Thread: From Shapton glass 8K to GS 20 K ?

Hi,

I'm planning on buying a set of Shapton Glass stones, the 1K, 4K and 8K for sure.
Then I'm still in doubt of getting the 16K and save up some money for a GS 20K, or skip the 16K and buy the GS 20K straight away.

Now what do the more experienced hones think about progressing up from a 8K to a 20K?
Also take note I'm a beginner and do have a coticule as well, getting "OK" results but want more consistency on my learning curve.

Thanks in advance for your kind input.

To the best of my knowledge, Shapton does not make a 20k, GlassStone or other. Do you mean the Suehiro Gokumyo 20k?

I have never done the specific jump from the GS 8k to the SG 20k, but I would assume it to be doable since it is not that much farther of a jump than it is to the GS 16k. Besides the SG 20k is a fairly fast cutter.

Hi Utopian,

sorry for the confusion but I indeed meant the Suehiro Gokumyo 20k. Shapton glass jumps from 16k to 30k but I've read those 30k's are not that impressive ...

Originally Posted by Mikali

Hi Utopian,

sorry for the confusion but I indeed meant the Suehiro Gokumyo 20k. Shapton glass jumps from 16k to 30k but I've read those 30k's are not that impressive ...

Well, I think it depends on how they are used. By the way, just as an FYI, the SG 20k and the GS 30k have the same size of grit.

Okej, than it's a no brainer given the price difference between the two... The sg20 is about 100 euro cheaper.

Well, they are quite different hones. I just mentioned the grit size thing because I think it is interesting.

Well, generally the ideal is to halve the grit size (double the rating) when bouncing from one stone to the next. 8K to 20K (at least in theory) is only 2.5x, so it should be do-able. Even if it's akin to jumping to the SG 30K, that's only 3.5x and people often jump from 1 to 5K in the Naniwa series with success. In my estimation that rule is a bit more imperative at the low end because scratches are deeper and it will take far more time to work out 1K scratches with a 5K stone than 5K scratches with a 12K stone.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Well, they are quite different hones. I just mentioned the grit size thing because I think it is interesting.

Seems like the GOK 20 is slightly mislabeled? Well, probably not since there's more to a hone than cutting material. Slightly off topic I suppose, but could you get as comfortable a shave off the GS 30 as folks report from the GOK 20?

I've found that for me at least it's easier to overcook an edge with the Shapton 30k than it is with the Suehiro 20k. Both are capable of very good edges but in my experience the Suehiro is more user friendly. I also don't ever have a problem going from 8k Shapton to Suehiro 20k.

I have the Shapton Glass series - 1k 2k 4K 8k 16k 30k. I enjoy using them all. Personally I find little difference in the shave between the 16k and the 30k. When using the 30k go very light with the strokes, both pressure and stroke count. Watch gssixgun (Glenn) video using the Shapton Glass series, especially on the 30k. Note especially his 3-2-1 finish with the 30k.

Yes, that jump can be made. The quality of the finish will depend on the quality of the 8k finish, and the quality of the 8k depends on those that precede it.

Forget the Coticule until you master honing on synthetics, it will only add a bunch of variables.

Find a local mentor and cut your learning curve. The SG20 is a fine stone but it’s not magic. The finish stone is not where you will have an issue.