Thread: Shapton hones

I recieved my shapton 16k in the mail today.I imidiatly tried it out on three of my shavers.They were only polished on the norton 8000, so I did about 50 laps on each razor.I know this has been said before.But the result really blew my mind.The shave was very close.But the smoothnes was what impressed me the most.I did finish with chromOx for the first time,and I used Castle Forbes shaving cream.And those must take some of the credit for the amazing shave, but still...
I was just wondering, have you exp.shapton users similar WOW! experiences with the lower grits?
(Compered to what you were using before you got the shaptons.)

Also: If I'm going all Shapton( which I probably will) In your oppinion, what grits do I really need, for the entire process? I'm talking bevel setting,sharpening,polishing and finishing with shaptons only.
No HAD infected answers please

I bought my first Shapton 16K about 7 months ago. It gave me a happy grin when I first used it. Now 7 months later I own all Glass Shaptons. I even have a bigger grin on my face.
I just received the GDLP from the wife so I'm a happy camper.
They are worth every penny for me but again I do use them daily.

You definitely would need the 500, 1000 for setting bevels. The 1000 is not enough on hard steel so the 500 is a must. 4000, 8000, 16000K would make it a nice complete basic set.

Max, how many laps should be done of the Shapton 16K after the Norton 8K?

Originally Posted by Maximilian

I bought my first Shapton 16K about 7 months ago. It gave me a happy grin when I first used it. Now 7 months later I own all Glass Shaptons. I even have a bigger grin on my face.
I just received the GDLP from the wife so I'm a happy camper.
They are worth every penny for me but again I do use them daily.

You definitely would need the 500, 1000 for setting bevels. The 1000 is not enough on hard steel so the 500 is a must. 4000, 8000, 16000K would make it a nice complete basic set.

Hi Max. What is there in your technique that makes a 500 necessary for setting a bevel?
I have been using the 1000 for the past 4 years on edges up to 65 rockwell, breadknifed razors and usually have hair shaving bevel in 5-15 minutes. On really bad stuff it might be nice, but a must? I respectfully disagree

But would you agree about only needing 1000,4000,8000 and 16000?
thanks.

Hey Kris.
16 if you really want it. Oh yeah. you already got it. That's where I like to go natural(beyond 8) eventually I probably will get a 16.

My coarser stones get much more abuse use than dedicated razor hones receive. I simply cannot imagine going back to sandpaper lapping.

Originally Posted by kevint

Hi Max. What is there in your technique that makes a 500 necessary for setting a bevel?
I have been using the 1000 for the past 4 years on edges up to 65 rockwell, breadknifed razors and usually have hair shaving bevel in 5-15 minutes. On really bad stuff it might be nice, but a must? I respectfully disagree

Kevin,
I restore and work daily on many razors. I do encounter razors that would take me a long time if setting a bevel on a 1000 Shapton with no pressure off course. If I use lots of pressure then yes you are correct, the 500 is not needed. I like to use moderate pressure on the coarser side if needed so for me the 500 is a blessing. I'm happy to own it as it has saved me many hours on a few razors. Period.
I can judge perfectly well with my own findings since I own them all and use them daily all on different razors.

Kris, I told you so, that sweet 16 is nice coming of the 8k....
The WOW factor is definitely there, in fact IMHO the 16 is Shapton's best stone....
My only recommendation is start at 20 laps and see if that is enough to polish out the 8k marks....

Nice to hear it worked out for you

I have also found that when I use the 16K, followed by my normal 0.5 and 0.25 diamond pastes, that touch ups went from, at most, 7 days to well over 2 weeks. I used pastes exclusively coming off an DMT8EE. I love the 16K and it was a new level of honing. Pastes seem to roll the edge ever so slightly and using a stone to eliminate just one step (the 1.0 paste) has really made a dramatic difference. One of these days the 30K will come my way.

Later,
Richard

Originally Posted by Maximilian

Kevin,

I can judge perfectly well with my own findings since I own them all and use them daily all on different razors.

I apologize if you feel I am questioning your judgment. I am not. I am rather accustomed to being in places where people are treated as equals. When opposite observations occur it is usually worth the effort to discover what are the parameters that make such happen.