Thread: What Do You Think About The Shapton 30K

I bought the 20k... thanks guys.

I want to be able to go from stone to face just because I havent done it yet. I'm able to "shave off" stones with strops in between but, wouldn't it be nice to only need one stone to keep your razor sharp indefinitely, without anything else? No strops, no compounds or other stones, just a few light strokes before every shave? Idk sounds cool to me! Thanks for the info dudes.

Originally Posted by glytch5

I bought the 20k... thanks guys.

I want to be able to go from stone to face just because I havent done it yet. I'm able to "shave off" stones with strops in between but, wouldn't it be nice to only need one stone to keep your razor sharp indefinitely, without anything else? No strops, no compounds or other stones, just a few light strokes before every shave? Idk sounds cool to me! Thanks for the info dudes.

I'm glad you got the 20k. You still need to strop your razor but all due respect, it's your face, you do it whichever way you want.

Stropping on leather aligns the edge, as I understand it. It is not a part of the honing or sharpening process. Though some use sprays and pastes for sharpening or polishing during the stropping process. Stropping on leather is for alignment of the edge. Most consider it an essential element of the whole process and experience.

I think its essential too, but I know for example over at ThePerfectEdge, they just finish on the 30k. Im pretty sure mr.Schecter does not strop... at all.
He finishes on the 30k and shaves, when his edge starts to fade he does a few laps on a coticule to bring the edge up. Not because the coticule is super fine, but because of what it does to the edge.

I was settled on not getting a Shapton 30k when I watched Gssixgun(Glen) do a honing demonstration using it - he took a razor, and did 3, yes 3 laps on the stone...he shrugs in the video and goes that's it - done.

Originally Posted by glytch5

wouldn't it be nice to only need one stone to keep your razor sharp indefinitely, without anything else?

If shaving is strictly a utilitarian pursuit it might be nice, but for those of us who enjoy playing with hones and strops it would be less than fulfilling. Gotta feed the ADs.

Originally Posted by glytch5

I think its essential too, but I know for example over at ThePerfectEdge, they just finish on the 30k. Im pretty sure mr.Schecter does not strop... at all.
He finishes on the 30k and shaves, when his edge starts to fade he does a few laps on a coticule to bring the edge up. Not because the coticule is super fine, but because of what it does to the edge.

All of the old barber manuals that I'm aware of say that stropping following honing is necessary. Some say leather only, some linen/leather, but all say strop. Old barbers I've observed all of my life stropped their razors before shaving a customer, and some in the midst of the shave as well.

Now there is nothing that says you cannot shave directly off of the hones, and if it works for you that is great. For me the strop is as important as the hone or the lather. Enjoy the shave.

Originally Posted by glytch5

I think its essential too, but I know for example over at ThePerfectEdge, they just finish on the 30k. Im pretty sure mr.Schecter does not strop... at all.
He finishes on the 30k and shaves, when his edge starts to fade he does a few laps on a coticule to bring the edge up. Not because the coticule is super fine, but because of what it does to the edge.

I know Howard, and like him well. I've seen his vids with Nick Shaves, and like them. I bought my Shapton GS 30k from him. I know Howard is a minimalist when it come to stropping, but I didn't think an abstainer. I'll have to call him and ask.


So, I just called Howard and chatted. His no strop process off the Shapton GS 30k is what he does for himself. He does not necessarily recommend this process for others, or as a universal practice. He did say if one were to strop, he recommend a paddle strop, not a hanging strop. Obvious reason, honing so fine with 30k, easier to roll edge. He reaffirmed his minimalist view of stropping to about 5-10 laps.

I was under the impression that he doesn't strop for customer razors either. I know current hes been experimenting with some crazy compounds on hard backed surfaces, I sent him a bottle of .050 poly to try out. can't wait to hear how he likes it.

Originally Posted by glytch5

I was under the impression that he doesn't strop for customer razors either. I know current hes been experimenting with some crazy compounds on hard backed surfaces, I sent him a bottle of .050 poly to try out. can't wait to hear how he likes it.

Yeh, he mentioned some things about compounds and sprays. I'm not a spray/compound guy. Steel, stone, leather for me. What caught my attention was saving slurry from the Zulu Grey and turn it into an application for polishing while stropping. I got my Zulu from him too. He also mentioned taking a course on metallurgy and forging steel. He said he's going to start a custom line of straight razors, like Mastro Livi, though more affordable.

Remember, so much about this hobby is about what works for you, what interests you. So much is just opinion beyond certain basics/fundamentals. That's why I like steel, stone, leather, and the dead badger.