Thread: Shapton in Japan?

I don't know if the different glasstones were intended for tool folks or knife folks, I guess knife folks. I can't tell much difference in any of them, even on stones.

I believe the glasstones are a bit softer in their binder, and maybe a little bit more pleasant to use than the pros, but anyone in the world who could sharpen a razor on a glasstone will get just as good of a result on a pro stone.

The difference in the stones is more pronounced in tools, and based on their hardness. All but the softest stones (like the suehiro rika, etc) will run clear with a razor if you are gentle on the surface. That has its benefits. However, stones that will easily stay clear with a razor will run a slurry very easily with tools because of the pressure difference, unless they are very hard like a shapton.

The sigma pro 13k, as an example, will not stay clear for me using tools, but I can keep it nearly completely clear with a razor, especially if I've sharpened a razor or two since it's been lapped last. It will always raise a slurry with tools for me.

For razors, I think any of the artificial stones - kings, shaptons, sigma powers, etc are all so capable of the work that needs to be done that it makes little difference and spending a lot of money on the stones is not a matter of practicality (I will not say how much I've paid for different stones) because the edge of a razor receives extremely insignificant wear compared to a woodworking tool, and that most people would be advised to buy whatever is a good deal in synthetics and save their money for a good natural finisher - something that makes a much bigger difference in a day to day shave for a user who doesn't use a loaded strop.

That's just my opinion, though.