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

I have a feeling that your gray stones are the "high carbon" stones

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

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...

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.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

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

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.