Thread: 12k/16k/30k?

I have a chinese 12k. If I bought a 16k shapton, do you think I would notice a large difference in my edges?
I have always had my eye on the 30k but it is way too expensive to justify considering I am don't know how it will feel and if I will like it.

A big +1 on that, Nick. That's exactly where I am right now!

Hello Nick. You will sell your Chinese 12K when you get the Shapton 16K. It is way faster and has better feedback. The 30K is more expensive but if you can justify the cost it will bring you even closer to the perfect edge.

bj

Nicky,
You will notice a dramatic improvement in your shave. The Shaptons will yield a far better edge than the Chinese stone ever did. I own the Chinese stone and I own the Shaptons as well so this is not conjecture. The Shapton 30k is what I finish on when I hone razors for people. If they happen to be in the shop when I finish their razor, they test it, smile broadly and start giggling. It's THAT sharp. When I tested my razor at Harrelson Stanley's shop by wetting the back of my hand with the pond water and shaving it with the razor off of the 30k, his eyes got REALLY WIDE and others have had the same reaction. The Shapton stones will yield edges as good as it gets and your shaves will be exquisite. There is a big difference between an edge finished to 30k over a 16k edge.

And how does it perform compared to pastes? I have found that hones tend to give a better result than the equivalent pastes is the same to be said for these hones?
Also if I do save up for a 30k, do I need the 16k as an intermediary hone or is the 12k sufficiently high to go straight to 30k?
I wanted to get this when I saw they started making it but too few people here had tried it to reccommend it. It seems that now many people are happy with it.

And wait till you try a Nakayama... they rate about 40k, give or take a few thousand.