Thread: Cleaning Shapton Glasstones

I have worked with Harrelson Stanley and also carry the Shaptons. I use them regularly to hone straight razors. The recommended practice is to use a spray bottle to wash off the stone and then use the diamond lapping plate (DGLP) for a few strokes. It will get out the steel and also keep the Shapton flat. I learned this from Harrelson and you'll see it in action on the DVD we have coming out next month. It will be on my website.

Well, I finally got around to trying the artificial Nagura stone for cleaning my glass hones. I should mention that unlike the way one normally thinks of using a Nagura (to raise a slurry on a water stone) the instructions inside the box that my Nagura came in, indicated it's use was for *cleaning* water stones and thus the 12 watt light bulb dimly lit up above my head....

So, the good news is that the Nagura seemed to clean my hones up a treat without removing much if any of the hone surface itself, contrary to using diamond lapping plates that clean the surface by removing it. Now before anyone starts to worry.... Lynn said something along the line of having honed some 1200 razors on his Shaptons so far, using the GDLP for cleaning and there is no appreciable wear on the glass hones... so they are not being worn down that quickly.

Now, the bad news..... So there I was, in my woodworking shop, with nice clean Shapton hones and needing to see how well they worked after the cleaning....<sigh>. Ok, grab a chisel and a plane blade... hmmm, chisel back seems a bit rough even though I'd flattened it before, guess I might as well lap it slightly on the 2K Shapton. Well, crap........... (wait for it!)......... I've never seen a 2k hone remove steel this fast! I mean, I hate standing at the hones for what seems like hours doing such tedious work but now it's a matter of a couple of minutes!!! So the bad news is, I may never take my Shaptons back in the house!

I'm a lazy woodworker and tend to use brute force to shape wood (think heavy machinery and big motors) rather than just wisk it away with a laser sharp chisel or plane, but that might just change now that it really is that much faster to do the necessary honing on the bench hones. I do have a Tormek and it puts a wonderful edge on most of my tools but I've always felt the chisels and planes could use a bit more refinement and the Shaptons make that happen quickly. Howard called them the thoroughbreds of the hone world, I'd humbly suggest they are more like a Ferrari and when used for razors it's very much like using a Ferrari as a shopping cart. In the workshop you can let them loose and they REALLY show you how they can hog off metal all the while making the edges smooth as silk. Whats worse yet is that now I'm starting to think of one of those $500 diamond reference plates.... they have that second side that is meant for speedy prep work on woodworking tools, getting them ready to meet the Shapton family.

Regards

Kaptain "Why couldn't I just settle for sitting on the beach, watching the girls go by?" Zero

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Whats worse yet is that now I'm starting to think of one of those $500 diamond reference plates.... they have that second side that is meant for speedy prep work on woodworking tools, getting them ready to meet the Shapton family.

Oh no. First he hesitated in jumping in the Shapton pool with us, and now he's turning into our worst runaway monster??

They do make great edges on chisels. Holy stiction, batman, on the chisel backs using the higher grit stones though!! Even skewing those chisels, it takes force to keep them from skipping across or getting stuck on the stones. Thankfully they cut so fast, it only takes a few strokes from one grit to the next.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chris L

Oh no. First he hesitated in jumping in the Shapton pool with us, and now he's turning into our worst runaway monster??

I think my medication needs to be adjusted......

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

I think my medication needs to be adjusted......

That's alright, for you it's the DRLP and for me it's visions of mini-metal lathes and mills dancing in my head. I'll be buying them with the imaginary money I keep with me at all times in an imaginary backpack.

Chris L

I now have an 8000 as well as a 16000 Shapton Glass waterstones. I find just rinsing them with cold water and rubbing the deposits with my fingers cleans the stones. The instructions state that no detergents or hot water is to be used. I just got the 16000 today. I used that stone on several razors that I honed and noticed a distinct difference in the edge. Passing the HHT has never been easier.I'm sure that as the stones get used more and more,they will no longer be white-but as long as they keep cutting, I'll be happy.They are amazing.

Originally Posted by Lt.Arclight

I now have an 8000 as well as a 16000 Shapton Glass waterstones. I find just rinsing them with cold water and rubbing the deposits with my fingers cleans the stones. The instructions state that no detergents or hot water is to be used. I just got the 16000 today. I used that stone on several razors that I honed and noticed a distinct difference in the edge. Passing the HHT has never been easier.I'm sure that as the stones get used more and more,they will no longer be white-but as long as they keep cutting, I'll be happy.They are amazing.

I agree with everything you've said. Yes sir.

Chris L

My sharpening station is on the kitchen counter right nest to the sink. When I begin a sharpening session I bring out my DMT/325. I use this for lapping my Shaptons and during the sharpening process. When I bring out my 1st stone, usually the 1K or the 4K Shapton, I place the DMT at the bottom of the sink over the drain. I run cold water and do about 40 circles one direction on the DMT, then another 40 circles the other direction. As I do laps on the Shapton, I will periodically rinse it in cold water scrubbing with a 3M Scrub pad. How often depends on the amount of swarf, but at least every 25 laps. When I am ready to move on to my next stone, I will do the same number of circles I did at the beginning. - and now I repeat the same process on the next stone, until I reach my Nakayama finisher.

This assures me that my Shaptons are clean and not "loaded" with any metals ever at any time. - and I feel they are relatively flat between lapping sessions, which seems to be infrequent since using this method.

This seems to work extremely well for me! The edges I have been producing have been unbelievable! My Shaptons look like they did when they were new and 1st came out of the box.

Steve

Originally Posted by Chris L

That's alright, for you it's the DRLP and for me it's visions of mini-metal lathes and mills dancing in my head. I'll be buying them with the imaginary money I keep with me at all times in an imaginary backpack.

Chris L

Chris.... for the last time, you are NOT HELPING! In sheer self defense I must show the following picture.....

Originally Posted by zepplin

My sharpening station is on the kitchen counter right nest to the sink. When I begin a sharpening session I bring out my DMT/325. I use this for lapping my Shaptons and during the sharpening process. When I bring out my 1st stone, usually the 1K or the 4K Shapton, I place the DMT at the bottom of the sink over the drain. I run cold water and do about 40 circles one direction on the DMT, then another 40 circles the other direction. As I do laps on the Shapton, I will periodically rinse it in cold water scrubbing with a 3M Scrub pad. How often depends on the amount of swarf, but at least every 25 laps. When I am ready to move on to my next stone, I will do the same number of circles I did at the beginning. - and now I repeat the same process on the next stone, until I reach my Nakayama finisher.

This assures me that my Shaptons are clean and not "loaded" with any metals ever at any time. - and I feel they are relatively flat between lapping sessions, which seems to be infrequent since using this method.

This seems to work extremely well for me! The edges I have been producing have been unbelievable! My Shaptons look like they did when they were new and 1st came out of the box.

Steve

I do my honing at the kitchen sink too. I assume you draw a pencil grid on the stones before you lap ? I do that and check them during the lapping . When the grid is gone I know they are flat and I don't have to worry about removing anymore then is necessary.