Shapton is the world leader in producing high-quality and durable sharpening stones. Known for their impressive sharpening capabilities and unique composition, Shapton has proudly served its customers for over 50 years. Offering both glass and whetstone sharpening products, we will be taking a closer look at their new Kuromaku Professional Stones.
Design
Combining abrasives, like silicon carbide and alumina, with binders and other composite materials, gives Shapton stones their durability and longevity.
Another defining feature of the Shapton stone is its exclusive design. Each stone has a tempered glass base to prevent warping.
Ready to Use
Unlike similar products, Shapton stones do not require extended soaking. It is recommended that any stone be pre-soaked only before the first use for a maximum of five minutes. After the first use, you can simply splash cold water over the stone and being the sharpening process.
Colour Coding
The Shapton Kuromaku Professional Stones use an innovative colour coding system to identify the grit of each stone. The entire series is arranged from an extra coarse (120) white stone to a micro fine (30,000) purple stone.
Depending on your sharpening needs, it is best to start with a coarser stone and work your way to finer stones for polishing. If you’re unsure which stone to use, use the chart below as a guide;
Maintenance & Care
All Kuromaku Professional Stones are packaged in a coloured storage case. To preserve the stone’s condition, it’s important to wipe off a stone after use with an oil-free cloth or sponge. If not properly maintained, the stone may crack which will interfere with its performance.
A few other things to note:
- Avoid hot water
- Avoid detergents
- Do not store in sunlight
- Store at room temperature
- Do not use sandpaper to flatten stone
More information on the Kuromaku Stones can be found on the Shapton website.
