Shapton GlassStones Review

Re: Shapton GlassStones Review

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Hi Mark

Thanks for that info. I have no experience of the glass Shaptons and wondered about them. I do have the Professional series in 1000/5000/8000/12000. It would be interesting to compare these stones - I think that many prospective purchasers of Shaptons want to know the advantages/disadvantages of these two sets of stones.

The little I have gleaned is that they perform the same, or very similarly. So the glass are cheaper but you get less for your money. Having said this, the stones are hard, wear very well, and what appears to be a little, does indeed go a long way.

Based on my experience, you may wish to investigate a 5000 to span the gap between the 1000 and 8000. This is the recommended grit (by Shapton), and I find that the 5000 is often enough to put a mean edge on chisels. It certainly leaves a good polish.

I had Kings (still have them) and sought out the Shaptons partly on the recommendation of people such as Steve Knight (who puts in a lot of Serious Sharpening, and therefore should know) who noted how fast they work, and partly because I was under the impression that they required less water than Kings. So I started out using less water. What I discovered was what many complain about - the stones get sticky... "sticktion". Then I watched a video by Harrelson Stanley. Hap used a LOT of water, as much - more?! - as I did with the Kings. I tried this and the sticktion went away.

I was also under the impression that the Shaptons remained flat longer than the Kings. They do. The Shaptons wear very well. For a short while I thought that I could get away with less flattening. But I returned to frequent flattenings (not much to remove) as there is a need to be certain that they are so. To flatten I use a 10" DMT Extra Coarse diamond stone. This is convenient and works well. I do not use the diamond stone for anything else.

What about a 12000/15000 stone? Is it worth it? Well, I was given a present of one (plus a new 8000 stone), so my investment in these Shaptons is lowish (they are expensive compared to KIngs or Nortons but not to natural waterstones). The 8000 leaves a superior edge. But the 12000 is really better. What surprised me was that it honed quite easily. I was concerned that it would be hard work, but I have even considered going directly from the 5000 to the 12000 when honing microbevels.

The immediate difference between the Kings and the Shaptons is the feel. The Kings are soft stones while the Shaptons are hard. The Shaptons provide a lot more feedback than the Kings, as a result - you can better feel what the edge is doing, how it is positioned on the stone, which is helpful when freehanding a blade.

I wonder what others observe?

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Shapton GlassStones Review

David Wheeler

>For the past three years I've been using the 1200/8000/15000 pro shapton stones. The 1200 cleaned up the micro bevels and maintained the camber; the 8000 produced a 1deg secondary bevel; and the 15000 produced the final 1deg microbevel and 7deg back bevel.

Lately I've replaced the 1200 with the red diamond plate which has the camber built in. I can renew the edge in about four minutes.

The first sequence was recommended by shapton; but I had doubts about the "spread". However, the 8k and 15k both cut very fast; and even though extreme, I think I could live with eliminating either the 8k or 15k stones but the slightly better finish the 15k leaves is worth it to me.

I use mostly BU's with my irons finished at either 51deg or 61deg. They leave an impeccable glass-like finish. I hate having to use water and I wish the edges lasted longer; if I had to complain.

I have a #3 Clifton and Shepherd Infill and even back beveled to 52deg they are easier to push; the edge seems to last longer; but neither leaves the finish of the BU's; so I always gravitate to the BU's; If I were confined to the BD's I think I could probably get them where i wanted them.

16000 stone

GolfSteve in Calgary

>Mark,

Bite the bullet and get yourself a 16000 stone. The edge is noticeably sharper than you get with an 8000 stone. I progress through 1000, 8000, then 16000 grits. Seems like a nice progression.

Having said that, I'm not sure I like the glass stones better than my old Norton stones.

First, you can't store the glass stones in water. I haven't found a good way to store these stupid things yet. My Norton stones lived in a tupperware tub filled with water. The glass stones sit out on the counter getting contaminated with dirt.

Second, you have to buy an expensive diamond flattening plate to use with the glass stones. I kept my old Norton stones flat using two 1000 grit stones.

Third, I don't know why, but I find that I have trouble keeping the glass stones flat. Then tend to be humped up in the middle.

My 16,000 glass stone developed a small hairline crack in one edge. I don't know if this is related to internal stresses from gluing the stone onto the glass, if it is a random crack, if something is wrong with the stone or not, etc.

Fourth, they are pretty expensive compared to the Norton stones. However, they do cut faster, and the finish from the 16,000 grit stone is a step up from my old 8000 Norton stone.

Re: 16000 stone

Ross

>So why not store your stones in tupperware dry? It would keep them clean and organized.

I use the Shapton Pro stones in 2000, 5000, 8000. I often wish I had a somewhat coarser stone to cleanup grinding quickly or skip the grinder all together. I haven't wished for anything finer, but maybe I should try it.

I store mine in these

Dan Donaldson

>This happens to be a king stone, but I also keep my shaptons in them. They are some kind of food storage things that I got at (I think) Target. I got the idea from Indyfest where someone (I think it was Moses) was using them. They are about 2" deep, have a gasket on the lid, and a nice grate on the bottom that could keep the sludge away from the stone. Just the right size for stones.

Re: I store mine in these

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>My Pros came in individual plastic containers, which I use to store them.

Pam

Re: I store mine in these

Dan Donaldson

>Mine did also. I use the ones in the pictures because they are all the same and stack neatly.

You mean you don't like the color coding?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>

Re:Lock and Lock brand

Mike Hamilton

>

Re:Lock and Lock brand

Mike Hamilton

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Re: You mean you don't like the color coding?

Dan Donaldson

>I can see the stone through the side of the container. I do actually like the color codes, but for me, it is easier to store them if they all stack the same. ;-)

Try the GlassStone 220

Mark Harrison -- Brisbane Australia

>You may never use a grinder again.

I use the 16k on chisel and plane backs.

Chuck Nickerson

>I have not yet figured out why I bought the 30K glass-backed stone. But then I bought it while I was engaged, knowing I'll never be able to buy it while married.