Thread: Shapton Owners HELP!

Originally Posted by xChris

Just for another data point, I used a DMT8F (600 grit) to lap my Shapton Glass Stones (16K & 30K).

Thanks Chris. I'll have to try that. I would think the 600 grit DMT would do a super job on a quick smooth refresh of the Shaptons.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chris L

I tried to find info on the DMT website regarding the flatness of the Duosharp plates. Does anyone know whether they have any flatness claim like the metal DMT plates do?

Chris L

The plastic ones with the dimples are, from my recent recollection, rated at +- 0.003" vs the steel ones at +- 0.001". Still accurate enough... these are the outside extremes remember, not the average. The Bell curve dictates that most will have less variance, but some may be towards the outside limits... and depending on quality control, there is the chance some might not meet the standards... it happens to all manufacturers... even Shapton!

Regards

Kaptain "Poking fun where no one has poked before" Zero

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

it happens to all manufacturers... even Shapton!

Regards

Kaptain "Poking fun where no one has poked before" Zero

Yeah yeah, I know, I know!

Chris L

If only DMT would lay down their pride. Shh(they believe they make sharpening stones)oh never mind the hush!

:
"DMT make a freakin grooved plate already!"

the solid mono diamonds waste alot of water or are sticky. the poly are plastic bodied; and i hate plastic stuff.

I just lucked onto an Atoma 400 last week. my straight edge says its flatter than dmt diasharp 120. I've just sat down with it this eve to lap some stones at the kitchen sink. It needs water too but with a dedicated space I could reuse that water alot without runnibg the faucet the whole time.

I never felt the need to lap my Shaptons. I have the Japanese, not for export ones ( 1.5 and 5K ).

Originally Posted by Kees

I never felt the need to lap my Shaptons. I have the Japanese, not for export ones ( 1.5 and 5K ).

i know they wear slow- but they check to be flat as is. im thinking of getting a 2 and 16

If you're just starting out with Shaptons and can't spring for the whole kit, my suggestion is the 16k and the DGLP. The Shaptons are flattened just before and after each use. It's as much to get the steel grit out of the stone as it is to flatten them. You'll be able to see the process in the DVD we've now got in production called "Honing The Perfect Edge". Harrelson Stanley and I are shown going through the whole shapton honing and lapping process on several razors. It will be for sale on my site in two weeks.

I really believe in only using the DGLP for the Shaptons. They may be fine for very fine waterstones such as coticules and eschers but not for ceramic hones like a Swaty. Personally, I use them only for the Shaptons and that's what I recommend. The Shapton system is just that. A system. Produces great results.

Originally Posted by sicboater

What do you lap your shaptons on?

Weigh in! I am considering buying shaptons and I don't have enough yet for a full set. I could get the DGLP and a 16K or I could get a set (1k, 4k, 8k, 16k) and a D8C to lap them on until I could get the DGLP. Here is my question: What do you lap your shaptons on and how do they work if it isn't a D8C? Any advice?


Thanks!

Originally Posted by Howard

(snip)The Shaptons are flattened just before and after each use. It's as much to get the steel grit out of the stone as it is to flatten them.(snip)

A friend of mine is a hone junkie and a scientist in the field of polymers. He has the whole Shapton setup, glasstones, GDLP with the holders and base. He likes them very much. So he was talking with Harrellson Stanley and was told that the abrasive in the stones is in a clay held together by a polymer resin. The polymer changes over time so the stones should be lapped before each use allowing for that.

How long it takes before the change in the polymer could have an effect significant enough to compromise the accuracy of the honing I don't know. As I said my friend is a scientist in the field of polymers so he knows what he is talking about and he says that Harrellson is correct.

I know that when I check my stones with my Starret straight edge before I hone they have appeared to be flat. OTOH, if I draw a pencil grid and hit them with the GDLP it does show a variance. Also I can feel a difference in the razor on the hone with a freshly flattened stone. It doesn't take much material and only a half a minute if I lap before each session. I don't bother to lap afterwards, I just wash and dry the stone.

I am looking forward to the video Howard mentioned. I am eager to see it as I hear that Harrellson is a honemiester extradonaire.

I own and use a 3K,6K,8K and 16K Shapton Hones. I agree with JimmyH-AD. I too had the privilege to have a friendly conversation with gentleman he mentioned, and learned a great deal about the Shapton's hones.

By monitoring the surface of my 16K hone, I noticed it was NOT flat and purchased the DGLP. The fact is the Shapton's are indeed a well engineered "system" and a critical-but unfortunately relatively expensive part of that system is the DGLP. After wittnessing firsthand the change in the surface shape of my 16K, it was necessary to lap the hone.So why not do what Shapton recommends

Originally Posted by sicboater

What do you lap your shaptons on?

Weigh in! I am considering buying shaptons and I don't have enough yet for a full set. I could get the DGLP and a 16K or I could get a set (1k, 4k, 8k, 16k) and a D8C to lap them on until I could get the DGLP. Here is my question: What do you lap your shaptons on and how do they work if it isn't a D8C? Any advice?


Thanks!

I have to qualify my response by stating that I have never used the DGLP so really can't compare but I use a D8C to lap all my stones including a 16k Shapton.

On the 16k I have tried using just the D8C and doing a second lap using my Norton 4k to see if it made a difference...and I can't really see any difference when honing a razor and examining the edge under a microscope.

So to make a short story long...save the bucks and get the DMT.