This morning I tried out my new Shapton Glass progression for the first time.
Shapton Glass 1k High Rockwell, 4k High Rockwell, 8k High Carbon
I had a Bismark that I had given a small chip. Touched the edge with the metal edge of my loupe.
I have an atoma 400/1200, for edge repair, but this time I wanted to see if the 1kHR would be enough to remove the chip. I heard that it's a fast cutter.
First, is a photo showing the chip.
It took 80 laps with some pressure on the 1kHR ,but it did it. The next photo shows it. It was a small chip, but still, this 1k does the job. Would make you very certain that your bevel was set. I think I can leave my diamond plates solely for lapping now. This Shapton will do minor chips and bevel setting.
Then I progressed to the 4kHR and then the 8k HC. The High Carbon is said to be not as extremely fast cutting as the HR. The HR is make for modern alloys that are hard. The HC is made for high carbon steel that is less so. I chose the High Carbon for the 8k as I heard it is nicer for razor steel, and we're starting to get into the finishing range.
Photos of the 4k and 8k are next.
Out of curiosity I tried shaving off the 8k. Nope. Not at all. While the bevel looked fine, it felt tuggy, catchy and dull. Not shaveable.
I then went to a coticule under running water. Again, not good enough for shaving. But I often struggle with this coticule.
I then went to a convex black ark on oil. Sixty laps and then, I could shave with it. Not the best edge ever, but not bad. I could shave.
I did a second set of sixty laps on the ark. Shaved again, and much improvement this time. Even when convexed, this ark is slow. But 120 laps did it. It was a good shave.
Out of curiosity, I then gave it fifty laps on .1u balsa. Shaved with that. I think it was a touch sharper.
Anyway, I am very happy with these Shaptons. What a great way to ensure your low and mid range progression is just right.
I think I'll leave this razor as an ark razor. It's shoulderless, so I can really start up high on the big ark and ride that convex hill all way down the X.
I think I'm also understanding the limitations of a microscope. The pictures kept showing me nice, even, pretty looking bevels. But that had nothing to do with whether it shaved or not. Only the shave itself told that.
Maybe you gents can glean helpful information from the photos. Let me know if you do.
the chipped edge is here: This was a coticule edge, so you'll see the random messiness of a coticule surface.
After the Shapton 1k HR: All nicely cleaned up. You can still see some scratches going in varying directions.
After the Shapton 4k HR. The scratches going in varying directions are gone. It's now all lined up evenly. So the 4kHR is still a pretty effective cutter. I think I only did sixty x laps and it really advanced things.
After the Shapton 8k HR. Looks nice, but it can't shave yet. Ignore that bright reflection on the left. That's just me struggling to get the razor to rest even under the scope.
After the coticule:
After giving another sixty laps on the coticule. Still not giving a good shave at all. Maybe it's my imagination, but I think some coti randomness is showing up.
After the Black Ark. This is after 120 laps. Suddenly this razor shaved, and did so very nicely.
After 50 laps on 1.u balsa. Hard to tell if there was an improvement. It shaved well, but it shaved well on the previous Ark as well.
Shapton Glass 1k High Rockwell, 4k High Rockwell, 8k High Carbon
I had a Bismark that I had given a small chip. Touched the edge with the metal edge of my loupe.
I have an atoma 400/1200, for edge repair, but this time I wanted to see if the 1kHR would be enough to remove the chip. I heard that it's a fast cutter.
First, is a photo showing the chip.
It took 80 laps with some pressure on the 1kHR ,but it did it. The next photo shows it. It was a small chip, but still, this 1k does the job. Would make you very certain that your bevel was set. I think I can leave my diamond plates solely for lapping now. This Shapton will do minor chips and bevel setting.
Then I progressed to the 4kHR and then the 8k HC. The High Carbon is said to be not as extremely fast cutting as the HR. The HR is make for modern alloys that are hard. The HC is made for high carbon steel that is less so. I chose the High Carbon for the 8k as I heard it is nicer for razor steel, and we're starting to get into the finishing range.
Photos of the 4k and 8k are next.
Out of curiosity I tried shaving off the 8k. Nope. Not at all. While the bevel looked fine, it felt tuggy, catchy and dull. Not shaveable.
I then went to a coticule under running water. Again, not good enough for shaving. But I often struggle with this coticule.
I then went to a convex black ark on oil. Sixty laps and then, I could shave with it. Not the best edge ever, but not bad. I could shave.
I did a second set of sixty laps on the ark. Shaved again, and much improvement this time. Even when convexed, this ark is slow. But 120 laps did it. It was a good shave.
Out of curiosity, I then gave it fifty laps on .1u balsa. Shaved with that. I think it was a touch sharper.
Anyway, I am very happy with these Shaptons. What a great way to ensure your low and mid range progression is just right.
I think I'll leave this razor as an ark razor. It's shoulderless, so I can really start up high on the big ark and ride that convex hill all way down the X.
I think I'm also understanding the limitations of a microscope. The pictures kept showing me nice, even, pretty looking bevels. But that had nothing to do with whether it shaved or not. Only the shave itself told that.
Maybe you gents can glean helpful information from the photos. Let me know if you do.
the chipped edge is here: This was a coticule edge, so you'll see the random messiness of a coticule surface.
After the Shapton 1k HR: All nicely cleaned up. You can still see some scratches going in varying directions.
After the Shapton 4k HR. The scratches going in varying directions are gone. It's now all lined up evenly. So the 4kHR is still a pretty effective cutter. I think I only did sixty x laps and it really advanced things.
After the Shapton 8k HR. Looks nice, but it can't shave yet. Ignore that bright reflection on the left. That's just me struggling to get the razor to rest even under the scope.
After the coticule:
After giving another sixty laps on the coticule. Still not giving a good shave at all. Maybe it's my imagination, but I think some coti randomness is showing up.
After the Black Ark. This is after 120 laps. Suddenly this razor shaved, and did so very nicely.
After 50 laps on 1.u balsa. Hard to tell if there was an improvement. It shaved well, but it shaved well on the previous Ark as well.