Thread: Shapton GS 16k as a finish

Originally Posted by smythe

I woild like to know what's the abrasive material is in those Shaptons (unless it’s a trade secret).

Abrasives such as silicon carbide will make deep scratches in steel, and garnets (I think Al oxide) will make shallow scratches… all other things being equal the edges will make for completely different shaves… that is, for those of us who DO NOT finish with pastes.

Anyone know what’s the main abrasive in the Shaptons?
Maybe this question should be addressed to Jendeindustries.

Actually, Jimmy has more information about this than I do - I haven't been been in direct contact with Harrelson for several months. His wife has been answering my emails, but doesn't have the technical info that only Harrelson can provide. I do know that the abrasives in the pro is silicon carbide, but the glass are different binding (which is plastic based) and abrasive materials. Even though I've had mine glass series for about 3 years, I've only just started carrying them, so I haven't done as much homework (or sharpening) on them yet.

I've been experimenting with the 2 series for straight razors and on both, the 30K's (both glass and pro) make a huge difference after the 15K pro and 16K glass. I don't strop afterward - it seems a little counter productive after the 30K. I agree with you that the edge is a little "stronger" than those made with softer stones that produce a smoother feeling edge, but as I said in my first post in this thread, with proper preparation before the shave and good stretching of the skin, I have been quite happy with the edges.

Originally Posted by jendeindustries

Actually, Jimmy has more information about this than I do - I haven't been been in direct contact with Harrelson for several months. His wife has been answering my emails, but doesn't have the technical info that only Harrelson can provide. I do know that the abrasives in the pro is silicon carbide, but the glass are different binding (which is plastic based) and abrasive materials. Even though I've had mine glass series for about 3 years, I've only just started carrying them, so I haven't done as much homework (or sharpening) on them yet.

I've been experimenting with the 2 series for straight razors and on both, the 30K's (both glass and pro) make a huge difference after the 15K pro and 16K glass. I don't strop afterward - it seems a little counter productive after the 30K. I agree with you that the edge is a little "stronger" than those made with softer stones that produce a smoother feeling edge, but as I said in my first post in this thread, with proper preparation before the shave and good stretching of the skin, I have been quite happy with the edges.

Thanks for the info jendeindustries... BTW jimmy = JimmyHAD?

Sorry if I appear to hijack your thread DwarvenChef but I believe it all comes down to the main abrasive in the hones. Every type of abrasive cut steel in a different way… Thus all other things being the same, the resulting edges will shave different.

I wish I knew different than the feel coming off a 16k GS. i hope to get another finishing stone one day, but so far the 16k and chrome ox has done great for me.

i too do way more than 5 - 10 laps on my 16k.

Whats the point of the 16k if you just crox it afterwards? Just wondering. Still waiting for mine to arrive.

[QUOTE=smythe;408657]Thanks for the info jendeindustries... BTW jimmy = JimmyHAD?

QUOTE]

Yes, JimmyHAD.

Originally Posted by Leighton

Whats the point of the 16k if you just crox it afterwards? Just wondering. Still waiting for mine to arrive.

Not related specifically to the 16k, but hitting the pastes has a different feel depending on what stone you use before it. At least, for me it does. Each stone has it's own feel on it's own, and it's own different feel after paste. IME, it's not like a pasted edge is a pasted edge is a pasted edge and it doesn't matter what stone you used before you hit the paste.

At least, not with any reasonable amount of strokes. I suppose if you did hundreds of passes, it wouldn't matter at all what you used before.

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

I do have Cro2, plenty of it, I'll work that edge on it tonight and see how it shaves tomorow.

This is kind of an "out loud" responce to my own questions about the hones I have. I have 3 "finishing" hones, and this is me testing them out. I have tested the coti and I'm pretty happy with it. Now I'm working out the bugs to get the S GS 16k to work for me. Next will be the Oohira hone.

If the Cro2 makes this work and I get great shaves off it, than it will not be a lost cause Not what I would want to do every time but the knowelege will be worth it.

Go back to the 16K and give it a 10 more passes instead, as a few others here I've found I had to use a lot more passes on the 16K than 5-10, and try stropping it with 50/50 on linen/leather after the honing session and another stropping session before you shave with it. If you get tired of going back to the 16K the go to the Cro2 as it will smooth things out for you.

Originally Posted by smythe

Thanks for the info jendeindustries... BTW jimmy = JimmyHAD?

Sorry if I appear to hijack your thread DwarvenChef but I believe it all comes down to the main abrasive in the hones. Every type of abrasive cut steel in a different way… Thus all other things being the same, the resulting edges will shave different.

No problem it's all good info. I find learning what the stone is doing helps build a rutine with that system. So far the system and I are not getting along

Originally Posted by bjorn

Go back to the 16K and give it a 10 more passes instead, as a few others here I've found I had to use a lot more passes on the 16K than 5-10, and try stropping it with 50/50 on linen/leather after the honing session and another stropping session before you shave with it. If you get tired of going back to the 16K the go to the Cro2 as it will smooth things out for you.

Will give it a try, sans linin... don't have any. I can already tell that I'm not crazy with the amount of work the 16k S GS requires to get a good edge.

Hope the above system is worth the time. Cost for cost I think this is a great stone system, it just doesn't seem to like me much

Chef, it's certainly true that not all razors are created equal. I would disagree that the 16k requires a lot of work to get a good edge. Most often I find the opposite is true. As you probably know, the 16k starts showing swarf streaks after only a few passes. Overall, it's one fast polishing stone!

On rare occasion, I've had to do many passes on a razor after incremental test shaves to get the edge where I want it. That's not the rule for me but the exception with that stone.

Chris L