Thread: Which Shapton Ceramic to set a bevel?

I've gotten bored with creating squeegie sharp edges with my Shapton 16k so decided to try my hand at some restoration type honing...such as that described in the Wiki about honing an eBay or damaged blade.

In the course of searching for a low grit bevel setting stone I ran across a site which suggested you only need 3 Shapton stones...a 1k, 6k, and 16k for razors. My question for experienced Shapton users is which is better for the initial bevel set...a 1k or 2k? Until I wear it out I'll continue to use my Norton 4/8k between the bevel grit and the 16k. I can only afford one stone at this time so what say the experts...from the 1k to the Norton or a few more laps on a 2k?

I know more than a few of you use the DMT to set a bevel so I'll try to head off those type posts by saying I'm trying to eventually go all Shapton.

I have both the 1 and the 2K professional stones. If I only were to keep one of them it would be the 2K. For that grit stone I would urge you to consider the Pro. It is 15mm as opposed to 5 with GS and has it's own case that doubles as a platform to hone on.

Originally Posted by JimmyH-AD

I have both the 1 and the 2K professional stones. If I only were to keep one of them it would be the 2K. For that grit stone I would urge you to consider the Pro. It is 15mm as opposed to 5 with GS and has it's own case that doubles as a platform to hone on.

Thanks but I'm only looking for info about the glass stones.

Sorry you have to hear from another pro user. As an aside, the most I have heard from experienced folks who have used both types, is the glass seem to be a little better, user friendly and have a more logical progression. I am led to believe the differences are subtle. Subtle enough any to suggest that either the 1 or 2 will do what you want. I use a 1, 5, 8 pro for the foundation

Hah! The Shapton Pro users are coming out of the woodwork on this one! I too use a Shapton Pro 1k. I go straight from that to the Norton 4k/8k and beyond. Works great. No need for 2k IMO. If you were doing that same with the GS I do not think there would be much if any difference. I personally don't think there is any advantage with going the GS route. None that I have heard about in terms of honing speed/result or how long the stone lasts at least. I have often wondered if the GS are are marketing thing by Shapton... 5mm on fancy looking glass as opposed to 15mm of pure hone... similar hardness/grit ratio... Sounds like Shapton wants more buyers, more often!

For a GlasStone progression I would start with the 1k 4k 8k 16k you can always go back and add the others if you catch HAD....
The other way to look at the progression is get a low grit cutter like the Norton 220/1k or the DMT 600???? then get the Shapton 2k 4k 8k 16k
Either way will work just fine....
Personally I use the second progression only because I grew very, very, comfortable using the Norton 220/1k for damaged razors....
If I were comfortable using DMT's I would have gone that way because they can be used as lapping stones too....

SOOOOooooo many choices

Originally Posted by Philadelph

I have often wondered if the GS are are marketing thing by Shapton... 5mm on fancy looking glass as opposed to 15mm of pure hone... similar hardness/grit ratio... Sounds like Shapton wants more buyers, more often!

When I first saw them I wondered that too...but according to their propaganda the skinny ceramics will last as long and they're a whole lot cheaper than the Pro.

Since I'm not doing this professionally I'm more worried about dropping and breaking one than wearing it out. They do seem to be fairly hardy though as I did somehow manage to drop my 16k and it didn't shatter.

I still don't buy it. Shapton's website says: Shapton® Glass Stone™ abrasives have been carefully manufactured to achieve the highest levels of performance and durability. They may appear thin at first glance but, don't let that fool you. They will out last most other stones that are three times the thickness.

Shapton has never said the GS will outlast the Pro and having felt how hard the Pro is and how slow it wears I don't think it is possible for the GS to last longer. Just my opinion though...

Back to the question at hand: Even though I don't use the GS, I don't see any advantage to using the 2k versus the 1k. If you use the 1k though, the bevel setting should theoretically be quicker. For me that is the longest step too. I doubt there is much noticeable difference between the 1k and 2k but for more versatility I'd recommend the 1k seeing how long setting a bevel (damn wedges) can even take on that. The 4k Norton is rather quick to polish out 1k scratch marks anyway, so I don't think you be saving many strokes on the 4k at all by going 2, 4, 8 etc. rather than 1, 4, 8.

Since I don't have a 2K I use my 1K which does very well. I haven't noticed any problem going to the 4K directly from the 1K so don't know the need for the 2K.

bj

Not to hijack the thread, but...... speaking about the 1versus the 2, since I have both I do what I have to do with the 1 and ASAP go to the 2 because it isn't as coarse. Yeah I know.... duh ...... As I say, I have it and I like the way it works to go from the 2 to either the Norton 4 or the Shapton pro 5. There is no pro 4 so .... anyhow, whatever works.