Thread: Shapton Pro 15000 possibly contaminated with larger grit?

Hello All,
I'm new here, but not exactly new to straight shaving...I began about 9 years ago, and made the switch for about 2 yrs. and then we had a baby girl and time/distraction precluded it. I have now returned to it. During the timeframe I was straight shaving then, I was honing with a Shapton Professional 1500, then a 5000 and getting a fairly mirror finish before going to the strop and getting pretty good shaves. Always looking for improvement, I added a Shapton 15000. The first time I put the razor on the 15000, I noticed a new (more coarse) scratch pattern in the bevel and the side of the spine. I've been sharpening things for about 25 yrs, and I know that is not a thing that should happen with a finer grit stone. I sent it back to Shapton, they lapped it, and I suppose they tested it as well, then sent it back and said it was fine; however, I got the same result. Forward to now, I tried it again and to no surprise, the same thing happened. The shave was good, but the scratch pattern was definitely not as good as when it came off of the 5000 grit. I am meticulous about cleaning the previous grit from the razor, my hands, I use new cleanup towels, etc. to make sure I'm not cross contaminating stones before I move on to finer grits. Anyone ever experienced this or have any ideas? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Jamie

How did it shave?
The scratch pattern can be deceiving in regards to edge feel on the skin.

In regards to the OCD side, I agree it can be annoying and that is the reason I sold my 12k Shapton Pro.

It shaved well. I had to ignore my own OCD side to try it without cleaning it back up with the 5000. I was pleased with the result, but I like the mirror finish of the 5000, and I can't imagine a new and more coarse scratch pattern is helping the cause. I have another due for a touch up, I'm going to try it there and its performance is better despite the appearance, I'll either run with it, or sell it and try another stone.

Originally Posted by mainaman

How did it shave?
The scratch pattern can be deceiving in regards to edge feel on the skin.

In regards to the OCD side, I agree it can be annoying and that is the reason I sold my 12k Shapton Pro.

Yea.I bought the hone stefan,is a wonderfull hone.

Originally Posted by JRob2474

the scratch pattern was definitely not as good as when it came off of the 5000 grit.

How did you determine this? Was it with your naked eye or under magnification? I ask because I'm wondering if the scratch pattern is in fact smaller but that it is being misinterpreted by your method of observation.

It may be that the jump from 5000 to 15000 is a bit too much in that you are polishing off the finer scratch pattern leaving and highlighting the deeper scratches from your courser grit stones. Borrow a Norton 8k or other of similar grit and see if it eliminates the problem.

Yup, correct Wirm, the stria you are seeing is deep stria, sub 5k, that is being revealed as the 5k stria is removed.

Go back to the 5k and remove that deep stria, then finish. If you don’t it will probably chip the edge.

What did you hone it with prior to the 5k?

Originally Posted by JRob2474

I was honing with a Shapton Professional 1500, then a 5000 and getting a fairly mirror finish before going to the strop and getting pretty good shaves. Always looking for improvement, I added a Shapton 15000.

And looking at this under magnification will help to sort this out.

I have the shapton pro series as well 1k, 2k, 5k, 8k, 15k i have finally reached a point were I always pass all tests with my razors... keep in mind I have never used any other stones since I have learned to properly hone, with that said I think that the 15k is a very strange stone... I'll have mixed results involving the scratch pattern, and some times if I do more than 15-20 passes I'll start microchipping, Then other times I won't. I do not know the variables that occur to make these different outcomes but the only time I have problems is when I get to that stone... I can take a picture of the scratch pattern on a razor I just honed with her

How many strokes are you doing on the 8k?