Thread: 16k Shapton alone for touch ups?

Hey everyone,

I do not have a 16k Shapton yet, but just had a question about it. Do you think it would suitable alone to just touch up a razor, much like using a barber hone to simply refresh an edge? I'm just asking because I know it's a great stone for polishing, just didn't know if it would be sufficient by itself to touch up a razor. I'm am planning on getting a 8k Shapton also, but didn't know if I would need it every time I simply wanted to refresh an edge. Hope that made sense! Thanks for the help,

Dave

+1

I was wondering about that as well. I know the answer is likely to include a "it depends" but... Let's say I start with good blade(s), perfectly prepared, strop correctly between each shave and don't have any unfortunate incidents. My understanding is that the edge will need to be "refreshed" (more than a strop) 3 or 4 times a year. Would the 16K alone be sufficient for that? Or would you have to go to an 8K and then a 16K to do that?

(I hope that was the same question... if not, sorry and disregard).

Yes, the 16k Shapton Glasstone is good for light touch up. I have the full set of Shaptons http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...nvestment.html and I've found that a hybrid system starting with Belgian blue to coticule to Shapton 8k to 16k to 30k

I have found that for the most part, once my razors are sharp, a 7 to 10 shave refresh on either a coticule (about 50 light laps, water only) or on a Shapton 16k glass hone (about 20 laps) and finish with a chromium pasted bench strop does it for me. I like my razors sharp and when the leather alone doesn't quite get them back into shape, I might drop to the linen and then leather to get one more shave before the razor goes into the "needs a touch up" pile. I find this way of maintaining razors to be more my style, I really don't enjoy having to do major honing sessions so I much prefer the more frequent, but quite quick, touch up regime that I first saw mentioned by Howard of ThePerfectEdge.

I do like the speed of the Shapton, but the coticule is capable of more if you're stuck having to use a single hone. I'm spoiled for choice so for the situation mentioned above, I'll reach for either hone... whichever is closest is the one I use unless I have a razor that seems a touch harsh, in which case the coticule seems to smooth things out slightly better for me.


Regards

Christian

Originally Posted by Quick

+1

I was wondering about that as well. I know the answer is likely to include a "it depends" but... Let's say I start with good blade(s), perfectly prepared, strop correctly between each shave and don't have any unfortunate incidents. My understanding is that the edge will need to be "refreshed" (more than a strop) 3 or 4 times a year. Would the 16K alone be sufficient for that? Or would you have to go to an 8K and then a 16K to do that?

(I hope that was the same question... if not, sorry and disregard).

Yes it would. I'll argue that it's among the top refresher stones and is actually my top refresher stone. I've done between 25 and up to 75 passes on the 16k. It's great.

Chris L

Thanks for the input everyone. Now I really want my 16k stone now...... Oh well, guess I'll have to wait until Christmas!

Dave

Hello Dave. The Shapton 16K is an excellent touchup hone. I use it on a regular basis and then use the 30K then use CrO on balsa.

bj