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

Hmmm. I wonder if there is any difference between the US market Shapt. Pro & the Jp. Ha no Kuromaku Pro's.

I started using King stones then bought a set of GS, 220 - 8k. Big improvement in speed & hardness i.e. less dishing. I was most impressed.
Now I have a set of Jp pros 220 -12k but minus the 8k & I have largely ignored my GS stones lately. This may be due to the experimenting with new toys syndrome but I am not feeling any short comings at all. The Jp Pros if anything are harder than the GS stones. Less lapping needed & the 1k ,1.5k & 2k seem to work very well as a progression. If anyone has used a King 800 then a King 1200 you will understand that they both perform different functions in spite of the small jump. Sure you can take bigger grit jumps but even when I used my Kings I think it made for less lapping to jump in smaller increments. I think I'm getting sidetracked now but basically I find the Jp Pros to be a great stone & even faster than the GS stones. These pros are also harder so maybe not ideal for a heavy handed beginner. The 1k sets a bevel in stainless in no time & all the other stones cut carbon steel fast, I think even faster than the GS but are not disadvantaged with stainless either. They really feel like the next fastest thing to DMT's for me with less gouging & they cut with minimal pressure but that is the limit of my experimenting. I haven't tried the Chosera 1k yet but I remember setting the bevel on a 5/8 Henckels inox with chips the full depth of the bevel in less than 5-6 minutes on the Jp Shap. 1k. That would be the best speed comparison I can offer.
In defence of the GS they do seem to to leave a slighter finer scratch pattern but that is a cosmetic consideration.

I've been using Shaptons for a couple of years now and have tested the glass stones and the Pro stones. Harrelson has always told me the Pro stones are the older technology and that Shapton is moving towards the glass stones only. I only use the glass stones now and have excellent and consistent results. The Shapton Diamond Glass Lapping Plate is an excellent tool and is designed to be used with the Shaptons. Nevertheless, lots of folks don't want to shell out over $300 for a lapping plate and have chosen other alternatives. The best alternative I've found just came out this year - the DMT Dia Flat Lapping plate. It's the flattest alternative relative to the DGLP and about half the price. Their finish makes them more durable than the standard continuous diamond stones which, I always thought, were pretty durable to begin with when just used on waterstones.

I still like the Shapton Glass stones a lot and use them frequently. I find that from a results standpoint, they are very comparable to the Naniwa Super Stones with the main difference being the difference in feel between the harder Shapton Glass and the softer Naniwa Super Stones. It will really boil down to personal preference regarding use. I believe the Dia Flat plate is around $200 and am not sure if it only comes in the 120 grit which is pretty aggressive. The DMT's are nice alternatives from the Shapton GDLP (Which is my favorite) when you consider the price difference. You definitely need to use them under running water and they always want to stick to higher grit synthetic stones.

Have fun.

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

I haven't tried the Chosera 1k yet...

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You should try one out, I really don't use my lower GS stones on razors any more, mostly 4-16 now. THe Chosera is awesome for bevel sets & I don't know how, but it is almost as fast, but gentler on the spine. I use slurry to "grind" an auction type razor, then a clean stone to finish the bevel set.

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Originally Posted by shooter74743

You should try one out, I really don't use my lower GS stones on razors any more, mostly 4-16 now. THe Chosera is awesome for bevel sets & I don't know how, but it is almost as fast, but gentler on the spine. I use slurry to "grind" an auction type razor, then a clean stone to finish the bevel set.

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I'd love to try one but atm finances won't allow, maybe someone can send me one for a trial:p
If I really felt under-equipped I'd rush to get one but am not experiencing any problems with bevel setting using the JP pro's. They were a big leap forward in speed for me at all grits. Spine wear, I think, can be more in the hand than the stone. Maybe on softer razors the stone is an issue but I confidently restore edges on hard blades with no tape at all from 1k up & don't feel I introduce much hone wear at all. Still, a lotta guys I respect love the Chosera 1k, so one day, when I'm not so broke.

Just a random point on the GS stones. They are the synthetic that So from Japan-tool always recommends for razors. He feels the particle consistency & QC is stellar & I really had to get him in a headlock to sell me the JP pro's :)

Is the Shapton Pro 1K/1.5K a lot slower than the Chosera 1K? I've used a Chosera 1K and found it to be fast, but I didn't enjoy soaking it, and having green particles splashed all over the place when lapping it. Yes, that's being persnickety, I agree.

Shapton GS users, how do you dull an edge?

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Originally Posted by TZee

Is the Shapton Pro 1K/1.5K a lot slower than the Chosera 1K? I've used a Chosera 1K and found it to be fast, but I didn't enjoy soaking it, and having green particles splashed all over the place when lapping it. Yes, that's being persnickety, I agree.

Shapton GS users, how do you dull an edge?

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Every straight user likes to sharpen razors, not dull them. I think GS users are no exception :P

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Originally Posted by jeness

Every straight user likes to sharpen razors, not dull them. I think GS users are no exception :P

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:) +1... What is the point of a dull razor ?
If I raise a burr that I can't be bothered chasing away at bevel setting, I may run the razor over a glass bottle but feather lite. A thumbnail is just as good with the same results. It simply folds the burr over for easy access to the stone.