I know the thread is about Shaptons glass-backed hones - the equal of the Pro series in function, and cheaper - but there is something I would add about the diamond glass lapping plate.

It's addictive.

Not only does it flatten and clean steel residue from the hones, it works some special magic on an unrelated hone - the Spyderco UF. I've seen the video of the Spyderco rep saying it's a 2000 mesh hone, and I have read that it is the same ceramic mix as the coarser hones, and the etched pattern on the surface determines the grit/mesh equivalent. To tell the truth, I had no luck from the UF at all and wasn't using it until I got the DGLP. Now I have lapped the machining marks from its surface, and I have been trying to fit it into the series of Shaptons I use when progressing through them. I thought it was right, at first, between the 8k and the 15k, and would finish on the 30k. Just lately I have been trying things in a different order, and I'm getting really nice results from using the UF last. I wish I had some way of measuring the grit that would work here, but I don't see how without a scanning electron microscope. If Spyderco use one ceramic mix and mill the surface into the grit they want, then the more I lap the finer stone I have, up to the point at which I come up against the particle size in their mix. As things stand, I would strongly recommend the Shaptons, but if you can afford the DGLP then the Spyderco UF might save you buying the 15k and 30k. For all I know, it might be used on the medium and fine Spydercos to good effect also, but I don't have them and can't justify them with the Shaptons here to use.

Chris