Hapstone R2 vertical shaft options

J

jeffshead

Joined
Nov 11, 2025
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1
Somehow lost my ability to achieve desired edge sharpness by freehand. Spent last several days looking at options and think I'm settled on purchasing the Hapstone R2 with the Hapstone start diamond stones and a leather strop or two.

Looking for ease of use, long-lasting durability and best bang for the buck. Will be used for pocket and kitchen knives.

Are either of the Hapstone R2 vertical shaft upgrades worth it? It seems you loose the ability to make a simple/quick stone thickness adjustment with the Precise angle adjuster shaft and I haven't come across any posts that describe increased/decreased flex or "slop" when comparing the stock vertical shaft to the two upgrades.

Also, it seems Gritomatic is sold out. I'm in the US. What's it like ordering directly from the Hapstone site, these days with tariffs and customs? Any other recommended sources here in the US?

Thanks!
 
The stock upright shaft is a friction fit in the base so it can have a bit of drag, perfectly fine if you don't like a loose fit. Mine was defective when new, lost the draw on tolerances and was way too tight, I actually scratched my upright rod because I could not tighten the bolt on the block enough to overcome the friction from the base and it just spun the block around. Mario at Hapstone was quick to reply and make it right.

The gen 2 upright rod spins on a bearing that fits into the base instead of a rod to base friction fit. It spins incredibly easy, if your table/base is angled at all the rod will actually swing that way when you put it in the parking attachment. When sharpening you don't feel it at all. I prefer the rod parking style of the gen 2 over the gen 1 with the hook in the back.

The latest one, the precision guide is ehhhhh. Love it or hate it I would say. I bought it not too long ago and am on the fence with it. On swinging side to side there is a bit of drag so it isn't as free as the gen 2 rod but you also won't have it swinging all around when parked which annoyed me with the gen 2. You also can't swing it far out to the side like with the gen 1 and 2 rods due to the abrasive rod hitting the upright, so rotating larger knives can be a bit annoying.

Personally, I would say the gen 2 rod with the fine tuning adapter works just as well and is a worthy upgrade if you are unsure about the precision guide or don't want to shell out for one.

I believe if you order from their Ukraine website they can make a custom kit that will save you some money since you can not order the base upright rod and just the one you want, not sure if you can do that on their Hapstone-usa website. Mario at Hapstone Official Hapstone Official would be able to tell you for sure.
 
Hello, J jeffshead !

Thank you for your detailed question — let me give you a clear and honest breakdown so you can choose with confidence.

1. About the Hapstone R2 and the upgrades​

Precise Angle Adjuster (PAA)​


  • This upgrade is more solid and more “monumental” in construction.
  • The movement is smoother and more controlled.
  • Yes, it removes the simple + quick stone-thickness adjustment, because the mechanism becomes fixed and precise.

    If you change stones of different thicknesses often, PAA may feel slower.

Standard R2 vertical shaft​

  • Works perfectly well for 90% of users.
  • No excessive flex or “slop” — the shaft is stable and gives consistent repeatable angles.
  • Good balance of simplicity and reliability.

Gen-2 vertical shaft​

  • Simply more convenient in daily use.
  • Faster to adjust, a bit more ergonomic.
  • Not a “must”, but a quality-of-life upgrade.
Bottom line:


If you want the cleanest and most stable feeling — take Precise Angle Adjuster.


If you want the fastest and easiest use — Gen-2 is great.


If budget is tight — the standard shaft is already very good.

2. About customs and tariffs for US customers​

Ordering directly from Hapstone is safe and straightforward:

From Ukraine warehouse​

  • Delivery time: 12–18 days
  • Hapstone pays all customs/tariffs for US customers.

    You do not pay any duty at delivery — we cover it completely.

From USA warehouse (New Jersey)​

  • Site: www.hapstone-usa.com
  • Delivery within USA: 3–4 days
  • All items are already inside the US — no tariffs, no customs by default.
So you can choose whichever source has your desired items in stock.

3. Stone choice​

Great choice with:
  • Hapstone Start Diamond Set — durable, fast-cutting, ideal for pocket and kitchen knives.
  • Leather strop(s) — recommended for finishing.

If you need help selecting clamps or want to compare R2 vs RS vs V8, feel free to ask — I’m always here to help.


Best regards,


Mario
 
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