Thread: Shapton 16k, mixed grit??

Could you imagine the threads if everyone could afford 30k Shaptons ?

" I sharpened my razor with the 30k Shapton and..... ( insert negative results here ) "

And the replies would be. "Works just fine on xyz razors."


For Kuromaku Shapton says 2k , 8k, 30k for razors. Would that progression work ? Of course, if you know what you're doing.
I know from experience the Kuromaku 8k will remove small chips & set a bevel but like me you might be scratching your head as to why it took you 2 hours. The 8k & 2k are both green. Best to label each box & stone clearly
I also know that the 320 ,1k & 1.5k are great for restoration purposes yet Shapton don't say that.

I tend to agree with Steve that Shapton's recommendations are for "a new razor that’s properly made and ground and does not need corrective honing."

Oz, I have a friend in France who uses Shapton stones to hone reed knives to make reeds for musical instruments. I could tell that he’s experienced with Shapton so I asked him which ones that he had. His reply? ‘I have everything that Shapton makes.’

There was a fellow on one of the knife forums that finished off his lawn mower blades with a Shapton 30k, now that’s fanatical!

A lot of folks say that they use the Shapton HR 16k just fine, and there’s a clue in Shapton’s response to SharpMan:

‘Furthermore, when using GS16000, you will be able to get better result by 1) short stroke and 2) loose hand-pressure.’

Both of the techniques mentioned are what good razor honers have mastered. Iwasaki mentions the short stroke and of course using the correct pressure is fundamental to getting good results.

So let me recast Shapton’s statement quoted above: ‘If you are a good razor honer, the Shapton 16k will probably produce good results for you.’ This is consistent with what experienced members report in this thread.

I feel for Shapton when they reply to these questions. They don’t know who they are talking to. They could be talking to the best straight razor honer in the world or someone who has never honed a razor before.

Also interesting is that the G7 series is not the same stones as the HR, per Sharpening Supplies and Shapton’s reply to me (via Mark at CKTG) that I did not need the 0.44u G7 (~34k) for razors since I had the 0.85u G7 (~17k).

They are a unique stone manufacturer.

Originally Posted by Steve56

‘Furthermore, when using GS16000, you will be able to get better result by 1) short stroke and 2) loose hand-pressure.’

Of course razors require a light hand but I've always said lighter pressure is essential with the Kuromaku as they cut fast & can cut deep.

For sale soon

One Original composition 16k Shapton GS
Well used/proved since 2008 only 2mm left
Slight crazing but doesn't effect honing

This is a VERY RARE single grit 16k

Bidding starts at $2500

No low balling here I know what I have


Just incase you are totally Social Media illiterate, This is a Joke !!!!

The Shapton 16k is not a true 16k stone. It consist of grit of different grit. The dictum site was correct. It consist of 6000 to 16.000 grit. Therefore it is not suited to be used after the 8 or 10k Shapton as the Shapton 16k contains 6k particles.

The 16k because it has 6k particles will much more quickly remove scratches made by for example a 1000 grit stone then a pure 16k. Therefore the 16k might be a good option for woodworkers who sharpen their tools with a 1000 grit stone and then finish with a microbevel. Using the 16k this way will quickly eliminate the 1000 grit scratches, but it will not give you a 16k edge because the 6k particles will cause coarser scratches.

The 16k will of course produce a sharp edge. A 6k stone will produce a sharp edge as well. If you dont or cant buy the 30k shapton then dont buy the 16k but buy the 10k shapton. The 10k is pure 10k grit.

Ths 30k is unfortunately very expensive, but if the 8k or 10k is not enough for you then the 30k is the stone you need if you want a shapton glass stone. Otherwise the naniwa 12k? the sigma 13k or the kuromako 12/15k are good stones I believe. The 13k sigma is a great stone but needs some soaking which I am not a fan of.

Originally Posted by SharpMan

The Shapton 16k is not a true 16k stone. It consist of grit of different grit. The dictum site was correct. It consist of 6000 to 16.000 grit. Therefore it is not suited to be used after the 8 or 10k Shapton as the Shapton 16k contains 6k particles.

