Thread: Naniwa SS 12k vs Shapton GS 16k: Which one to buy?

Originally Posted by Furcifer

Just to help push you back the other way and add to your indecision, I love my Shapton 16K. I also use a Norton 220/1000 and 4K/8K for the progression. I also have a Norton lapping stone, but I got that before I found out that most here use a DMT 325. Oh well, I'm doing fine, even though it takes a bit more breaking in and work to get the Norton 4K/8K stones flattened.

Back to the Shapton 16K - it just feels insanely expensive, like something you should carry in the inside pocket of your Armani tuxedo. It finishes very well, and as fine as it is, you can still change your results greatly with a change in pressure. Generally, start with more pressure and then lighten up as you go. You can see the metal coming off against the white surface and it's certainly fine enough for touching up a razor, much like a barber hone, but all you need is a little water - you don't need to drown it like the Nortons. So, it's a little handier to pull out for touch-ups than other water stones.

Furcifer, what do you use to lap the Shapton? The Norton lapping stone? One of my concern is actually on what I need to lap it. As for now I don't have a lapping stone, and with such an hard stone I don't know how sandpaper can lap it properly...

Originally Posted by dzacca

Furcifer, what do you use to lap the Shapton? The Norton lapping stone? One of my concern is actually on what I need to lap it. As for now I don't have a lapping stone, and with such an hard stone I don't know how sandpaper can lap it properly...

I just lapped it with the Norton lapping stone initially, and it didn't require much, if at all, other than beveling the edges.

I got a "shave-ready" 4/8 Globusmen-Gold a week or so ago, and it pulled and stung a bit on the first try. I did about 15 strokes on my Norton 8K and about 12 on the 16K the other day, stropped 30 nylon/60 leather and got the first fantastic shave out of it yesterday.