Thread: shapton glass or pro?

I'm new to all this straight razor stuff... Have ordered everything but a razor and a hone. I do not plan on restoring older ebay ones or the like. I plan on buying one and pretty much using it. I've settled on the TI Super Gnome and am waiting for the restock on ClassicShaving.com or a honemeister to sell me a shave ready version. On that note, I will need to keep it sharp. Is it worth while to just get the glass or go for the pro series? Also, is the grit in microns between the glass and pro equivalent?

Thanks for the info!

I think most people here who have the shaptons have the glass ones.

the grit sizes match between the 2 series except there is a 15k pro but a 16k glass series i have only had them for a couple weeks and i love the shaptons the question you need to ask yourself... do i really need them or would a Belgium blue, yellow coticule and a pasted paddle be more than sufficient?

i would hazard to guess that with only a couple of razors the shaptons would not be all that cost effective.

Most here who use the shaptons have the glass hones. The 16000 is said to be a fantastic finishing hone.
If you just want to maintain 1 razor, then a yellow coticule and a pasted strop with .5 micros chromium oxide might be a lot more cost effective. Assuming you keep your razor in good working order, you will never need anything else.

But quality wise, you cannot go wrong with the glass shaptons it seems.
I have never used the shaptons, so I won't advise you on which grit sizes you'd need.

One thing about the pros- you get a lot more abrasive. I broke my 8000, I'll likely go to glass to save a little money. I have heard they behave somewhat differently. If I were starting again I'd likely go Japanese version glass bottom

If you are able to stay your stated course, I'll be surprised.

LOL... yeah I know. I hear SRAD kicks in and then BAM... you're rotating razors. I've thought about possibly getting a 7 day set once I actually have my technique down and can hone them. Who knows what the future will bring!

Originally Posted by kevint

If I were starting again I'd likely go Japanese version glass bottom

Any recommendations on companies to go with?
Thanks.

http://japan-tool.com/
you should ask his opinion on which set is best suited to Western razors. If it turns out to be the white ones- go to who you like best.

I've got the Shapton Pro in grits 1,2,5,8,12,15 and 30. I also have Nortons and a couple of Eschers and Coticules. Fortunately I do not have HAD. I would suggest a Norton 4/8K along with a Shapton 16 glass. It would also be a good idea to get a DMTC plate to flatten the above. You can add more stones as the need and/or the desire arises.

The Pro series of Shaptons are the older technology. The Glass ones are the newer technology and Shapton tells me the Pro series will be phased out. The newer Glass technology really is that much better.

If you just want to keep your razor sharp, get a coticule and use it once a week for 20 or so laps on both sides and then strop. That's what barbers have done for hundreds of years all around the world.

So is a coticule a modern day barber's hone?

No a coticule is generally considered a finishing hone, but it can also be used for sharpening because the amount of slurry you use determines the cutting speed.
If you keep your razor in a decent condition (no nicks and rust) you will never need anything else, from a purely functional point of view.