Thread: Shapton High Carbon Glass Stones

Howdy,

I have been playing around with the new Shapton grey colored High Carbon Glass hones for a couple hundred razors and am interested in what kind of results some of you guys might be getting with these stones. They only come in 4K, 6K, and 8K so I have been using the 4K and 8K the most.

So far in testing with both new razors, re-hones, repairs and restorations, I am finding that the results with these stones have been very consistent and similar to Shapton's other glass hones. Damascus, stainless, TI, Dovo, Boker and any vintage razors I have taken across these hones have not been problematic, I have used both Pyramid honing and Circle honing. The interesting thing about these hones is that they actually feel a little harder than the other Shapton Glass hones although the cutting feedback is more pronounced.

The hones lapped up easily with the GDLP and DMT 325.

So far, I would say we have yet another alternative for the old honing arsenal.

I would definitely be interested in any thoughts from you guys who are also using these hones.

Thanks,

Lynn

Hi Lynn,

Thanks for the review! I'd been wondering about these stones since I saw them on SRD.

Would you say its worth replacing Shaptons you may already have with the high carbon stones?

If someone was buying the Shapton set from scratch would you recommend substituting in the high carbon stones to fill the 4k, 6k and 8k levels?

All the best,

Stuart

Thx master Lynn. One question. How's the slurry/metal crap buildup on those gray GS compared to the white GS. The regular GS need to be refreshed very often and a quick foamy swipe on the GDLP improves them again. What about the new gray ones? Notice a difference or would you say it's the same.
TIA, BC

Great question Max, I was wondering the same thing about these new stones.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

Thx master Lynn. One question. How's the slurry/metal crap buildup on those gray GS compared to the white GS. The regular GS need to be refreshed very often and a quick foamy swipe on the GDLP improves them again. What about the new gray ones? Notice a difference or would you say it's the same.
TIA, BC

Actually, I was really interested in the feedback from folks using them..... so I could compare notes.

I find the swarf build up pretty similar between the honesm maybe a little less on the High Carbon Glass. The swarf was almost all gone with just a wipe of the hands under running water. I find that even on the Nortons, I can rub out most of the swarf with my thumbs under running water. My habit is to hit them with the lapping plates to clean them as I am usually doing between 12-24 at one sitting. That way the gunk doesn't build up. I just leave it on the natural stones as it really doesn't build up there at all for me anyway.

These are most interesting stones. Can't seem to shake this HAD thing....

Originally Posted by Stubear

Hi Lynn,

Thanks for the review! I'd been wondering about these stones since I saw them on SRD.

Would you say its worth replacing Shaptons you may already have with the high carbon stones?

If someone was buying the Shapton set from scratch would you recommend substituting in the high carbon stones to fill the 4k, 6k and 8k levels?

All the best,

Stuart

Really not meant to be a review........

I don't think I would replace the regular Shapton Glass with these from my use so far. I'll see after a few hundred more razors. I would say that they are yet an other alternative to folks looking for a set of hones that provide consistent and very nice results, although they are not available in the full line. The feed back is different than the other Shapton Glass. The results are comparable. This will be a personal preference thing and or simply a HAD thing.

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by Lynn

This will be a personal preference thing and or simply a HAD thing.

That is a good enough reason for many of us.

Thx Lynn, my order's in so we can compare notes.

isn't HAD a bootiful thing

HAD ain't BAD, don't cha know.

HAD ain't SAD, don't cha know.

So many AD's, so little time.........

Originally Posted by Lynn

Actually, I was really interested in the feedback from folks using them..... so I could compare notes.

These are most interesting stones. Can't seem to shake this HAD thing....

Hi Lynn,
I have found that they are more gentle to razors than the white stones. They are hard as you say but smoother feeling to me. They really excell in honing vintage steel, like old sheffield stuff. I would not recommend them for stainless and some newer alloys. If these are not the very same Japanese version grey stones on glass disregard my input.
I think people who faulted the white stones for being too "scratchy" will really like these.
Mike