Thread: Finally pregressing - but which stone now?

Hi guys, I'm a newbie to the forum, but I've been using a straight razor for about 5 years now.

I have used the Norton 220, 1,000, 4,000 and 8K stones, and I have used the Shapton Glass 16K. (I currently use the Shapton Glass 2K, 4K, 16K, 30K and then strop with a .50 micron diamond paste.)

I think the jump form the Norton to the 16K Shapton is acceptable. The only issue is the relative softness of the Norton stones, which means they wear faster. The glass stones wear relatively quickly compared to the pros, but not nearly as fast as the Nortons - especially if you have the Norton 4000 stone (white) - that one is like soft butter. As long as you lap all of your stones, then jumping around will be much easier, and more productive.

I sharpen a lot of things, not just my razors, so I am always lapping. I don't recall of the galss stones are truly flat or not from the factory. I would think that they are. I know the pros are. There is a protective coating that may turn black when you first use the stones, but it doesn't interfere with sharpening.

The DGLP is actually a "cheaper" lapping plate then the DRLP! I use the DGLP because it is light weight and reliable. However, you can use DMT stones/plates or even finer grit stones to lap. Whatever works. If you only sharpen your razor, you really don't need such luxury, but it is nice

BTY, If anyone has questions about the Shapton pro or glass, I am happy to answer as best I can. I have "less" experience when it come to straight razor sharpening, so I am looking forward to learning and sharing information here.
Also, I'm a Shapton dealer, so I apoligize in advance if I seem a little pro-Shapton

Originally Posted by jendeindustries

Hi guys, I'm a newbie to the forum, but I've been using a straight razor for about 5 years now.

I have used the Norton 220, 1,000, 4,000 and 8K stones, and I have used the Shapton Glass 16K. (I currently use the Shapton Glass 2K, 4K, 16K, 30K and then strop with a .50 micron diamond paste.)

I think the jump form the Norton to the 16K Shapton is acceptable. The only issue is the relative softness of the Norton stones, which means they wear faster. The glass stones wear relatively quickly compared to the pros, but not nearly as fast as the Nortons - especially if you have the Norton 4000 stone (white) - that one is like soft butter. As long as you lap all of your stones, then jumping around will be much easier, and more productive.

I sharpen a lot of things, not just my razors, so I am always lapping. I don't recall of the galss stones are truly flat or not from the factory. I would think that they are. I know the pros are. There is a protective coating that may turn black when you first use the stones, but it doesn't interfere with sharpening.

The DGLP is actually a "cheaper" lapping plate then the DRLP! I use the DGLP because it is light weight and reliable. However, you can use DMT stones/plates or even finer grit stones to lap. Whatever works. If you only sharpen your razor, you really don't need such luxury, but it is nice

BTY, If anyone has questions about the Shapton pro or glass, I am happy to answer as best I can. I have "less" experience when it come to straight razor sharpening, so I am looking forward to learning and sharing information here.
Also, I'm a Shapton dealer, so I apoligize in advance if I seem a little pro-Shapton

What is the advantage of the pro stones over the glass, or vice versa?
Also, although I have no problem picking up a Shapton, the lapping plate is a little out of my price range right now, would it harm the stone to lap it with sand paper, if not, which grit would you suggest? I think I am currently using 400 grit to lap my Norton.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

For lapping hones a DMT D8C continuous diamond plate is a mighty handy thing to have around.

Which of these would you use to lap a hone, such as a Shapton, or would you just sharpen your razor on this?

In general, the Shapton Professional series are harder than the Glass Stone series. That means the pro stones wear slower than the glass. Depending on your application though, both series have their advantages and disadvantages (like any other product).

IMPO, For straight razors, I think the glass stones may be more beneficial overall because they "give" a little easier. Stropping produces a rounded over, or slightly convex edge, since the glass stones wear faster, they will conform to the curvature of the rounded over edge more readily as the stone dips from use. In simpler terms, the stone conforms to the knife. This makes sharpening faster and reduces wear on the knife. It also makes maintenance easier.

The pro stones will remove metal until the bevel or the edge is straight. In other words, the hardness of the pros make the knife conform to the stone. On the positive side, you won't need as much maintenance as the glass, and if your edge is misshaped, you would want the pros to reestablish a straighter edge more quickly. If you want to reduce the angle of the edge by thinning out the spine, the pros are also better suited for this.

As for the results, they are pretty much the same for both series, they just get there a little differently. Shaptons work on the premise of scratching the surface of the metal. The coarse stones produce large scratches that remove the metal, and the medium and fine stones work to add more scratches that are more uniform and densely packed, so that they form a mirror finish. Norton, and many other stones rely on softer materials that "polish" the surface of the blade so that it produces a mirror finish.

If you work a conventional #2000 grit water stone long enough, you will eventually get a mirror finish. Shapton #2000 will never produce a mirror. They are designed to put their scratches on the blade, and you must then go to the next level up. Mirror begins at #4,000 grit on the Shaptons, BTW.

Lapping with sandpaper is possible. You can even use higher grits, like 1000 grit for the Norton 8000 and Shapton 16K. If you are only sharpening your razor, as long as it works in a timely fashion for you, it is OK. If you also use the stones to sharpen kitchen knives or anything else, sandpaper may be a bit on the slow side compared to other lapping methods.

Shapton has just come out with a new compact lapping plate that is smaller than the original one and comes with coarse and medium powders. It's a little cheaper ($179.00 I think) I don't have them yet, but I have ordered them. It is a little more economical, and can lap any brand of water stones.