Thread: Shapton 16000 or 30000

We don't do valuations here. If you want one, that is what you are going to pay, with the Shapton being a bit more than the Suehiro. The actual improvement to the edge from a properly used 12k to one of the others is trivial.

You have to decide for yourself whether or not that is worth $350 to you.

For me, I like 12K+ edges. I have a Naniwa 12K, but never really liked the shave characteristics, so I normally finish on natural stones (CNAT, ILR, Vermio, LLyn Melynllyn, Hard black Ark). I ordered a Zulu Grey two months ago and am waiting for it to show up.

Since the SG20K and the Shapton 30K are 0.5 micron, I am wondering if they really achieve something that cannot be achieved with a pasted strop. I currently use CBN coated paddle strops at 0.5, 0.25 and 0.1 micron. The pasted strops are far less expensive than the 0.5 micron synthetic stones.

There also are pastes that have grits of 1 micron and larger, so by that same logic there is no need for any hone.

Originally Posted by Legman

Thank you for the input guys. I have one more question do you believe the Suehiro 20K or Shapton 30 K worth roughly $350 ?

You might get an ok Jnat for that price but it won't come with the skills to use it. The synthetics are simpler to learn. Up to you if that's worth $350.

I have the 16K glass hone & I love it. That said I am going to get a 10K or 12K Shapton pro as a lead up to it. The pro hones are really nice & less money!
Slawman

The 16k glass cuts wicked quick.
For fun, I sat a bevel with the 16k and was then done honing.

Sort of begs the question of the need for other stones when the 16k can do it all (more or less, ymmv, etc.)

That's a good thing about the Shapton Glass HR, they're so fast you don't need coarse stones that much. I just set a bevel and removed a small chip and some edge wonkiness with a 4k. It took a little while, but I could see steady progress so I just got in the groove and didn't need my 1k or 2k (my usual bevel setter).

Really a 4k Shapton glass and a fast and good jnat or coticule and that could easily be your normal progression. Add a 2k for most eBay Specials.

Cheers, Steve

Originally Posted by Utopian

There also are pastes that have grits of 1 micron and larger, so by that same logic there is no need for any hone.

Perhaps that's a good opportunity to talk about it... Why not only use a bevel-setter and a series of pastes? Is it because the stones are less expensive over time?

Originally Posted by rolodave

The 16k glass cuts wicked quick.
For fun, I sat a bevel with the 16k and was then done honing.

Sort of begs the question of the need for other stones when the 16k can do it all (more or less, ymmv, etc.)

And I expect that you didn't any burr too! That's actually a really good question... Maybe that _is_ all you need!

Originally Posted by malaverdiere

Perhaps that's a good opportunity to talk about it... Why not only use a bevel-setter and a series of pastes? Is it because the stones are less expensive over time?

It's certainly been done - look on eBay for paddle strops and you'll see 4-sided ones fairly often. Those were used with a series of pastes, which were and still are favored in Europe over stones. I don't know why except that it's perceived as cheaper.

Pasted media can be a bother, you have to flatten and maintain balsa/whatever, or you'd need several hanging strops. All of it needs to be protected from contamination, cross contamination (be sure to put that 4-sided paddle strop back in it's case EXACTLY the same way EVERY time) and you can't easily rinse off a strop like you can a stone.

Cheers, Steve