Thread: New Shapton GS

Hi everyone,

I recently got a Shapton DGLP which had "soak in water for approx 1 minute before use" on the instruction sheet that accompanied it. I had a little discussion with JimmyHAD about this, and it seems that the instruction sheet is a bit awry - can't see how soaking a diamond encrusted metal plate with a glass backing can help?

Anyway, today I got a new Shapton 8000 GS. The first thing I noticed was its colour - not white like my other shapton GS hones, but a light grey/lilac colour. Looks positively dingy next to the other pure white GS hones. The next thing I noticed was the instruction sheet - again, soak for approx 1 minute before use. I don't recall this being on the other instruction sheets - maybe it was and I overlooked it.

My worry is whether it is necessary or not - my other GS hones are fine with just a spray of water.

One other thing about this 8000 GS - it is incredibly smooth - much smoother than the 16,000 GS, which seems a bit odd.

Has anyone else recently got an 8000 GS or know about the colour/soak in water issues? It's no big thing - the stone works wonderfully well, its just got me curious!

Regards,
Neil

The new Shapton glass stones are gray from what I've heard. I haven't gotten any myself. I cannot understand why they would suggest soaking a GDLP and no such instructions came with mine a couple of years ago. I've always lapped under running water so maybe that has compensated if it was necessary.

At the German Fine Tools website they recommended soaking the Shapton pro series on this page here. They give the same instructions for the 12k grit stone. No instructions for the other grits but I suspect it would be the same. After reading that I began leaving a spray of water on the top of my stones for a few minutes but I've not soaked them.

I asked JimR, who lives in Japan, to call the Shapton and Naniwa customer service to find out about this soaking business and IIRC he was told it was not necessary. So I don't know what the deal is on the soaking.

The Shapton Glass Stones are one of the few hones that I have so far resisted. That's mainly because I would want the whole set and just can't spring for it yet. However, from what little I know of them, I believe they've recently made a few gray grit hones that are specifically for high carbon steel. Thus it's not a mistake, it's simply a different composition from the standard white ones.

Thanks for that info Jimmy and Utopian!

The instruction sheet for the 8000 GS is headed "Ceramic Stones" so it is definitely for the stone in the box. Seems very odd.

Regards,
Neil

I have used both the white and gray with just spritzing a film of water over them and they have performed well. Not sure on why the instructions indicate soaking. After reading your post, I thought I would give soaking a try and honed a few razors using the gray 4K and 8K and the white 16K and noticed no difference in either feedback or results.

Have fun,

Lynn

You got the new HC series, it's for high carbon steel like razors. For me it doesn't require a soak, just splash water. It's a lot slicker and even harder than the standard GlassStones, similar to their Pro series but with a more consistent scratch pattern.

The slickness feels weird, doesn't feel like you're honing but you see the swarf and know it's working.

Originally Posted by cotdt

It's a lot slicker and even harder than the standard GlassStones, similar to their Pro series but with a more consistent scratch pattern.

The slickness feels weird, doesn't feel like you're honing but you see the swarf and know it's working.

That's it exactly - thank you for remarking on it. I quite like the feel and yes, I did find myself eyeing up the slurry to see if it was going to change colour!

Regards,
Neil

I'm trying to resist the HC series till I can test run one. As my mental allergy to stainless steel is still in effect, all my home knives and razors are carbon steel. The HC stones would better suit my needs. The white ones get glased over quickly and drives me nuts...

One thing I have noticed about the soaking, I glaze over a bit slower of I let the stone soak a few mins before use. Generally I set up my sink bridge (pegged 2x6), wash off the stone, sit up on the bridge apply water to cover. Than get my current blades needing work. Than again my straights only see the GS's when setting bevels, after that they move to the naturals.

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

One thing I have noticed about the soaking, I glaze over a bit slower of I let the stone soak a few mins before use. Generally I set up my sink bridge (pegged 2x6), wash off the stone, sit up on the bridge apply water to cover. Than get my current blades needing work. Than again my straights only see the GS's when setting bevels, after that they move to the naturals.

This is very interesting, since one of my annoyances with
the GSs is their tendency to load up (more so at the 4k
and up). Thanks for sharing!

- Scott

The HC series is indeed more glaze-resistant, but I think the abrasives are the same. It definitely cuts the same as the standard series, doesn't do any better or worse on my high-carbon knives. The Chosera stones, now those are FAST-cutting.