Thread: Shapton 1k or D8E?

I have realiced that I need a good bevel setter fast, since I just set a new bevel on a wedge with my norton 4000, it took hours!!!
I haven't abandoned my fantasy of a natural bevel setter, but that will have to come later.
I'm getting one of this two: Shapton 1k or D8E
Problem is I can't decide wich one!
I love my shapton 16k, and the rest of them are probably great to.But I'm tired of freshing up my hones with sandpaper when they glace.I was thinking that I could use the D8E for that as well..
Any input would be appreciated.

Kristoffer

I've been thinking about getting the D8E for exactly the same reasons - for lapping other hones incl. Shaptons and as a bevel setter.

What are you using for a lapping stone now? I have the dmt 325,and its great for lapping but leaves a bit rough finish.You should probably get some coarser lapping stone than the D8E if you don't have one.

If the D8E is the 1200 then that is a dual purpose stone, and makes the most sense.... And I am not a huge DMT fan but heck it just makes total sense that way...

I do not have any lapping stone at this moment. I lap on a thick glass plate (from a broken coffee table) and I either use valve grinding compound (which is very coarse) or slurry from my hones. It works but I would like to get rid of that heavy sharp glass eventually.

Get the double sided D6EF or D8EF (600 mesh and 1200 mesh). They're very reasonably priced, always flat, never glazed, and they last a very long time. There's little you can't do in the realm of bevel correction with that combination.

Best regards,
Bart.

I started with a DMT8E and EE. It's a love/hate relationship.

I love the fact that the DMT's never need to be lapped, but they start out being very, very, *very* harsh. Make sure you break them in well before you use them on a razor.

Also, on really hard steels, they tend to microchip the blade.

You must also have a *perfect* X stroke (if you plan to use an X stroke) on the DMT's, as they have a ninety degree edge to them. Make sure you break the edges in even better than the rest of the stone; any high points on the edge, and you'll dull your blade with every stroke.

Pros: Always flat, fast cutter, great lapping stone

Cons: harsh, microchips hard steels, ninety degree edges

After loving/hating my DMT's for the last three months, I broke down and ordered a Shapton glass 1k (and 4k, 8k, 16k) today, and plan on retiring the DMT's to lapping work, and maybe the occasional bevel setting job.

Honestly, I wish I woulda just started out with a Shapton in the first place.

At what stage did you get microchipping? The D8EE is 8k right? I would just use dmt as a bevel setter.

Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

At what stage did you get microchipping? The D8EE is 8k right? I would just use dmt as a bevel setter.

Using the 8E (1200 grit) on a stainless steel blade. Yes, DMT markets the 8EE as being 8k equivalent.

Originally Posted by FloorPizza

I started with a DMT8E and EE. It's a love/hate relationship.

I'm as big an opponent of the EE as a fan of the E, F and C. I think the EE is bad marketing, it's way coarser than the regular 8K synthetic, and it tends to rip an edge apart. I sold mine (to someone who really wanted one, despite my honest information) long time ago.
I don't have those issues with the lower mesh DMT's, at least not once they're broken in.
My prefered method for breaking them in for razor use is to get a good BBW slurry on them (Coticule slurry works too, but it's more expensive) and give them a good lapping with a flat steel object (a cabinet scraper) That really tames down the diamonds and makes them MUCH smoother. It makes them a bit slower too, but they're still plenty fast enough. I discovered that trick after accidentally lapping a Coticule with the D8F, instead of my usual D8C. If you have no hone to lap, rubbing a slurry around works just as well.
Setting a bevel with coticule slurry on the D8E is something you should try at least once. It has a very pleasant feel, but I fear wearing my D8E out prematurely, so once the DMT became silky smooth, I stopped doing that.

Just some additional thoughts,

Bart.