Originally Posted by
zib
I like the 16, it's the only Shapton I have. I didn't buy all their gadgets either, and it works just fine. It does load up easily, and as the previous poster mentioned, it does wash off just as easily. It may need lapping due to loading a bit more than other stones, ime. I've mixed it up before, Au Natural, Synthetics and Natural, and just Synthetics...It's all good, like Pizza, Just some are different...
As the one poster mentioned, You do feel the stone sucking the blade to it, I find this stone to be a fast cutter...10 strokes normally by the time I get to it. YMMV, different blades, and different honings, etc, etc, etc....
Here's a couple pics of what I do to elevate this flat, flat stone. Of course, you can put it on another stone, or improvise in some way...I really like these rubber feet, great height, stable, etc...I may have extra, you pay the shipping...
Rich