Shapton Glass HR- Do I need 1k grit?

J. Doyle

J. Doyle

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Feb 17, 2008
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I just bought some shapton hr stones to try. I want to be able to fix really dull and/or damaged edges and also maintain/touch up sharp edges.

I bought a 500 grit and a 2000 grit glass hr stone.

I'm wondering if I should have also gotten the 1000 grit?

Looking for good long lasting working edges that are slightly toothy on high carbon and medium to high grade stainless, probably not super steels.
 
500 / 2000 is the classic combo. Personally, I don't think you "need" it. Just see how things go for now and decide after some experience with them.
 
I don't think you need it either. I regularly go from 800 to 3000 grit for my kitchen knives(or even 400 straight to 3000 when I sharpen other peoples knives that start really dull).

Personally I would only go to a tighter grit progression if I was trying to get a nice mirror finish, which is almost never for me. Otherwise, I don't think there is any practical need for it.

2000 will give you a very nice refined, slightly toothy finish. I would bet you could maintain knives just with the 2000 if you don't let them get too dull; I do with my 3000...

The only other thing I will say is you might be better off with an even coarser stone if you are doing any significant re profiling or repairing chips. The 500 will be fine for light repair like small nicks in the edge.
 
It doesn't make a lot of sense in that line up. The jump from 500 to 1K (and then to 2K) are too small to be worth it unless you are polishing.
Also I think the 2K is a better stone.

This is separate from getting the stone to see what it's like.
 
Thanks guys. I think I'll wait and try the two I've got coming and then see if I need something else down the road.
 
For what it's worth, Shapton sells a bundle that is 500-2000-16000. It's a recommended progression and practical.
Depending on what you do, a bevel setter like a 220 is good. But for normal blade maintenance the above is good.
The 16K can be replaced with a strop, of course. I think it's a .5 micron?
 
No. Absolutely not. That is actually a two stone combo suggested by shapton for this line of stones. Additionally, the 1k to 4k are all considered sharpening stones in this line, which means any of them can be used in place of the other. The difference in cut between the 500 and 1k vs the 1k to the 2k is rather dramatic and much larger than you might expect if you think these somewhat arbitrary grit ratings mean much. I'm not sure that made sense, I meant the difference between the 500 and 1k is much greater than the difference between the 1k and 2k. The 1k and 2k are essentially interchangeable, the 500 is not. You're not missing anything. The 2k will cut just a well, leave a finer edge with smaller burr given the same methods. etc. Most folks who have tried both tend to prefer the 2k in my experience. Most folks aint gonna need anything more aggressive than that 500 btw. That's a very aggressive cutting stone for a splash and go. You have to be mindful when using not to wreck your knife or alter it's profile.
 
I appreciate the input from you guys. Stones showed up this morning and I think you guys are right.....I think I can skip the 1k stone.

This 500 and 2000 appear to be exactly what I was after.
 
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