This marks the third installment in our exploration of the Wicked Edge Precision Sharpener’s (WEPS) microscopic stone progression. Our prior posts delved into the WEPS stock diamond and ceramic stones, as well as the Chosera Stones through the lens of a microscope. In this segment, we’ll scrutinize the complete Shapton Pro WEPS stone sequence. It’s advisable to familiarize yourself with the earlier discussions as they contain foundational information applied here.
The knife in focus is a Maestro Wu bombshell steel folding knife set at 20 degrees per side. All images are captured using a Veho 400x USB microscope, with dimensions consistently measuring 1mm wide by 0.75mm high.
Again, I’ll employ a series of scrubbing strokes followed by sweeping strokes at each grit. Scrubbing strokes establish scratches and account for minor deviations, while sweeping strokes create a straight edge. Notably, Shaptons differ from most synthetic sharpening stones in their approach. While other stones benefit from the paste formed during sharpening, Shaptons generate swarf—a mix of water and metal debris without loose abrasive particles. Swarf, undesirable for Shaptons, impedes their precision, especially at higher grits like 5K, 8K, 15K, and 30K. Shaptons rely on densely packed consistent scratches, imparting a sharp yet smooth feel to edges.
Unlike other stones, Shaptons eschew the generation of paste. Their goal is to establish true scratch patterns without added polish. They prefer more water, which doesn’t get absorbed, leading to increased runoff. Although using a slurry on lower grit Shapton Pros is acceptable, it’s typically unnecessary beyond the 1K level.
The Shapton range spans #120 to 30K (122 microns to 0.5 microns). The leap from the WEPS stock 600 diamond to #120 might seem significant, yet it swiftly eliminates diamond scratches. The #120 stone’s scrubbing reveals a serrated edge, setting the stage for subsequent grits to refine these serrations systematically.
The #220 and #320 Shapton Pro stones excel in chip removal and profiling. The #220, being hard and aggressive, suits softer steels, while the #320, softer yet equally aggressive, suits harder steels. Both serve as excellent transition stones from the WEPS stock 600 Diamond plate.
The 1K Shapton Pro, though appearing rough, aligns with the 800 Chosera in results, representing a basic sharpness level. The #1,500 Shapton Pro impresses with its repair capabilities and superior consistency, making it a personal favorite for a working edge.
The 2K Shapton Pro creates a haze at the macro level due to its no paste/swarf policy. The significant leap occurs between the 2K and 5K, where scratches become shallow enough to produce an evenly reflective surface under the microscope.
The 5K Shapton Pro reveals the critical transition stage. Exposed scratches and unclean edges call for meticulous cleaning to progress effectively. From here, the edge of the edge becomes increasingly delicate, demanding precision to avoid over-honing.
While the 8K Shapton Pro refines scratches further, care is crucial. Over-honing risks thinning the edge excessively, potentially leading to failure. Scrubbing motions are minimized at the 15K and 30K levels to maintain edge integrity and achieve exceptional refinement.
Despite the time-intensive nature of the 15K and 30K stones, their results are unparalleled, offering pristine refinement and precision. A deeper comparison and discussion of these three progressions will be featured in the upcoming post.
