I feel I at least owe some of you a review of the stone I got from Harrelson Stanley, the new Japanese Glass stone #50803. This is a completly different stone than the one described by Lynn at least that is what i found out from Shapton today. First let me say, this stone is made for carbon steel, and have no idea how it would work on stainless blades. I know for almost certain it is specialized for steels similar to those found in vintage razors and ones made today that are "classical" in the type of steel that was made before modern alloys. So please do not think you can sharpen lots of other stuff and get the same versitilty that the US version gives you. This stone is very different. Japanese craftsmen are very traditional and much of the tools they use today is still made the way it was for centuries.
Why I looked for an alternative is because I noticed under magnification, rather harsh scratches for that level grit on some of my old sheffield blades. Now, let's get something straight, this is in know way saying the sweet 16 is not up to the task. It is and much more versitile, but being the nut that I am the scratches bothered me. Reading Jimmy's thread on Less is More is right on the money and there are folks here who are light years ahead of me in their experience and will out sharpen me in a New York minute. So read on at your own risk, I am being essoteric. That is a term that means you can be certifiabley insane when there are other folks who have similar brains. I am eternaly greatful to Lynn for creating such a world.
The test subject was an old Wade & Butcher wedge. Not a fancy one, but I picked it cause it had a large bevel and I wanted to see better what the 8000j would do. It was previously finished on a 16000 Shapton then further on a .3micron film.
The scratch pattern of the 8000 are very soft looking under the microscope in comparison to the ones left by the 16k. I don't have a way of taking pics or I would. The edge itself was clean and crisp with no visible wire edge.
The shave test: I purposly shaved directly off the 8000j. That really is all you need to know, because most of us would hit a paste or at least the strop. The shave was BBS and smooth. It honestly could have used a little more refinement but it was still by my standards very comfy and one of my closest shaves and I don't know any other synthetic 8000 I would shave off of.
So there you have it, reported by your very own little experimental guinie pig.
Mike