The 16k because it has 6k particles will much more quickly remove scratches made by for example a 1000 grit stone then a pure 16k. Therefore the 16k might be a good option for woodworkers who sharpen their tools with a 1000 grit stone and then finish with a microbevel. Using the 16k this way will quickly eliminate the 1000 grit scratches, but it will not give you a 16k edge because the 6k particles will cause coarser scratches.

The 16k will of course produce a sharp edge. A 6k stone will produce a sharp edge as well. If you dont or cant buy the 30k shapton then dont buy the 16k but buy the 10k shapton. The 10k is pure 10k grit.

Ths 30k is unfortunately very expensive, but if the 8k or 10k is not enough for you then the 30k is the stone you need if you want a shapton glass stone. Otherwise the naniwa 12k? the sigma 13k or the kuromako 12/15k are good stones I believe. The 13k sigma is a great stone but needs some soaking which I am not a fan of.

Once again

Just how many SR's have YOU personally honed with YOUR 16k Shapton

Mine works fine so do many others in this very thread, soooooooo

Either we are the greatest SR honers in the world or just perhaps there is a difference in the older Shaptons and the newer ones ???

Personally I am going with the idea that maybe we hone a lot of razors and know what we are doing,, I like that better



Hone On !!!!

Originally Posted by SharpMan

The Shapton 16k is not a true 16k stone. It consist of grit of different grit. The dictum site was correct. It consist of 6000 to 16.000 grit. Therefore it is not suited to be used after the 8 or 10k Shapton as the Shapton 16k contains 6k particles.

The 16k because it has 6k particles will much more quickly remove scratches made by for example a 1000 grit stone then a pure 16k. Therefore the 16k might be a good option for woodworkers who sharpen their tools with a 1000 grit stone and then finish with a microbevel. Using the 16k this way will quickly eliminate the 1000 grit scratches, but it will not give you a 16k edge because the 6k particles will cause coarser scratches.

The 16k will of course produce a sharp edge. A 6k stone will produce a sharp edge as well. If you dont or cant buy the 30k shapton then dont buy the 16k but buy the 10k shapton. The 10k is pure 10k grit.

Ths 30k is unfortunately very expensive, but if the 8k or 10k is not enough for you then the 30k is the stone you need if you want a shapton glass stone. Otherwise the naniwa 12k? the sigma 13k or the kuromako 12/15k are good stones I believe. The 13k sigma is a great stone but needs some soaking which I am not a fan of.

Sounds like the 16k is designed as a polishing stone. Something that is done a lot on Japanese knifes.

Originally Posted by SharpMan

Ths 30k is unfortunately very expensive, but if the 8k or 10k is not enough for you then the 30k is the stone you need if you want a shapton glass stone. Otherwise the naniwa 12k? the sigma 13k or the kuromako 12/15k are good stones I believe.

Yes the Kuromaku/Pro 12k /15k is a very good stone. Used one for years but if you're going off Shapton's advice they say not to use one on razors. I guess I did it wrong all that time ?

Originally Posted by SharpMan

The Shapton 16k is not a true 16k stone. It consist of grit of different grit. The dictum site was correct. It consist of 6000 to 16.000 grit.

I believe the Dictum site says 6,000 to 20,000 grit, for an average of 16,000.

My theory is that Shapton had a request from knife people for a very high grit polisher at a lower price point (16k costs less than 10k at Dictum) - I doubt you'd be able to see the difference on knives - otherwise why would Shapton do something like this? Don't know about razors, haven't examined a 16k edge.

Originally Posted by MichaelS

I believe the Dictum site says 6,000 to 20,000 grit, for an average of 16,000.

My theory is that Shapton had a request from knife people for a very high grit polisher at a lower price point (16k costs less than 10k at Dictum) - I doubt you'd be able to see the difference on knives - otherwise why would Shapton do something like this? Don't know about razors, haven't examined a 16k edge.

Yeah, it makes me wonder about the 0.44u G7. Shapton said that I didn’t need the 0.44u G7 for razors since I had the 0.87u, and the G7 kit is described as a knife set with 600/2500/30000 stones.

https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/S...-P1598C84.aspx