Thread: 1-8k range questions & finishing possibilities

I would say you are looking at the Shapton Pro. They are colour coded & are 15mm thick. The Glass Stones are white in colour, some are grey, about 5mm thick & backed onto tempered glass. I use & prefer the Pros due to their aggressive cutting but have used both & would recommend the glass stones for beginners.

Thanks for clearing this up. From what I've seen, having done some research, there is a ceramic M5 series and then the magnesia-ceramic stones (glass stones aside) but only the last stones - the pro series - are available for me at a seemly price. Only a little more than the Naniwa stones. That is at least up to 12k as I couldn't bring myself to shell out hundreds of dollars for a synthetic finishing stone (their 30k stone I mean) although that makes me wonder how their 12k stone rates as a finisher.

Honing too long or too aggressively is not the fault of the stone btw.

I'm amateur enough to expect errors on my part though. This might be more likely with a faster stone as I'm used to cutting very slowly. Though at lower grits it might be a plus? (fast cutting I mean)

Thanks for clearing things up though. I'm going to need to think about this; Shapton vs. Naniwa.

Originally Posted by dadsavage

Thanks for clearing this up. From what I've seen, having done some research, there is a ceramic M5 series and then the magnesia-ceramic stones (glass stones aside) but only the last stones - the pro series - are available for me at a seemly price. Only a little more than the Naniwa stones. That is at least up to 12k as I couldn't bring myself to shell out hundreds of dollars for a synthetic finishing stone (their 30k stone I mean) although that makes me wonder how their 12k stone rates as a finisher.

The M5 should be cheaper than the Pros as they are about a 5mm working thickness fused to a non usable base a bit like the glass stone in concept. Much the same stone as the Pro otherwise. I agree the 30k is a bit exe. I opted for the Suehiro 20k which has identical particle size but more affordable.
I can shave off the 12k Pro but a CrO pasted strop post honing makes the edge more comfortable.


I'm amateur enough to expect errors on my part though. This might be more likely with a faster stone as I'm used to cutting very slowly. Though at lower grits it might be a plus? (fast cutting I mean)
Yes, fast cutting at low grits is a good thing. At high grits it takes more attention.

Thanks for clearing things up though. I'm going to need to think about this; Shapton vs. Naniwa.

S'ok. May sound strange me advising the Naniwa over the stones I use but a lot of guys, both experienced & new like the Naniwa whereas I'm probably in the minority liking the Pro .

As Far are stones are concerned, I can't help but stress enough how important it is to learn on stones that everyone knows the grit of. All of those "purple welsh slate, etc etc" stones, coticules, etc all vary in grit rating...no matter what someone will tell you. I learned on man made stones and I am glad I did, because I was able to get feedback from people that knew that my stone could do.

If you ask me how to hone on a coticule and I tell you what I do on my coticule, you're going to have a hard time because they're two different coticules. They are different in speed, garnet size, and overall fineness.

If you ask me how to use a nanina 1K and I too have a naniwa 1K then we are in busy pretty easily. So, my advice would be, that you just get a synethic progression and ask people that own that progression on how to use it.

BTW you can finish with pastes just fine and save some money if you wanted.

I am looking to buy synthetic hones. Naniwa's, or Shapton PRO series, something to get me to 8k. I already have finishing stones.