In the never ending search for the perfect shave and the fear that there is something better out there I am contemplating purchasing a Shapton glass 30k. Currently I finish with a Shapton ceramic 12k then a Shapton Glass 16k. Most of my razors are modern razors. Should I buy it? What do the honing experts think?
Official Disclaimer: I have no experience with the Shapton Glass 30K. Honestly, with the 16K, you've probably got all the finisher you really need. Beyond this you could perhaps consider sprayed or pasted strops as economical alternatives to the Shapton Glass 30K. Beyond a Suehiro Gokumyo 20k, I use a 0.50 micron diamond spray on felt and a 0.25 micron CrOx on linen with great success. This being said, I understand the emotional need to employ a "Big Gun" finisher D,) and know lots of folks have a fondness for the 30K in this capacity. I have been made to understand it can imply a bit of harshness when used as a final finisher. If you're not dead set on the Glass 30K, you could also consider a nice natural rock or the SG20K (IMO one heck of a fantastic finisher, cured me of my J-Nat HAD). If you have the disposable income and the spirit moves you, jump on in.
Actually I am going to place the blame for my desire to acquire this stone on you and Adam which also means Glen indirectly. Your love of the SG20k as well the great edge the Feon came with sparked my interest in a finer stone and then Adam raved about the razors Glen honed for him on the Shaptons. I have and use pastes, either CrOx/FeO2 or Dovo red/black. With my move to the dark side I am planning a den cleaning of all but my favourite DEs and use this money to posses this mythical stone.
To be clear Glen uses a Shapton 30k on very few razors, most cannot hang onto that high a finish.. It isn't the fault of the hone,,, it is a mismatch IMO to the razors Now if you collect and shave with mostly Vintage NY razors then I HIGHLY recommend the Shapton GS 30k As to the SG20k again too much hone for many of the razors out there, but it is a bit more versatile then the Shapton 30k The biggest problem with many of the recommendations out there is that they are leftovers from the old days.. Especially the stuff in the High $$$$ range You have to understand that when many of us were writing much of that stuff a Norton 4/8 was $65 Most Eschers were $100 Coticules were going for $75-$100 Named J-nats could be had $100-$150 So they got a large following and had all of us recommending them,,, BUT Honestly at the prices some of these are going for now I would never suggest anyone throw away money like that... There is simply not enough difference between a $90 Naniwa 12k SS and and these hones to spend that kind of money, I never came close to spending $300+ for a Shapton 30k IIRC I bought it for $150
