Thread: Shapton Glass stones vs.Traditional or "Pro": What's the right choice?

Originally Posted by Lesslemming

Can you provide more information on the Shapton Glass 2.000? I feel like I am missing something from the 1k white to the 4k grey.
The 1k white is kind of agressive, leaves even, but deep scratches (like almost any 1k, of course). The grey 4k is very slow and has a hard time polishing out all the deeper scratches.
How does the 2.000 react? Is it still agressive or does it leave a smoother surface?

Actually, this point is why when I was developing the circle method of honing, I ended up with doing the first set of 40 circles on the 4K with pressure and then the second set with no pressure followed by 5-10 X strokes. This really helped with the transition. I like the 2K and it will work for setting bevels on razors in good shape. It will also work on messed up ones, but it will take a little longer. The Shapton Glass 1K is pretty aggressive, but doesn't wear down a spine like using the Norton 1K or DMT 1200. It certainly is a harder feeling stone. End result with it=good bevel. I have not found any particular benefit in going from the 1K, to 2K to 4K from a results standpoint. The HC Shapton on glass, I think have a little more feedback than the regular on glass stones. I wish they would make them in more grits. The 4K and 8K work very will and very consistent using the circle method, but may be a tad slower using other methods like the pyramid, etc.

Have fun,

Lynn

I prefer the Shapton Ceramic Pro stones to the glass backed ones. I've got 1k, 2k, 5k, 8k and 12k in Ceramic Pro and I'm very happy with them.

Originally Posted by johnmrson

I prefer the Shapton Ceramic Pro stones to the glass backed ones. I've got 1k, 2k, 5k, 8k and 12k in Ceramic Pro and I'm very happy with them.

I tried these as well and did about a thousand razors on them. Didn't like them as well or find them as consistent as the glass stones, but they definitely will work.

Originally Posted by Lesslemming

That is correct. The 4k HC is quite a good pre polisher, but a tad slow. I was experimenting with slurry on this one a bit recently


//EDIT:
I am an enabler

You might find this thread a bit interesting if you have a coti/bbw handy...I played with some slurry a bit on my GS's: http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...tml?highlight=

I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the Shapton Pros and am surprised to see that they're not more popular. From my understanding, the Shapton GS stones are faster and more aggressive, whereas the Shapton Pro stones are smoother. They are the preferred synthetic stones of many of the heavy hitters in the industry like Tom Blodgett (jendeindustries).

For those who prefer the GS series for honing razors, can you provide more definitive reasons as to why? How do you kill troublesome edges?

Also, why isn't there more mention of using a Shapton Pro 1.5K/2K for setting and correcting bevels rather than a Chosera 1K? I know that there are people out there doing it who do not necessarily use the entire Shapton Pro system.

Originally Posted by TZee

I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the Shapton Pros and am surprised to see that they're not more popular. From my understanding, the Shapton GS stones are faster and more aggressive, whereas the Shapton Pro stones are smoother. They are the preferred synthetic stones of many of the heavy hitters in the industry like Tom Blodgett (jendeindustries).

For those who prefer the GS series for honing razors, can you provide more definitive reasons as to why? How do you kill troublesome edges?

Also, why isn't there more mention of using a Shapton Pro 1.5K/2K for setting and correcting bevels rather than a Chosera 1K? I know that there are people out there doing it who do not necessarily use the entire Shapton Pro system.

I had a set of Shapton pros, never the glass. I also had a set of the thick (no base) naniwa superstones. I liked both sets but eventually sold them and kept my norton 4 and 8 single grits to do the grunt work. I also got shed of my norton 1k once I bought a chosera 1k. I did use the pro 1 and 2k to set bevels. The 1 was more aggressive by far IME and the 2 much smoother. Almost like a 4k IMO. Anyway, I think the reason we don't hear a lot about these is because most guys aren't interested in forking over eitghty bucks for a chosera 1k to set the occasional bevel.

I know guys who have the glass stones and they are happy with the results they get from them. The average guy, IMO, if he is willing to go for the price of a set of glass, pro, superstone, won't be willing to go for all of them to compare. It takes a nut , like me, for that. IME, and from what I've seen and heard, any of these sets will do the job and do it well. Not all of us are "into" hones/stones and of course it is always the Indian that matters more than the arrow, when it comes to hitting the target.

I work with the GS's pretty much exclusively. Yes, they are very "fast", or some call them aggressive. They are VERY consistent. What this means is that you use less strokes & less pressure for the same results. I have come to like the Naniwa Chosera 1K for bevel setting though as it seems to be a bit more gentle on the spine when it comes to honing a "dull" razor like one from an auction site. For a touch-up that needs a bevel reset on a razor that just needs to be re-honed, I use 1,4,8,16K followed by a natural finisher. If someone is looking for their first set of stones, the GS's may not be the best choice as much of the information out there in regards to "methods" and "how-to's" call for more strokes and you will be wasting steel simply because they are more aggressive. Example: If someone recommends to use 20 light "x" strokes on a Naniwa 12K, I would recommend 8-10 on a Shapton GS 16K. Yes, they are almost twice as fast as Naniwa SS's.

I am thinking that the above is good advise. I have not used them, but have seen them used. Really cool! They bring the metal on the stone very fast in comparison to, say Nortons. Kindof agressive to me. Learning curve I would think. They seem very fast.

Originally Posted by TZee

I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the Shapton Pros and am surprised to see that they're not more popular. From my understanding, the Shapton GS stones are faster and more aggressive, whereas the Shapton Pro stones are smoother. They are the preferred synthetic stones of many of the heavy hitters in the industry like Tom Blodgett (jendeindustries).

For those who prefer the GS series for honing razors, can you provide more definitive reasons as to why? How do you kill troublesome edges?

Also, why isn't there more mention of using a Shapton Pro 1.5K/2K for setting and correcting bevels rather than a Chosera 1K? I know that there are people out there doing it who do not necessarily use the entire Shapton Pro system.

If you check out some Shapton threads here you'll find that Lynn have honed a few thousand (!) razors on the Pros and he found the GS more consistent... Now that's a heavy hitter...
FWIW....

And personally I've found the GS fairly easy to learn, and getting incredibly consistent results off them.
While I'd love to try the Pro's, I kinda want the whole system to play with, and the cost of the 30k Pro is a tad steep...