jendeindustries
Member
Hello Gents! Ralfy gave me the heads up about some Shapton talk :w00t: Thank you for the kind words regarding my experience and knowledge with the Shaptons. I'd like to add my input.
First and foremost, the edge from the 30K Shapton glass is different than the 30K Shapton pro, IMO. I must concur with the general consensus that the 30K Glass is on the sharper side of the sharp/smooth argument.
I have gone back and forth between the glass and pro 30K over and over, and I keep coming back to the Pro 30K for my straights. Perhaps it's because I've had it longer, or grown more accustomed to edge off it, or the sentimental value of such an expensive hone - I don't rightly know. What I know is really enjoy the balance of smooth, yet sharp (or sharp, yet smooth) of the pro over the slightly more sharp (relatively speaking) glass 30K. Are there smoother options than both? Yes.
In my experience, the 30K doesn't cut as fast as people think. Yes, 5-10 strokes on either series seems to give peak performance before a deterioration effect as described. However, I think those first few strokes are really "polishing the grooves", and not necessarily getting to the bottom of the previous scratches - at least with the way I hone.
What I find interesting is that it takes a lot of strokes to get past the previous grooves (again, the way I hone) and to get a true 30K edge. In this process, the any deeper leftover scratches translate into micro chips at this stage. Working to get past then is the key, IMO.
The risk with this is getting a thinner edge, which is subject to being more foil-like, although the edge will become more perfectly formed. If this is the case, I rehone with a piece of tape.
In the case of the Coticule straight to 30K I suspect this is even more exaggerated due to the more random scratches it leaves.
First and foremost, the edge from the 30K Shapton glass is different than the 30K Shapton pro, IMO. I must concur with the general consensus that the 30K Glass is on the sharper side of the sharp/smooth argument.
I have gone back and forth between the glass and pro 30K over and over, and I keep coming back to the Pro 30K for my straights. Perhaps it's because I've had it longer, or grown more accustomed to edge off it, or the sentimental value of such an expensive hone - I don't rightly know. What I know is really enjoy the balance of smooth, yet sharp (or sharp, yet smooth) of the pro over the slightly more sharp (relatively speaking) glass 30K. Are there smoother options than both? Yes.
In my experience, the 30K doesn't cut as fast as people think. Yes, 5-10 strokes on either series seems to give peak performance before a deterioration effect as described. However, I think those first few strokes are really "polishing the grooves", and not necessarily getting to the bottom of the previous scratches - at least with the way I hone.
What I find interesting is that it takes a lot of strokes to get past the previous grooves (again, the way I hone) and to get a true 30K edge. In this process, the any deeper leftover scratches translate into micro chips at this stage. Working to get past then is the key, IMO.
The risk with this is getting a thinner edge, which is subject to being more foil-like, although the edge will become more perfectly formed. If this is the case, I rehone with a piece of tape.
In the case of the Coticule straight to 30K I suspect this is even more exaggerated due to the more random scratches it leaves.