Thread: honing with a Shapton

Hello: I use Norton wetstones (220/1000 and 4000/8000. So far I am doing alright with a lot of help
with all the good advice available here. Just got a Shapton 16,000 from SRD for final polishing. Is there
any rule of thumb on how many strokes to use on this stone or is it just by feel and through experience
that such knowledge is gained. Can I over do it with this stone or will it just sharpen to a certain level.

Thanks, Donald

P.S. I searched the site but couldn't find an answer.

Heh You have the same progression I had when I finally bought a "Finisher" the Norton 1-4-8 then Finishing with the Shapton 16k was the first full progression I owned

Two tricks here that I learned

One, Make sure that the edge is truly shave ready coming off the 8k no cheating, no sorta ok, no yeah maybe I can catch it on the 16
Be very confident in the fact that you don't need the 16k and you just want it

Two, start small with 10 light finishing strokes and just water, then later you can experiment in small steps with adjusting the edge from there with slight pressure, stroke count, and even light slurry..

The Shaptons still cut at that high a grit, most finishers barely move metal, so keep that in mind Lynn's famous saying "Less is more" is perfect for these hones...

I agree with the 10 strokes as that is still what I usually use off the Norton 8K. I only use the weight of the blade pressure and do not rush the strokes. I only use water on this stone. You will feel the cutting on the Shapton Glass 16K as it has very good feedback. The strokes should feel very smooth unless you are honing a razor that has had a lot of spine abuse. The edge normally has a really nice smooth and shiney appearence off this stone.

Have fun.

Thanks for the information. You have already been quite helpful to me with your YouTube videos on how to hone a razor with a smile.
That was really well done, in my humble opinion. I have quite a few smiling framebacks and when I get one or two done I will post pictures. At the
moment I am sanding a Geo Westerholm and sons old frameback (short tang) it should clean up really nice. Again, thanks for all the help.

Donald

Thanks Lynn. The other thanks that went below your message was for gssixgun.

Donald

I tried gssixguns and Lynn's suggestion on a Puma that came yesterday. The edge met gssixguns criteria of being
"shave ready". I took the 10 passes that Lynn recommended. I am really new at all of this, but the shave this morning
was the best so far. Of course, it was a Puma already well sharpened. It's not like I turned a table knife into the
best shaver ever. That project will have to wait for awhile. Thanks again guys!!

Donald

In my experience, owning only the Norton 4/8 and Shapton 16k like you do now, and being pretty new to honing myself, I've found what Lynn and Glen says to be absolutely true. The only time I do more than 20 laps on the 16k is when honing harder Swedish steel. It's so convenient, too, with no need to soak. I find I can keep my razors shave ready with just 10 laps on the Shapton maybe every month.

Shapton are my favorite hones. Can't add anything to the above except to agree. One thing though, being thin as they are I find they're much harder NOT to drop. I think I try to handle them too carefully, and luckily it's just been a few inches, but these are the only hones I have ever dropped!! Happened this morning, again!! No damage!

Regards,

Howard

Thanks for the tip about Swedish steel. I have a number of Swedish framebacks and even a Japanese Frameback with "Best Swedish Steel" stamped on the blade; great
razor. Got it from Stefan here on the list. Thanks again Stefan.

Donald

Wow, 10 superlight strokes and done. Glen and Lynn, do you ever just do a couple more and check again or is that too risky? I don't have this stone, I'm just asking. That's what I tend to do in the final stages of honing. When I think I'm done I try a couple more and check. Sometimes the edge improves and then I keep going. Maybe one cannot do that with this hone. Something to keep in mind if I ever get one.

Michael