Originally Posted by
jendeindustries
If I may jump in here,
I agree with Glen, the Shaptons progressions are nice, and they are meant to be a complete system, which usually makes them a "closed" one. But I think they don't play well with others because when jumping to Shaptons from another brand, there is a gap between the characteristics of the stones.
For example, Norton and King stones lose their flatness faster than Shaptons, and if this goes unchecked, it only gets compounded with time. If the Norton or King stone is dished, the angle of the edge is higher than if the stone were flat. You could easily interchange the Norton and King because their stones will conform to the edge from the other stone faster. But when jumping to the Shapton, it requires more work to "adjust" the edge to the flatness of the stone. Maintenance is another issue - All stones need to be lapped, but "softer" stones like the Nortons and Kings will need lapping more often than the "harder" Shaptons. (not to mention that Shapton conveniently has its own line of lapping equipment)
IMO, it's these two facts that really drive many people towards sticking with only the Shaptons. For honesters, it's more of an issue of preference because they understand the different finishes each brand of stone makes, and can work around them, but for the average Joe it's about getting quick and positive results.
:)