Thread: "Shapton Glass" In Search of the Perfect Edge

Originally Posted by barneycg

Disclaimer here is that this is my personal findings and as ever YMMV, you should always use what works best for you. As to whether or not the DMT D8EE should be used with a Shaptop 16K I'll leave that up to others to determine ... me I'm pleased as punch with my DMT D8EE and I wouldn't hesitate to add the 16K Shapton to my lineup for final polishing (one day maybe when I'm feeling flush)

Barney

I use my DMT 8EE followed by my Shapton 16000 and finish on a chrome dioxide balsa paddle with great and excellent success. Today I honed a Friodur, Dovo special and Otto Fromm to perfection this way. I shaved with the Otto and had a smooth BBS shave. This setup works excellent for me. Might not work for someone else. I use the DMT E (1200) whenever I need to set a new bevel.

Very cool to mix it up and use different types of stones in the line up. I'm glad to hear DMT8EE to Shapton 16K works well. That says a lot for the D8EE's ability to work as a polisher, but to me it also says that the 16K Shapton is awesome as a fine polisher (it works fast) vs. a slow polisher like the Chinese 12K.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chrisl

Very cool to mix it up and use different types of stones in the line up. I'm glad to hear DMT8EE to Shapton 16K works well. That says a lot for the D8EE's ability to work as a polisher, but to me it also says that the 16K Shapton is awesome as a fine polisher (it works fast) vs. a slow polisher like the Chinese 12K.

Chris L

You're right on the bat Chris!

Both are awesome in their own league.

So is the chrome dioxide.

I decided to dredge this thread up from it's watery grave, rather than start a new one........ just because!

I'm now the happy owner of a set of Shapton Glass hones, 2k, 4k, 8k, 16k and I got them on the group buy over at knifeforums.com. Dave of DR sharpening aka Japanese Knife Sharpening put the deal together and now carries the lineup, just like the Hand American stuff and his prices are nicely discounted.

I flattened the glass hones on my D8C DMT as I just didn't have the cash for the GDLP and frankly I'm glad I didn't go for it. The D8C works just fine, is more than accurate enough and the stiction isn't any worse than when lapping my Belgian Blue or Coticule. All the Shaptons were hollow in the middle section and the 4 hones lapped smooth in about the same time it took me to lap my Norton 4k/8k. The coarser stones took more time to lap than the finer ones and I suspect that's simply related to grit size.

I used the glass hones to bring my old Clauss back to life... it's been a tough razor to get really sharp, it was my first razor and I learned everything I know about honing on that razor... it's kind of a test bed for me. It's always a smooth if somewhat dull shaver. After a round of laps on my 4, 8 and 16k Shaptons, it's ready to enter the next level. The Shaptons really make short work out of honing... these hones are aggressive! That said, I don't think my naturals will be up on the selling block any time soon. If I were starting out, I don't think the Shaptons are the first hones I'd reach for... the naturals have such a great feel to them that really helps develop your stroke without wearing away too much steel. But once you're comfortable with honing and the novelty has worn off... the Shaptons will make the drudgery short lived.

I'll be adding a couple three more Shaptons to my stable.... the GDLP, well... time will tell... I know I don't NEED it, but it does look awfully COOL in the pictures!

Regards

Kaptain "I don't have HAD, I Don't have HAD......I don't have HAD.... Do I?!?!" Zero

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

I decided to dredge this thread up from it's watery grave, rather than start a new one........ just because!

I'm now the happy owner of a set of Shapton Glass hones, 2k, 4k, 8k, 16k and I got them on the group buy over at knifeforums.com. Dave of DR sharpening aka Japanese Knife Sharpening put the deal together and now carries the lineup, just like the Hand American stuff and his prices are nicely discounted.

I flattened the glass hones on my D8C DMT as I just didn't have the cash for the GDLP and frankly I'm glad I didn't go for it. The D8C works just fine, is more than accurate enough and the stiction isn't any worse than when lapping my Belgian Blue or Coticule. All the Shaptons were hollow in the middle section and the 4 hones lapped smooth in about the same time it took me to lap my Norton 4k/8k. The coarser stones took more time to lap than the finer ones and I suspect that's simply related to grit size.

