Thread: The new High Carbon Glass stones are excellent

Originally Posted by Mijbil

isnt it a concern that the HC only go up to 8K? how does that cmopare as a finisher for razors to the regular 16K?

A friend of mine in Taiwan has a 10k gray shapton glass stone and is very enthusiastic about the performance. He says he likes the edge it gives to a razor better than the 16k.. Eventually the 10k will probably be stateside.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

A friend of mine in Taiwan has a 10k gray shapton glass stone and is very enthusiastic about the performance. He says he likes the edge it gives to a razor better than the 16k.. Eventually the 10k will probably be stateside.

Interesting

Originally Posted by Mijbil

isnt it a concern that the HC only go up to 8K? how does that cmopare as a finisher for razors to the regular 16K?

On some steels, the 8k leaves a very fine edge. I don't play with it as much as before (Natural Syndrome), but don't get hung up on the grit number with this one. It does a superb job and is not scratchy at all. FME, it does better on some steels and not so on others.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

A friend of mine in Taiwan has a 10k gray shapton glass stone and is very enthusiastic about the performance. He says he likes the edge it gives to a razor better than the 16k.. Eventually the 10k will probably be stateside.

How strange that these HC stones are going by 2k increments. Those who already have the 8k HC would want 16k not 10k!

These HC stones do seem to be very fine for their respective grits though. The grits may correlate closer to the Naniwa series than Shapton series. At least the scratch pattern is finer than the Shapton Pro's that I have at the same grit. I only have Shapton Glass at the lower grits so I can't compare.

Originally Posted by Kingfish

On some steels, the 8k leaves a very fine edge. I don't play with it as much as before (Natural Syndrome), but don't get hung up on the grit number with this one. It does a superb job and is not scratchy at all. FME, it does better on some steels and not so on others.

I think we should just give up on grit for stones (not sandpaper). They should just go with "fine, extra fine" or some proprietary scale (like 1 to 10), which would then have to be xplained by human beings. Because that's what we have now anyways with this putative "universal" system.

Originally Posted by Mijbil

I think we should just give up on grit for stones (not sandpaper). They should just go with "fine, extra fine" or some proprietary scale (like 1 to 10), which would then have to be xplained by human beings. Because that's what we have now anyways with this putative "universal" system.

How true. Then to make any scale try to describe coti or other naturals that can set a bevel all the way to polishing. Maybe one scale for grit range, one for feedback, another for smoothness etc. I think it is fair to say that when grit scales begin to bore you you are getting mighty deep into HAD and likley not to recover.

I have these stones, originally bought for my japanese knives.

Looking for reasons to further justify the purchase, I have recently gotten into straight razor shaving

I recently honed a razor myself and the shave, all things considered, was pretty good. But I think I could have done a better job, and I was hoping you guys could help me with that. Can someone who uses these stones give a quick rundown on approximately how many laps on each stone would be necessary? And how to make a "slurry" on the 8K? Assuming the razor just needs a re-honing, and isn't damaged or in otherwise poor condition, of course.

The only Shapton GS I have is the 16k, and that was thanks to the extreme charity of a member. I would love to get the entire series, but for now I am asking for anyone else who is considering them. So, for anyone who is considering the entire set, would you recommend the whole white series, or the white series with the available grays replacing their counterparts, or, worst case scenario, the whole white series plus the three gray ones.
I know I want the last option, but I'd like to read discussions about this.

I know I have brought this up before but, regarding the Shapton Glass hones intended for razor use I have read (albeit in Japanese from the Shapton website) that the hones they feel are the best performers, and most suited for razors are the #3000 the #10000 and the #30000. All of the others starting at #2000 to #8000 are ranked one step below the previously mentioned top three. The hones lower than #2000 and the #16000 rank lowest for use with razors.

For some reason the #16000 that many of you use and love is supposed to best suited for both Japanese and Western chef knives, other knives, and scissors. The second ranking of the #16000 is for Western planes. And the lowest assigned to chisels, Japanese planes, and razors.

I wonder what, in the #16000, it is that Shapton feels is not suited for razors? It is so puzzling to see all of the great feedback from razor users and yet Shapton's position about suitability remains the same...

FYI, I have no desire to buy and use the GS stones, I am happy with the Naniwa Chosera's and J-nat that I currently use. But I am interested in the Gokumyo stones that are also made in Japan, but by Suehiro. But these are only available in #10000 #15000 and #20000 and cost a pretty penny too.