Differences Among the Shapton Series?

[Rey HRH]

I got to looking at the Shapton Stones. They have three series or model lines: the GlassStone HR, the GlassStone HC, and the Professional Series. The GlassStones have the ceramic material on top of glass and the HR series seems to be for harder metal while the HC is for metal with high carbon (softer steel?).

Dimensionally, the Glasstones are 3/8" thick while the Pro series are 5/8" thick. I'm thinking the assumption is you can use the GlassStones close to the full 3/8" thickness since it has glass backing and maybe the Pro series is susceptible to falling apart when it gets to be just 1/4" thick?

The Pro series seem to be available at lower prices than the GlassStones.

Are there any other differences beyond what I found out above? While it appears the HR and HC are different from each other, how is the Pro different? Is the Pro series closer to the HC (for higher carbon / softer metals) or to the HR series? Which provides more value for the buck - the GlassStone series or the Pro series?

I'm looking at possibly getting the 8000 (2 micron) and 16000 (1 micron) if that makes any difference.

 

[Jason B.]

First, Why do you want an 8000 and 16000 grit stone.

 

[Rey HRH]

First, Why do you want an 8000 and 16000 grit stone.

The "why" is most likely a combination of different reasons. The top reasons that come to mind are:

1) Because my DMT stones stop at 3 microns and the two stones will bridge the gap between the 3 microns and the .5 micron Diaspray I use on the basswood strop.

2) Because for the same reason I have a 1 iron and a 2 iron for my iron set even though I only use the 6 iron through pitching wedge out of the iron set and I have the 3, 4, 5, and 6 hybrids even though I only use the 3, 4, and 5 hybrids (at least I didn't get the #7 hybrid). And I have the 9.5, 10.5, and 11.5 degree loft versions of the same driver even though I only play with 1 at a time and it's usually the 9.5 degree.

3) Because I don't want the 10000 grit stone because it's a higher price and a higher jump from the 3 micron DMT stone and I don't want the 3000 grit stone because it's really expensive and it's at the same micron as my strop spray.

 

[Jason B.]

1) That's a 3 micron fixed diamond abrasive which is more like a 3000 grit waterstone. Sharpening compounds applied to wood are also MUCH different from stones so using a 3 micron paste between the two stones would be a waste of time.

Going through your progression of diamond plates past the Coarse DMT would also not do you much good. You can jump from a coarse DMT to most any 1k waterstone then beyond that you quickly surpass the fine diamond plates.

You would find much better results with a 1k, 4k, 8k Glass, then your 0.5 micron spray.

For the glass stones you will want the HR series. There is only 5mm of abrasive but it's fast cutting and very slow wearing so it's thickness is nothing to worry about.

 

[Rey HRH]

Jason, thanks for sharing your knowledge. I figured compounds applied to wood would be different.

The thought that ceramic would provide a "better" polish than the same grit / mesh in diamond is new to me. I figure grit is grit but maybe it's the application and uniformity of the media that's the difference.

I'll think about it some more. Right now, I'm thinking of a hybrid of what you suggest like go with the 4k and 8k.

And also thanks for your comment about the thickness. That's good to know.