Information about the sharpening stone "Purple" grit 30000 from Shapton

January 28, 2025 Interesting facts

Information about the sharpening stone "Purple" grit 30000 from Shapton

This text is a translation from the Japanese manual for the 30000 stone and can thus be considered a direct recommendation from the manufacturer.

The soft white plastic insert in the plastic box is only for protection during transport and should be removed. The 30000 sharpening stone "Purple" should be soaked in water for about 10 minutes before use until it has absorbed enough moisture. It should not be left in the water for too long, otherwise the surface will soften, so it should never be stored in a water bath! It should also not be stored on a wet or damp surface. After drying, it should be kept in the supplied plastic box.

Sharpening with the "Purple" sharpening stone goes quickly when a good base for the further work steps with several graduated grits has been created through the initial sharpening. Generally, one should start with grit 1000 (orange), then gradually use grit 2000 (green), grit 5000 (burgundy), and grit 8000 (melon), and finally finish with grit 30000 (purple).

It is advisable to only grind briefly at each stage: this way, the stone is only minimally hollowed out, and the edges can be processed more precisely. This is only possible if one works with a sufficient number of stones. If one works with too few sharpening stones, one has to stay longer on one stone, and the individual stones will thus be hollowed out more quickly.

It is important that the grinding sludge produced in one stage is completely washed away before moving on to the next finer stage: not only from the edge and hands but also from the entire surface of the grinding material, including the handles and under the fingernails. Otherwise, there is a great risk of transferring coarser grinding particles to the next, finer stone.

Perfect sharpening is only possible if the stone is absolutely flat. To achieve flatness, it should be rubbed against another sharpening stone. Both stones should also be soaked in water for 6 - 10 minutes; when dry, they tend to stick to each other, making it difficult to flatten. The second option is to use a sharpening stone dressing block. Also, pay attention to the subsequent careful cleaning with water.

Questions and Answers

Answer: Cracks can occur when the sharpening stone has been out of use for a long time or has been improperly handled. Dress the stone until the cracks are no longer visible. Small cracks are less deep. Therefore, you should take the mentioned action immediately when you discover cracks. The smoother the surface of the sharpening stone, the less the risk of cracks forming.

Question: After honing a knife with the 30000 grit "Purple" sharpening stone, coarse scratches are visible on the surface.

Antwort: Wenn man nach dem Schleifen mit mittelgroben Schleifsteinen ("Orange", "Blau", "Grün", "Melone") Messer und Hände nicht gründlich gereinigt hat, werden grobe Körner auf den feinen Stein verschleppt und verursachen Kratzer.

Question: I have flattened the 30000 grit sharpening stone "Purple," but it no longer sharpens well.

Answer: If one has not thoroughly cleaned knives and hands after sanding with medium-grit sanding stones ("Orange", "Blue", "Green", "Melon"), coarse particles will be transferred to the fine stone and cause scratches.

Question: I have flattened the 30000 grit sharpening stone "Purple" with a sharpening stone dressing block and fine silicon carbide powder. Nevertheless, its surface is rough and not mirror-smooth according to the grain size.

Answer: The stone is too coarse. Try using a finer medium (finer sharpening stone, fine silicon carbide powder in conjunction with a sharpening stone dressing tool) to make the stone smoother.

Question: I have the impression that the "Purple" does not sand well when sanding.

Answer: The cause is the advanced softening of the surface of the sharpening stone due to prolonged storage in water. Use the dressing block in conjunction with coarser silicon carbide powder. The faster removal exposes the underlying still hard layer. Then repeat the process with the fine grinding powder.

Question: According to the instructions, after sanding with the "Melone" (grit 8000), one should use the "Purpur." But can I sand with the "Cream" (grit 12000) before using the "Purpur," because the "Cream" is finer than the "Melone"?

Answer: If one should feel that the "Purple" behaves differently in the usual grinding method compared to the other grinding stones, it is because the "Purple" aims to sharpen the last millimeter of the cutting edge of the blades as optimally as never before.

Question: I use the plastic box as a sharpening stone holder. The stone wobbles on it and is difficult to sharpen.

Answer: You can use the "Cream" for grinding particularly hard steels. However, please grind the ones made of softer material with the "Melon".

Question: I use the plastic box as a sharpening stone holder. The sharpening stone holder slips away despite the rubber base, making sharpening difficult.

Answer: Place a piece of paper between the stone and the plastic box.

Question: I have dressed the 30000 grit sharpening stone "Purple" with a sharpening stone dressing block and fine grinding powder, but its surface is not as nice as it was when new, when I bought it.

Answer: There are surfaces where rubber feet do not hold well. Place newspaper or a cloth between the sharpening stone holder and the table surface.

Question: My 30000 grit sharpening stone "Purpur" has unfortunately become soft.

Answer: Soak the stone in water for 6 - 10 minutes before dressing. If the problem is not resolved, use a little more grinding powder.

Question: Which side of the 30000 grit sharpening stone "Purpur" should I use?

Answer: The softening or change in properties of sharpening stones occurs because the sharpening stone has been in water for more than 30 minutes or has come into contact with dish soap or similar substances. Additionally, if you use a wooden base and it becomes damp during work, the moisture can cause the "Purpur" to absorb it and become soft. If the "Purpur" has become soft, you must grind away enough until a solid surface reappears. In doing so, you grind the soft part with coarse grinding powder, thoroughly rinse away the resulting dirt, and only then do you grind the "Purpur" again with fine grinding powder. After grinding, store it in its dry plastic box.

Question: My 30000 grit sharpening stone "Purpur" has developed cracks.

Answer: First, use the side without printed text.