Thread: Shapton GS 16k as a finish

Originally Posted by ChrisL

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

I'm just basing this off my last test with a shave off the coticule, which only took about 15 minutes of from 4k to hanging strop, without paste, and only 10 to 15 passes each. So for this experiment (only done once so far) it has taken alot of time

But some experiments take time to work out, than once a system is worked out that works... That will be the key to how long it takes for me.

Third time was not even close to a charm... /cry

I did many laps on the 16k and same on the leather. Still had a rough shave. Took it to the Cro2 after many on the 16k again, back to leather... still crappy shave...

10 passes on the coti with no Cro2... BBS... the "sweet 16" hates me... It may turn up in the classifieds... I just hate to sell it off if it's a cursed hone, no passing of the bad juju...

The polish it gave the edge was amazing though. So it must be me and how I happen to use this stone that is causing me grief.

However this concludes my testing of this hone for straights as I'm just not willing to go further at this time...

Next stone will be the Japanese natural hone from Oohira's oporations.

If the 16K doesn't do it for you then the bevel isn't set. I have went back to the lower grits many times on stubborn razors. I always use CrO to smooth the edge after the finishing hone. The CrO smooths the edge off of the 30K even though they are approximately the same grit.

bj

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

Third time was not even close to a charm... /cry

I did many laps on the 16k and same on the leather. Still had a rough shave. Took it to the Cro2 after many on the 16k again, back to leather... still crappy shave...

Something wrong in here. you don't have to do many laps. When you Many laps 16 k brakes down the edge then you will have horrible edge.Try make your blade shave ready before you hit the 16 k . then do 15-30 light laps and you should be done.
Lastly this is Magic word Be patient. gl

I was glad to find this thread. My experience with the shapton glass 16k has not been the best. I am not happy with the edges that I get off of the stone. I get sharp blade but not a smooth shave. I thought I was the only one who was not tickled pink with results off of the 16K.


Maybe I am not holding my tongue right or I have not broken the code on how to use it. It works great if I use a paste after it but I do not get a great shaving edge right off of the hone.


Charlie

Charlie, DwarvenChef

I agree, the edge is not "super smooth" off the 16K in the sense of a featherlight blade. But I think Budgl and 2 Sharp are correct, too. It sounds like your bevel isn't quite "there" yet, or you have overhoned/stropped.

Could you describe the shave?

I have noticed that if make sure my whiskers are softened well (good prep), and I really get the skin stretched, the razor reacts much nicer on my skin. I will take my Solingen Bismark "down" to 16K to see if I can help. I'm shaving in a couple hours, anyway.

DwarvenChef - Pressure while sharpening was (another) one of my faults a few weeks ago - since then I have really lightened up on the strokes. I got that from sharpening kitchen knives a lot, where it is acceptable to use more pressure. Perhaps we are in the same boat?

It is not a lack of a bevel that is the problem. I can use a different stone with the same razor and get a result that I am happy with. I also do not think that it is over honing because I get consistent repeatable results.
The shave does not glide through the whiskers, it s not as smooth on the face as I thought it would be. It is a good hone but the resulting shave was not as smooth as I expected.


What can I say my mileage varies.


Charlie

Originally Posted by spazola

What can I say my mileage varies.

That's what I'm getting from this thread too. It reminds me of my experience with the belgian stones. Many people rave about the smooth edge & shave these produce, but I always feel like they remove too much keenness. I prefer, right now, the ultra-sharp (some might say harsh) edge that I can get from my SGS 16K & 30K.

Originally Posted by xChris

That's what I'm getting from this thread too. It reminds me of my experience with the belgian stones. Many people rave about the smooth edge & shave these produce, but I always feel like they remove too much keenness. I prefer, right now, the ultra-sharp (some might say harsh) edge that I can get from my SGS 16K & 30K.

Great post.

That is really funny because I prefer the edge off of one of my coticules. I guess that is why sharpening is part science and part art.

Charlie

I'm reasonably sure it's not a bad bevel, it shaved alot better before I took it to the 16k. The shave I get off the 16k was extreamly grabby and would get stuck alot. Looking at the edge with a 30x look showed nothing that would lead me to believe I had a wire edge.

After the last shave atemtp I did 10 passes on the coti and the shave was exactly as I expected, super smooth and easy glide over the skin. So I have come to believe I'm just not cut out for the 16k GS.

Pressure was a problem for me a couple years ago as well I have really come to love the natural hones as they also cured me of pressure issues. I think as much from their size and the fact that I use them in my palm, easier to feel excess pressure.

After moving to narrower hones I have noticed a step up on my edges. I can get them up well enough to shave with, but after I started working on the hand helds I really loved the edge I get.

The 16k Shapton Glass Stone is a great stone and has a remarkable finish. I may just move it over to my kitchen knife stones and use it for my more wicked sharp knives, only time will tell