Thread: What Do You Think About The Shapton 30K

Didn't say earlier that I do have an SG20k also, it gives a great edge. Didn't think it was on topic then, but since the conversation has shifted...

I'm going to wade in with an odd, ill-informed reply...

Having only ever used and had a Norton 4/8 and a Shapton 16k I find it hard to understand why one would want more than a 16k. As someone said, I don't know what I don't know, but with ten strokes (remedial fashion) on the 16k delivering what seems, to me, to be a pretty good shave ready edge, I'm not sure it's warranted...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I'm going to wade in with an odd, ill-informed reply...

Having only ever used and had a Norton 4/8 and a Shapton 16k I find it hard to understand why one would want more than a 16k. As someone said, I don't know what I don't know, but with ten strokes (remedial fashion) on the 16k delivering what seems, to me, to be a pretty good shave ready edge, I'm not sure it's warranted...

I agree with Carl.

I would much rather put that $360 USD down on a good razor. JMO

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Anyway, using the shapton pros in a 5k/8k pyramid following the 1k bevel set, I'd go on to the 15k. I rarely felt the desire to go to the 30k.

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Having only ever used and had a Norton 4/8 and a Shapton 16k I find it hard to understand why one would want more than a 16k.

I'm going to take it a step further When Randy told me to make sure I could get a good shave off the Norton 8k before moving up to the Shapton Pro 15k that I had at that time, I discovered I could get along just fine shaving off an 8k and actually liked it. Going up in grit to the 12k, 15k, 16k was more like Mount Everest, 'because it was there.'

The 30k was the pinnacle. Having reached it a few times I didn't always feel the need to climb it again, but it is like the ocean. I almost never go there, but it is nice knowing it is only 20 minutes away if I ever want to.

It looks like frosted glass . I dont know , if this is realy nessesary and if it is realy working . Are you sure that this is 30 k and what ths stone do to the blsdec. I am very sceptic about it . Hard hones could be very tricky - 1 wrong move and you began again the process .

Just a comment on grit scales - again - the Suehiro G20k is 0.5 microns, the Shapton 30k is 0.49 microns ... I'd go for the Suehiro. The Norton 8k is about 4.5k on the JIS scale Naniwa uses.

But Jimmy and others bring up a point I've discussed with Alex Gilmore before, the smoothest edges seem to come from stones that are not the ultimate in fineness, ie the Thuringian and coticule come to mind, in the JNat lineup, many people prefer the edge off a kiita versus a finer, harder asagi, me included. It's an interesting topic.

Cheers, Steve

Definitely a complex issue that nobody has ever seriously investigated in a scientific manner publicly. I'm certain that engineers from somewhere like Schick or Gillette could probably answer many of our questions, but probably never would due to the info most likely bring considered proprietary trade secrets.

My theory is that the edges feel different based on the depth and shape of the scratches where they intersect with the apex, and that's probably about all there is to it. Whether this is entirely or even partially correct... Who knows?

Truley is an interesting topic,If Shapton came out with, 40/60/80 grit stones, they would sell like hotcakes (to those that have no clue)

360.00? I often wonder what a 30k Shapton is actually designed for. For knives, it would produce an edge which would degrade quickly.
Seems same would be so for razors. Just like many high grit hones, the reasoning of some (with the money to spend) is that those few strokes it affords will get a razor to the pinnacle. Some razors will not tolerate it, such as old Sheffields.
Purchasing higher and higher grit hones to get a better shave has to stop somewhere. They will not compensate for inadequate edges from 12k and below IMO. Sort of like going out and buying a 700 HP automobile to drive to work and back. How are you going to use it to an advantage over one with 350 HP? Just to know you have it? Perhaps the badge on the fender for all to see? The possibility for overuse easily is great! JMHO

Originally Posted by eKretz

I'm certain that engineers from somewhere like Schick or Gillette could probably answer many of our questions, but probably never would due to the info most likely bring considered proprietary trade secrets.

Or the engineers at Suehiro. They seem to have modeled the Gokumyo stone(s) to mimic the desirable qualities of a natural stone, undoubtedly a JNat. That means they had to know what physical attributes equated to a desirable feeling edge!

Maybe things like not just the grit size but shape? Certainly the matrix of the G20k is harder than any JNat I've ever had or heard about so they didn't mimic that. And so on.

Cheers, Steve