Thread: Those Boring Ole Shapton GS hones

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I find that to be case, too, Glen - annoying, isn't it?! I have given up the use of the 30k on all old sheffields - the edges just can't take it with blades beyond a certain age. I suppose the steel was too soft back then. More modern sheffields are a bit of a mixed bunch - some take it, some don't - must be the variations in steel or tolerances in the tempering process.

Old sheffields and natural stones just seem to go together ... naturally

Regards,
Neil

I tend to agree Neil I find myself looking to either a Coticule or a Thuringen or even a CH12K to finish the older Sheffields.. YMMV and all that stuff, as I am sure there are exceptions to this, BUT in general I run Sheffielders across natural stones...

Glen, Thank You!!

The nani is a bit less expensive, but I didn't want to choose it and be penny-wise and pound-foolish. I appreciate your help!

After our exchange on taping the spine, I took a practice blade back to the 8k dmt, after painting w/ a marker. About 6 passes on 8k, 100 or so on the C12k and that edge was better than any it's had (one layer of plastic electrician's tape).

I've not used the Astral since first getting it back, to keep the comparison value in force. The Genco Fuid steel 5/8 round is the most consistent, after that, a stainless Dovo (same size/shape), but I have to touch up the toe more on the strops. When it's finished well, it's very pleasing.

Will order the Nani today. Thanks again, Sixgunner.

Reaching back almost 3 years to say the same thing once again

Just finished up doing 4 razors on the full Shapton progression

Genco

Geneva

Wacker

Brucke

The consistency still amazes me, no fuss, no muss, just incredibly sharp edges, no matter how many times I put these hones to the test they just always deliver the goods..
Just so long as you do your part too, the hones will do theirs..

I started using the 16k at the end of 2007 and added the others in 2008, and these have just always done right for me...

I'll update this thread again in a few more years

I've got the 4k, 8k, and 16k. Funny that you post this now because if I can't get one of my razors sharp, I go to the Shapton Glass stones because I'm sure that if they don't get sharp with them, it's me. I just did this to a Dovo that I hadn't been able to get sharp for three months and it at least shaves well now. They definitely cut and they seem to have very good stiction feedback to let me know to move on.

I love my Shapton's too! I started going up to the 16k and then finishing on a yellow/green Escher instead of the 30k. That's the smoothest edge I've ever achieved. No crox, just stropped with SRD web and Roo, 60/80.

Today I got my Gokumyo 20k and honed one of the new Boker Picadilly razors on Shapton's through 16k and then finished on the G20k. It's a bellied razor and seems to be pretty much a redo of the discontinued Boker Extra Hollow blade. Shave test in the AM, but all indications are an excellent edge from the G20k.

Anyway, Shapton GS's are my go to hone most of the time.

Regards,

Howard

Edit: Tried the Boker this morning finished on the Gokumyo 20k, no crox, etc.. Stropped 60/80 on web and Roo. As smooth and sharp as any edge I've ever had from an Escher, Jnat or any other stone, natural or synthetic....and truthfully probably a little better. A great shave!! Wish I had bought one a year ago!!

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Reaching back almost 3 years to say the same thing once again

Just finished up doing 4 razors on the full Shapton progression

Genco

Geneva

Wacker

Brucke

The consistency still amazes me, no fuss, no muss, just incredibly sharp edges, no matter how many times I put these hones to the test they just always deliver the goods..
Just so long as you do your part too, the hones will do theirs..

I started using the 16k at the end of 2007 and added the others in 2008, and these have just always done right for me...

I'll update this thread again in a few more years

It sounds like you, Smilin' Sally and Pocahontas had a good time during their stay... Those old New York gals sure know how to party.

I can't wait for them to get back and tell me all about it.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Reaching back almost 3 years to say the same thing once again

Just finished up doing 4 razors on the full Shapton progression

Genco

Geneva

Wacker

Brucke

The consistency still amazes me, no fuss, no muss, just incredibly sharp edges, no matter how many times I put these hones to the test they just always deliver the goods..
Just so long as you do your part too, the hones will do theirs..

I started using the 16k at the end of 2007 and added the others in 2008, and these have just always done right for me...

I'll update this thread again in a few more years

I feel the same way. I get consistent feedback with the Shaptons I didn't get before.

I remember when I was first testing these out when they were introduced to the market and I can still say from a results standpoint, that they are among the most consistent stones out there for providing great honing results on every make of quality razor I have ever had on them, bar none. If these were the only hones you had from the 1K to the 16K, you really would never need any additional stones. On top of that, because of the ceramic nature of them, I have yet to wear out a set and I still use them all the time when not using either the Naniwa's or Norton's.

I think it will always boil down to personal preferences on feedback from the stones and results for all of us, but after having experimented with so many stones over the years, I still would not be without a set of these. It's good to see so much of what was said early on about these stones being repeated as time continues.

Have fun.

Originally Posted by Lynn

On top of that, because of the ceramic nature of them, I have yet to wear out a set and I still use them all the time when not using either the Naniwa's or Norton's.

Same here, I was wondering if you had gone through a set, because I am not seeing much wear

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Same here, I was wondering if you had gone through a set, because I am not seeing much wear

Not yet and I had them a few thousand razors before you got them.........