Thread: PSA, Shapton Glass 1k

Originally Posted by kelbro

I beg to differ. The 0.44u that I bought works great on razors.

I had the 0.44 and unfortunately it was defective - it shed large particles. I returned it to the vendor, Mark at CKTG who returned it to Ishida San at Shapton. When asked about the replacement, Ishida San said that the 0.44 was not recommended for razors and I didn’t need it because I had the 0.85. Apparently, although the average grit size is 0.44, it has some larger grit in it than the 0.85.

This is apparently why some of the HR and HC series Glass stones are not recommended for razors. That chart from Jende showing this has been posted recently.

Having said all that, people are using Glass Stones that aren't recommended for razors with good results, including me, but what Mark told me was enlightening.

Ask him and see what he says.

Originally Posted by Steve56

I had the 0.44 and unfortunately it was defective - it shed large particles. I returned it to the vendor, Mark at CKTG who returned it to Ishida San at Shapton. When asked about the replacement, Ishida San said that the 0.44 was not recommended for razors and I didn’t need it because I had the 0.85. Apparently, although the average grit size is 0.44, it has some larger grit in it than the 0.85.

This is apparently why some of the HR and HC series Glass stones are not recommended for razors. That chart from Jende showing this has been posted recently.

Having said all that, people are using Glass Stones that aren't recommended for razors with good results, including me, but what Mark told me was enlightening.

Ask him and see what he says.

Thanks. That's good info. I got lucky (for once) since mine does not shed. I use it the same as I did the 16K glass stone, no more than 10 laps after a translucent arkie. Polishes the edge and does take the keen-ness up a notch. I believe that I had heard the 16K was another one that was not recommended for razors but many straight razor users loved them.

Seems odd that they would use 'average' for their particle size rather than some sort of sieve apparatus. Maybe that's just too small of a particle to sort.

Apparently you can’t use a sieve for grit that’s anywhere close to fine enough for razors.

There is also a question of how makers ‘report’ their grit sizes, some use the average grit size and and others use the coarsest grit size. And maybe the grit is non-linear, IOW there’s more coarse grit than fine or visa versa. There’s a document in the SRP Shave Library about this, scroll down to the last few paragraphs, though it’s all interesting reading.

https://shavelibrary.com/images/0/0d...grit_sizes.pdf

The 16k HR Glass Stone isn’t recommended for razors according to the Jende chart which allegedly came from Shapton. I need to ask Mark about which ones of the G7 series are recommended for razors, that info seems to be missing.

I picked up one of these 1k Glass Stones because....well....at $39 shipped how could I not? I am very impressed with the stone after just two times setting a bevel. Very very fast cutting without leaving deep scratches. Better than my chosera 1k? I don’t know yet but it is definitely sexier.

Actually the Shapton Glass 2k has replaced all my 1k bevel setters. The Glass HR series is so ridiculously fast that you can use a finer stone than you normally would at any given stage of honing.

If you’re learning to hone though, the speed of these hones is not your friend .... Yet.

They are very fast indeed Steve. I haven’t found the shapton GS to be aggressive at all though in that the scratch pattern is comparatively very shallow. I know of guys who also set bevels on a norton 4K but that just has never been for me. I enjoy the speed of this shapton 1k and similarly the chosera 1k aka green brick for setting bevels. You’re right though about speed. When you are first stating you can cause more problems than you are solving by using a fast and aggressive stone.

Not saying you’re wrong Steve for using a 2k especially given how fast these stones are but to each their own.

Try the 2k Glass vs other 1K - you will be pleasantly surprised.

I’ve always questioned the norm, part of my education I suppose. But why is a normally accepted bevel setter defined as 1k? I’ve set bevels on full hollows with a Shapton Glass HR 4k. I’ve also set bevels on razors from EU with ‘U’ shaped bevels with a 325 diamond plate - with a loupe. I’ve set bevels on diamond plate slurry on a fast jnat.

You have to use whatever it takes to make the bevels meet in a line within a reasonable amount of time. There’s no magic in spending hours to set a bevel. Finishing, well maybe.

Fast stones are better, and I suspect Glen has every Shapton HR Glass in his closet, lol. If a fast stone progression saves just 5 minutes per razor, that time adds up if you have a dozen on the bench, that’s an hour saved.