Shapton 30k Owners roll call please!

If you own the Shapton 30k, can you post here? Also, if you own one, can you indicate how often you use it? Is it incorporated into every honing session? What are your general thoughts about the Shapton 30k ceramic on glass stone?

I don't own one........yet, but it's always been on my mind. Then Howard recently sung its praises so I want to hear from as many of that small group as possible.

One question: Do you find that the 30k yields an edge that is too sharp (leading to uncomfortable shaves)?

Thanks!

Chris L

Inspiration #863: we could invite Howard to the Minnesota Melt Down and promise him free admission if he were to bring a Shapton 30K glasserized unit with him for us all to test.:tu
Why, I'd even pick him up at the airport and provide chauffeurized transportation for him all the way to Cannon Falls -- and back, even. Yet another example of Minnessota Nice.:rock:

Maybe he'll even bring with him some of those Shapton wannabee coticule thingamabobs.:hmmm:

I've got one. I don't think you get a "too sharp" or uncomfortable shaving edge. Right now, I use it in every honing session because I'm still evaluating it in my own repertoire. It's been very good on the blades that I've used it on (esp. a Genco 1/2 hollow).

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Originally Posted by Bruce

Inspiration #863: we could invite Howard to the Minnesota Melt Down and promise him free admission if he were to bring a Shapton 30K glasserized unit with him for us all to test.:tu
Why, I'd even pick him up at the airport and provide chauffeurized transportation for him all the way to Cannon Falls -- and back, even. Yet another example of Minnessota Nice.:rock:

Maybe he'll even bring with him some of those Shapton wannabee coticule thingamabobs.:hmmm:

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I think it would be great, Bruce. I did invite him but alas, he said his weekends are booked for quite some time. Maybe, his plans will change? He did ask if you and Randy were going to be there.

Chris L

I've got a 30K Professional. Unfortunately I am an amateur so I can't comment. :shrug: Kidding aside, I am still in the evaluation process. I have used it on a few razors but mostly I stop at the 15K and crom ox. I will make it a point to use it a bit more and come to some kind of conclusion.

Well, having one for 5 or 6 months that I have used at the final part of the honing session, I have come to the conclusion that yes I would buy it again. I would first have the basic set which I think is the 1K, 4K, 8K and 16K. As much as I like the 16K the 30K brings your blade to an even further level that I was searching for. Yes I can get a nice shave from the 16K but the 30K takes your blade to where it has not gone before. [Captain Kirk]. I like to do a few strokes on the CrO after the 30K for final smoothness. If you don't have the 30K you don't have a complete set.

bj

BJ, you suck.



I'm going to look for quarters in the couch again.... stupid 30k.....


:)

I have held off on getting it so far, but would be willing to bet that it will sooner or later be heading this way, OCD ya know, gotta have the complete set eventualy... I was really waiting on Lynn's evaluation on it....

I have one and love it! Too sharp, what's up with that? The sharper the blade so long as it's equally smooth the better the shave. But I still love my Belgians and Eschers!!!:rock:

dave martell has them for $239 us here JapaneseKnifeSharpening.com

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Originally Posted by Ben325e

BJ, you suck.



I'm going to look for quarters in the couch again.... stupid 30k.....


:)

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+1

Am I allowed to piggyback?:D


I recently got the 16K and it has added another dimension to the honing process. I am getting a much more stable edge and am able to go a couple of weeks without having to do a touch-up and have been wondering about the 30K :cry:. I usually use 0.5 then 0.25 diamond paste to finish up. How good of an edge do you get, is it sharp? I like sharp!


Thanks,
Richard

About 4 months ago I bought a lightly used custom razor from a member on another forum. It was made by one of the well known and well regarded makers but it wasn't quite shave ready for my particular beard. The familiar story, it did alright on the cheeks but not worth a darn on the chin and mustache area. Keep in mind that I had been successfully shaving with straights for four months by then so I don't think technique was the issue.

I was still a novice honer at that time and I didn't want to tackle the custom at that point so I put it away. I have honed a slue of razors since then and achieved a level of expertise that gave me the confidence to give the custom a try. Tonight I got it out of the drawer and lapped my 15 and 30K Shaptons. I did 30 round trips on the 15K and 50 on the 30K. Stropped 50 linen and 50 leather. The razor passed the HHT and the shave was smooth as silk. So I still need to use the 30 some more but at least in this instance it delivered the goods.

i have the shapton 30k (and the rest of the glass series ) and i use it for all but the heavy Sheffield wedges... the hollow and extra hollows shave better for me off the 30k than off pastes or any other medium i have tried.

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Originally Posted by riooso

+1

Am I allowed to piggyback?:D


I recently got the 16K and it has added another dimension to the honing process. I am getting a much more stable edge and am able to go a couple of weeks without having to do a touch-up and have been wondering about the 30K :cry:. I usually use 0.5 then 0.25 diamond paste to finish up. How good of an edge do you get, is it sharp? I like sharp!


Thanks,
Richard

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Hello Richard. I have the pastes down to .25 and the only one I use now is the .50 CrO. I think the 30K gets your blade as sharp as possible for that particular blade. Every blade is different and can be made only so sharp depending on various factors such as hardness of steel or pits in edge or any warping it may have etc. It must have the bevel already established. I used the .25 paste after the 30K and could not tell any difference. I use the .50 CrO after the 30K and can tell the edge is smoother. I look at the edge with a 30X microscope and can also tell the edge is smoother on my face.

Yes it is sharp and as others have said there is no such thing as too sharp.

bj

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.

I just picked up a Shapton 30K from SRD, but haven't used it yet. What has everyone experienced lapping this stone? Are you using the DGLP, sandpaper, a lower grit hone? I know one school of thought is that the DGLP or a DMT 8C is too coarse for this stone.

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Originally Posted by Bill S

I just picked up a Shapton 30K from SRD, but haven't used it yet. What has everyone experienced lapping this stone? Are you using the DGLP, sandpaper, a lower grit hone? I know one school of thought is that the DGLP or a DMT 8C is too coarse for this stone.

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I'm using the DGLP fot all of the Shapton Pros that I have including the 30K. Seems fine to me.

I have a Wonderedge that I had honed up to 15K. Stropped and shaved and got a good shave but a little harsh. So I tool it back to the 15 for 30 laps and then another 50 on the 30K and it was great. Smooth as silk.

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Originally Posted by Bill S

I just picked up a Shapton 30K from SRD, but haven't used it yet. What has everyone experienced lapping this stone? Are you using the DGLP, sandpaper, a lower grit hone? I know one school of thought is that the DGLP or a DMT 8C is too coarse for this stone.

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I've used a DMT8F (600 mesh) on the 16K and 30K stones that I own. The actual lapping is pretty much like a lot of other synthetic stones.

Thanks for the feedback. I was planning to use my DGLP, but thought I would check in and see what others were using.

30,000 is my last pass on my honing process.Then a lot of strop.









RPR.

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.:rofl2:

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

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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.:rofl2:

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

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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.

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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:shrug:

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. :tu

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

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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

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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":D (cop habits are hard to break:shrug:) 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.:rock:

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

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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.

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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.