Shapton 2k, A Different Animal

If you have not tried the Shapton Pro 2K for bevel set it is a very good hone. Plenty fast and very different than the 1k. It is a very smooth ride and much different than the 1k. It really feels like it was made for razors in that there is a nice balance between aggresive and it is gentle at the same time.

It stays flatter for longer than the 1k and it is not as thirsty. I think that makes it very convenient if you think that you would be losing time by not starting your work on a 1k. Also the 1k in general has not impressed me in any respect and the 2k is a totaly different animal.

I had the same impression on the Shapton pro 2 versus the 1k. If I used the 1 I always followed up with the 2 because it did seem so much smoother. I later read a post by 'smokintbird' with the Japanese grit comparison chart. Seems the pro 2k is very close to the norton 4k. At that time I was laboring trying to do a 5k/8k pyramid with the pro stones. I followed the chart and began doing a 2k/5k pyramid and finishing on the 8k pro and life immediately got better. Here is the last post in that thread by tbird with a pdf 0f the grit chart. The whole thread is worth a read.

Thanks Jimmy, I don't remember ever doing pyrimids with shapton but I could understand why that would leave you frustrated.The 5k is a super hard stone and is not anything like the 4k Norton. Funny how we get hung up on numbers and in the end it is all about the results.

Unless the razor needs major edge work I rarely need anything under the 2k. In the event that I do they are there but the right tool for the job at hand.

I use the Shapton GS not the Pro, but everything you wrote I feel is about the same on the Shapton GS 2k..
In fact I used the Shapton GS system for about 1 year before I completed the set with the 500 and the 1k, and more to complete the set, then because I needed them...

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Originally Posted by Kingfish

Thanks Jimmy, I don't remember ever doing pyrimids with shapton but I could understand why that would leave you frustrated.The 5k is a super hard stone and is not anything like the 4k Norton. Funny how we get hung up on numbers and in the end it is all about the results.

Unless the razor needs major edge work I rarely need anything under the 2k. In the event that I do they are there but the right tool for the job at hand.

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Yeah, back then I was hung up on pyramids and doing it all by the numbers. I no doubt took more than a few razors to the 1k that didn't need to go there. Nowadays I start with a more careful assessment of the edge and work accordingly. As you said, results are more instructive than numbers.

I can't say that I've tried the 2k on it's own as a bevel setter but it's certainly very smooth compared to the 1k stone.

Anyone have experience with a head to head comparison between the 2K GS and the 2K Pro? I have a GS, but have not tried a Pro.

I agree! The Shapton Pro 2k came to my attention a long time ago, when I used to sharpen kitchenware.
It is a very nice stone in any sense. Fast, velvety abrasion, leaves a good edge on anything.
The scratch pattern is quite smooth, yet the Pro 5k can have trouble getting rid of all the scratches.
This is partly due to the 5k being a tad slow, but a nice stone nontheless.

I sold all my pro stones a year or two ago, all but my Shapton Pro 2k, because I liked it so much.
Now I am a happy owner of the 2k, 5k and 12k again.
The shapton pro series is highly underrated and capable of doing great!
They perform equally well on all things sharp, they´re hard so they won´t get gauged
and they´re smooth and not agressive.

I have a full set of GS (1,4,6,8,16,30), a half set of naniwa (8,10, sold my 1k,3k,5k) and the pro set (2k,5k,12k)
I find myself reaching for the pros a lot

Damn you all for fuelling my HAD! :D

I was thinking about adding the 500 and 2k GS stones to my Shapton set because then I can go 500, 1k, 2k, 4k, 8k and 16k.

I'm using the Shaptons more and more at the moment. They're more versatile than the Naniwas (IMHO) and they don't warp when they get wet, plus they're fast cutters and leave great edges.

Tine to go shopping methinks! :)

Stu, I concur...but have the Shapton GS 1,2,4,8,16,30, but I can see a need for a GS 220 & 500 as I have used my shapton pro 320 on edge repairs quite a bit. Love the GS's, but still hang on to the Nani's. Now thinking about a 6k & 10k as well, dang it!

The first time I heard the use of the word "feedback" as applied to hones was here at SRP. It took me a bit of time to figure out what many more experienced members were talking about. No doubt, the razor being in a class all by itself allows this subtle feeling to be useful to a greater degree than just about anything else you can put an edge on.

Going by that and good results, if I were going to pick out a set of Shaptons Pros that work the best for razors it would be the 2k, 5k and 8k. The 30k could be thrown in there too. Having all of the pros and the upper grits in the GS, the 2k-8k pro trifecta are my go to stones for razors. After the 8k, which gives me a good shave by itself, it is on to my favorite natural finishers. Whether an accident of manufacturing or intentional, they are different from the other grits independently of the grit #s printed on them and always work well together.

It is hard to tell what Shapton intended or chanced on, but no doubt sharpening razors for me is the only time this distinction surfaces.