SRD put a Shapton 16K glass stone in the SRP classifieds. It has a chip on one side so they couldn't sell it out of the store. Went for $50 shipped so I thought I would see what all the fuss was about on the cheap.

I have the Shapton Pro series and have been very happy with the 15K. I had been told by Harrelson and by Howard that the glass stones were a different formula but I didn't think it made that much of a difference.

So my glass stone came in. I had been working on a Heljestrand mostly with a natural coticule and got a fair shave out of it. Next day I took it to the 16k and did 30 laps and it was better but needed more so the following day I did another 30 laps on the 16k. Now it was scary sharp and for my tender skin harsh.

I went back to the coticule with water only and did 30 laps. Seems that I am stuck on 30 laps. Just as Bart posted and Randy told me going back to the previous grit level smoothed it out without sacrificing keenness and now it was perfect for me.

So I had gotten my Robert Williams dream razor last week and have been working on it for the past days when time permitted. I plan on doing a review on it so I won't detail the honing here but suffice to say that this morning after a lot of laps on the 16K I stropped and got a great first shave with it. Not too harsh either.

So my conclusion taking into consideration that I have only honed two razors with it is that the Shapton 16K glass is better then the Shapton 15K professional. I still think the 15k pro is a great stone but the glass stone out preformed mine so far.

Edit; When I say I have reservations it is because I have only honed two razors with the stone.