Thread: Shapton 30k Owners roll call please!

Add me to the list. Haven't got it yet-but I'm looking forward to using it. So far I have the 1K,2K,4K,6K,8K,16K and now the 30K Shapton glass hones. As well as the DGLP.

Add a coticule,a belgium combination stone, 2 vintage thuringians and a Dark blue and Blue/Green Escher- I think I have the HAD under control. Finally.

Not to mention a plethora of hanging and bench strops. And the ubiquitous Norton 4000/8000- of course!

Originally Posted by Lt.Arclight

So far I have the 1K,2K,4K,6K,8K,16K and now the 30K Shapton glass hones. As well as the DGLP.

Add a coticule,a belgium combination stone, 2 vintage thuringians and a Dark blue and Blue/Green Escher- I think I have the HAD under control. Finally.

? Where's the Nakayama, then???
I was told no one controls HAD without one.

Originally Posted by xChris

Ya know, I'm about ready to say that I get a smoother edge from the Shapton 30K than fom Amplex 0.5 diamond paste. No doubt the 0.5 diamond can get a keen edge, but I use the linen to smooth it out.

Take the above comments with caution for now. Again, I'm still evaluating.

FWIW, I have used the 30K on each razor I shaved with for the last 4 days. I am VERY impressed. I had been finishing with .5 amplex diamond paste as well as a few passes on a CrOx loaded balsa strop and was getting exception shaves. I had found that .25 diamond paste created a keener edge-but I felt those edges to be too harsh-ie."scratchy" if that makes sense

So far the edges off the 30K Shapton glass have been SMOOTH AS GLASS and sharp beyond belief. I must admit that I am pleasantly surprised. I really didn't think I could possibly get my razors any sharper-without being HARSH.

Thanks for weighing in, Lt. When you say the .25 mic diamond paste was sharp but with a scratchy feel, was that scratchy feel AFTER following the .25 with chrome ox?

Thanks

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chris L

Thanks for weighing in, Lt. When you say the .25 mic diamond paste was sharp but with a scratchy feel, was that scratchy feel AFTER following the .25 with chrome ox?

Thanks

Chris L

Chris, yes the .25 amplex DP was IMO was "unshaveable" without CrOx-even linen and leather stropping couldn't remove the harshness.Using CrOx on a paddle strop DID smooth the shave-but ALSO dulled the edge.

Until I got the 30K Shapton, I was very happy with .50micron amplex DP on a balsa strop. I felt that CrOx smoothed out the edge without taking away the majority of the keeness gained by using the paste in the first place. There are several razors that responded well to the .50micron amplex going straight to leather without CrOx.

I must admit that I had anticipated NOT liking the 30K. I truly believed it would create a brutal edge. I used the hone on a Wade&Butcher 7/8 squarepoint, Mastro Livi 6/8 roundpoint, Otto Busch 7/8 Roundpoint and a 6/8 H. Wacker Inox. The 3 former listed are Carbon steel and under 100X magnification show a beautifully smooth edge with no marked roughness. The Wacker Inox has been troublesome to hone, but did NOT microchip with the 30K. Its edge was marginally rougher appearing-YET gave the best shave I have ever gotten with that razor.

Each razor was finished with either a Blue/Green Escher or 16K Shapton prior to the diamond paste and CrOx. and all were delivering great shaves. If ,during a shave, I perceive any discomfort,or dullness-I ALWAYS now set that razor aside and use my "back-up" (cop habits are hard to break) So, I do indeed FEEL the difference the 30K hone made to an ALREADY sharp razor.

Is it worth the $239.40? To me it is. I think owning the Shaptons's and DGLP-why wonder why? I already have Norton's, Thuringians, Escher's, a coticule (THANKS) and a Belgium combination stone. Granted, to go finer-you would have to seek out a Japanese hone.....

I do keep a "LOGBOOK" with my razors and document: honing, shave performance and other notes on each razor in rotation. I have found razors that hone better on a combination of natural as well as synthetic hones, the Wacker was my most problematic and yet responded well to the 30K but would not tolerate the 8K or 16K Shapton without "micro-chipping".

Its too soon for a total evaluation. But I must admit I am more than pleased and frankly surprised at HOW SHARP yet COMFORTABLE the edges have been off the 30K. I had expected "Feather" like edges and happily-they are absent.

Excuse my noob ignorance, what is a DGLP and a DMT8F? I have the shapton 12000 and thinking seriously of getting the 30000.

Originally Posted by Ptreaper

Excuse my noob ignorance, what is a DGLP and a DMT8F? I have the shapton 12000 and thinking seriously of getting the 30000.

The DGLP is the Shapton Diamond Glass Lapping Plate...commonly accepted as the current state of the art in lapping plates.

The DMT8F is a diamond particle on steel hone (600 grit, I think?) that can be used for heavy honing or light lapping. Most guys get the DMT8C (325 grit) if they want it primarily for lapping or sharpening knives etc.