Thread: The new High Carbon Glass stones are excellent

I have the Naniwa Superstones, Shapton Pro, Shapton Glass, and now the Shapton High Carbon Glass.

The HC Glass Stone feels hard and smooth like the Shapton Pro, but the scratch pattern is more consistent/smooth and it very quickly achieves its true grit. It cuts very fast and doesn't wear much, and it doesn't load up as easily as the other fine grit stones.

The feedback "feel" is different. It's not nearly as gritty as the Naniwa SS, it just glides quietly. It doesn't load up as easily as the Naniwa finer grits. There is less haziness to its finish. The Naniwa has more feedback because of the grittiness, but the HC Glass stone's smoothness makes sharpening more effortless (also less suctioning effect with full wedges). The HC Glass stone needs less frequent lapping. Less likely to gauge too as it is a hard stone.

The stone is only available in 4k-6k-8k but it is quite fine for its grit rating. You can finish your razor on the HC 8k (slurry->clean water->dry). Optionally a few strokes on a loaded strop/newsprint, and shave.

I've also tried honing very wear resistant steels on the HC Glass stone like S30V (63 rc) and ZDP-189 (66 rc), and it works great. Cuts fast. Mirror polishes very well.