I used the glass hones to bring my old Clauss back to life... it's been a tough razor to get really sharp, it was my first razor and I learned everything I know about honing on that razor... it's kind of a test bed for me. It's always a smooth if somewhat dull shaver. After a round of laps on my 4, 8 and 16k Shaptons, it's ready to enter the next level. The Shaptons really make short work out of honing... these hones are aggressive! That said, I don't think my naturals will be up on the selling block any time soon. If I were starting out, I don't think the Shaptons are the first hones I'd reach for... the naturals have such a great feel to them that really helps develop your stroke without wearing away too much steel. But once you're comfortable with honing and the novelty has worn off... the Shaptons will make the drudgery short lived.

I'll be adding a couple three more Shaptons to my stable.... the GDLP, well... time will tell... I know I don't NEED it, but it does look awfully COOL in the pictures!

Regards

Kaptain "I don't have HAD, I Don't have HAD......I don't have HAD.... Do I?!?!" Zero

Hi Kap'
I came to razors as a wood tool and sword guy. I have an ok selection of stones but always feared the Nats. Somehow it took me the longest time to find out the sorts of European stones available. They've only been on my HADar for a couple of years. I really dig steel and skilled "homemade" style work so largely into Japanese tools.
The way it was explained to me by very skilled, super observant wood geeks is, Shaptons do it like scientific clock work. Nats are more about the ethereal, invisible world. 8000 has been a good place for me to stop. Razors give me a reason to explore further. I always wanted something more.

I've had only a few Nortons. To me it just seemed like they were made to be used up. The shaptons are a good bit harder, and generally far superior imho.

I guess the thing that struck was your starting Nat ( which are slower cutting) and getting Shap for speed, while I started with synthetics, looking for finesse from the nats. Sharp is sharp, and it may be an affliction but you need a steel that can handle the kind of sharp we need, eventually I hope it all comes to balance. too many stones = you need more stuff to sharpen. too many things to sharpen = you need more stones. That kind of balance.

Yes, the Shaptons appear to be remarkably consistent and fast. The Nats have their own personality. Both have room in my sharpening drawer. :-) I do enjoy the sharpening journey, only not so much if it's long and boring!

To me, they all work well only different.


Regards

Christian

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Yes, the Shaptons appear to be remarkably consistent and fast. The Nats have their own personality. Both have room in my sharpening drawer. :-) I do enjoy the sharpening journey, only not so much if it's long and boring!

To me, they all work well only different.


Regards

Christian

See, for me it's all about the hunt. The stealth, the patience, picking up the scent, following the tracks, smelling the scats. It's almost a shame to eventually catch my prey in my cunningly devised and meticulously planned snare.

I've found I hardly go to my Shaptons at all lately, and I envisage going to them even less now I have my Asagi. They are good stones and all, and they have their place for sure.

I guess it really is a matter of different strokes, as they say.

James.

For me it is up to a point- for coarse work: synthetic. With the speed and hardness of ceramics + a good flat lap I felt ok going from 1000 to 5000- (though it's not always ideal with such a leap) to 8000. Then I got a mini microscope and humble pie. I was leaving more scratches behind than I thought. So finally I started shaving and now feel much more grounded, so that's where I'd like the rest of my stones to come from ...
the ground. I'll still probably get a 2 or 3000 glass and maybe 12000 or 16. but first more Japanese awase

I haven't tried the 4000 or 8000 king stones on a razor but they have a nice soft positive feel that's good for some stuff

I have a fairly old 1000 grit King (I think... it's probably 20 years old) hone.... it's ok for woodworking tools where you can bear down a bit but for razors I find it's slow as molasses. I've only played with the Shaptons for a day or so but I'm quite happy going up to 16k and then switching to my little Thuringen or perhaps even my Coticule with no slurry to polish the edge, then finish on a CrO2 pasted bench strop. The bevel on my Clauss just glistens now, nary a scratch visible at 30x and the hht is damn near silent... no crisp pops like before. Granted, I have no idea how smooth this thing will shave.... I'll find out tomorrow.

Regards

Christian

Well I see this thread is still relitively alive. I thought I would check in to see what was going on. I don't come by very often because of the small print. After a couple threads I get a headache. I am still using the Shaptons and dearly love them. I just used them to tune up my new Mystro Livi I got from the group buy. I notice that my razors need a touchup after about 3 or 4 shaves. I really like Ice Dogs' Shapton box.