Thread: Lapping Glass shaptons

I see in the classifieds people selling lapped GS and I am wondering about why you would lap them aren't they perfectly level and isnt the coating on them to thin to need a lapping?

I am planing on buying a set and one of the reasons was I thought they didn't need lapping.

any thoughts or comments appreciated.

Like almost all stones/hones the Shapton GS hones need an initial lapping. Because of the properties of the polymer abrasive matrix they also should be given a light lapping before each use. They are relatively thin, but will provide years of service for the average user. I have a set of these hones and don't consider their lapping requirements to be out of the ordinary or a
particular hardship.

100% Agree with what Bill said , just want to add that the DMT 325 works just fine on these also... You do not need the hugely expensive DGLP in fact I reach for my DMT first for Shaptons and I own both...

+1 with the others, You don't need the Shapton pond, DGLP, and the Malibu dream house...(OK, I made the last one up) it's early for me, I just got up...

I have the Shapton 16k, because it was a 16k, I liked the idea of being able to go from my 12k, to a 16k. I quickly found out I don't really care for the finish off the Shapton.
I'm probably in the minority. They are popular, Many members swear by them. I've used my 16k maybe a dozen times...These are the stones you either love or hate....

I finally unlocked my coties and love them but my HAD kicked in for the GS.
I am more then happy to know I wont need the barbie dream house as I cant stand pink.

I don't really understand what you mean by properties of the polymer abrasive matrix, does lapping change it somehow ?

I don't know if this is the problem here, but maybe you're thinking that the glass is what one hones on. They're called glass stones because there is glass that the hone is mounted to. The hone itself is the white ceramic (or something like that) part.

I don't know if that's what's causing the confusion, though.

Herb,
yes thats most likely the misunderstanding as I have yet to see one in person. only online, but i realize its not honing on glass.

Dang it, I really wanted an excuse for the Malibu dream house. Now I need to find some one else to give me a reason to buy.

Originally Posted by shayne

Herb,
yes thats most likely the misunderstanding as I have yet to see one in person. only online, but i realize its not honing on glass.

The hone itself is just like any other hone on the macro level as far as I can tell. You lap it and what you get is a cleaner version of what you lapped away. No coating or anything like that.