Shapton Frequently Asked Questions

How does Shapton GlassStone media differ from traditional man-made waterstones?

Shapton uses a finely graded ceramic media which is very hard and sharp. This results in waterstones which wear slowly and do not need pre-soaking. Another characteristic of the GlassStone series is the ability of the stone to both cut and polish at the same time. While this may sound counterintuitive, some of the ceramic particles are worn smooth while others more recently revealed are sharp. This nets out to a more polished finish with less work as you progress to finer grits.

Is there an advantage to the ceramic-on-glass construction of Shapton’s GlassStones?

As traditional waterstones wear and become thin, they also become weak and frequently crack ending their useful life. GlassStones allow full use of the media because it can be worn all the way down to the glass.

The ceramic media on the GlassStones seems pretty thin. How long will it last?

We’re frequently asked this question and it’s a little difficult to quantify. We’ve used using Shapton GlassStones in our showroom daily for an extended period of time. With proper care, we conservatively expect them to last twice as long as an equivalent set of one-inch-thick single grit traditional waterstones.

Do I need to concerned about flattening Shapton waterstones?

It depends to some degree on what you are sharpening. Plane Blades, Chisels and Straight Razors have straight blades which are very sensitive to irregularities in the surface of the waterstone. We recommend frequent flattening when sharpening these types of blades. Cutlery tends to be more forgiving (except for knives with perfectly straight blades) so flattening can be done less frequently. In our showroom we flatten after each sharpening. This way we know the stones are flat when we start to use them. Since we’re only taking off a couple thousandths of an inch with the Glass Diamond Lapping Plate, waterstone wear really isn’t a concern.

Is there a flattening option besides the Shapton Glass Diamond Lapping Plate?

We believe the Shapton Glass Diamond Lapping Plate is the best choice because of it’s precision flatness (+/- 5 microns), but the GlassStones can also be flattened using 220-320 Grit wet & dry sandpaper mounted on a flat surface such as a granite surface plate, or a piece of float glass.

What grits should I buy - I want to sharpen …?

There are no hard and fast rules and many people create their own grit sequence. Here are some suggestions:
Plane Blades & Chisels: 1000 - 4000 - 8000 Grits
Plane blades for Bamboo Rodmakers: 1000 - 6000 Grits
Cutlery: 500 - 3000 - 16000 Grits
Straight Razors: 1000 - 6000 - 16000 Grits
If you are starting with something really dull, the 500 grit stone is an excellent product.

I see you have 16,000 and 30,000 grit waterstones. Are they really necessary?

Necessary? Probably not but many people are interested in achieving the best possible results. We hear from folks sharpening straight razors, cutlery and some woodworkers who feel strongly that the added sharpness is worth the investment to step up to the super-fine grits.

I’m taking a class, What is the best way to transport my GlassStones?

Wrapped in a small towel is a good approach. If you prefer something more elegant, you may want to consider one of the Shapton Set Holders. They store three GlassStones in the base. Flip it over and it acts as a stone holder for sharpening with plenty of clearance for your fingers. Remind us when you order and we’ll include a Shapton Velcro Strap at no charge to keep everything tidy and secure. (Sets already come with the strap).

I have friends with the Shapton Pro stones. How do the GlassStones compare?

GlassStones were developed specifically for the US market based upon experience gained from the original Pro Series. GlassStones differ in that they cut more quickly, particularly in the tougher steels such as cryogenically treated A2 common in Lie-Nielsen and Hock and Veritas blades. They are also engineered to be significantly less costly by employing a glass base. This glass base provides protection for the sharpening media avoiding the need for added thickness and additional packaging found in Pro Stones which adds to their cost.

Why don’t you offer the Shapton Pro Stones?

We believe the Shapton GlassStones will produce the best results at the lowest cost for 99% of our customers. We’ve also found that many current users Shapton Professional Stone are migrating to the GlassStones because they cut faster.

Additionally, there is confusion in the marketplace concerning the Shapton Professional Stones. Both genuine Professional Stones manufactured for the US market and Grey Market Shapton waterstones of a different composition manufactured for the Japanese market are being sold as Professional Stones. Grey-Market stones are not the same product and not warranted by Shapton in the USA. To be safe, purchase only from an Authorized Shapton Dealer.

Originally posted Friday, October 3rd, 2008