

P.S. This is commission work from a client in France. I wish I own this knife tho. 🤣

09/09/2026

Akapin (赤ピン)

I have a feeling this might be the next layer to get hyped up for polishing sanmai(wrought or soft iron). It’s easy to use, good enough as a finisher for san mai, quite consistent, and beginner friendly. Brings out lots of nice details, and quite hazy.

08/09/2026

Ohira Uchigumori (Soft Jito)
Koyama Watetsu Bunka

I bought this uchi without testing and just straight up gut feeling. I 100000% thought this would be a hato from pics alone. Well, the polish doesn’t lie. It’s a buttery jito that’s on the softer end. Such a rare find nowadays. No effort, detailed polish, period.

02/09/2026

Not much to say..

Working on foundation polish.

Ohira Uchigumori Hato on Hagane
Ohira Renge(Hard Type) on Jigane

Marcin Grabowiec 240mm Tamahagane Honyaki Gyuto

05/07/2026

Some close up shots of Marcin Grabowiec Tamahagane Gyuto.

21/06/2026

MG Forge Tamahagane Gyuto 240mm

Sometimes I wonder if I’m polishing just steel or art pieces.

This was a long time coming. I got this steel from Marcin Grabowiec early this year. I’ve been quite busy, and I honestly didn’t have the skill to polish a steel this intricate. From the hagane, to the hamon, and specially the jihada. A steel that tested my patience and skill.

Stone shaped and polished using JNATs.
Finished with hazuya, jizuya, and nugui.

Great freakin job making this bro! To more projects together!

14/03/2026

Polishing should not be rushed, it’s a slow process.

Crisp shinogi, proper contrast, and proper geometry.

Hisaya(Ikeda) 210mm Yanagiba
Stone Shaped and Polished
Finished w/ Ohira Uchigumori