Pyramid with shaptons?

Hi,

I'm getting the Shapton system and was wondering do you still use the pyramid progressions?

I'm far from being a honemeister, but I use the Shaptons the same way I use my Norton and assorted finishing stones. The Shaptons seem slightly less abrasive than the Norton (they are a slightly finer mesh or grit size), but the increments between the stones (4000 to 8000 for example) seems consistant, so I use them about the same way as the other stones.

Hopefully Lynn will add his opinion about this because I know he has logged a ton of time with the Shaptons and Nortons and can give you an expert opinion.

I just progress from the lower grits to the higher grits. With each stone I can tell by feel the way the blade sticks to the stone when it is about finished. I don't count the strokes anymore. I just go by feel. After I have decided the blade has reached its maximum sharpness and needs a touchup after a few shaves I go to the 16K then the 30K to get it back to its peak.

bj

I do it both ways depending on the razor. Sometimes I do the progression and other times the pyramid. I am using the Shapton Professionals so it is a 5k to 8k.

Maybe the question is: do the shaptons produce a wire edge as easily and quickly as nortons are prone to producing them? I know I don't need to do pyramids with my slow natural stones as I can hone on them all day long and still haven't produced a wire edge from them

I'm curious to know as well, although I don't recall Lynn using the pyramid with the nortons at the asheville event...