Do the Shapton Pro/Kuromaku stones work with the Shapton Glass Holders (especially the Field Holder)?

[CableReady]

I'm finding conflicting answers to this question (thread title), even among sources that one would expect to be reliable. In short, I'm wondering whether the Shapton Field Holder can be used with the SG500 double thick and the SP2000 both for storage/transportation and as a sharpening base.

The Shapton Glass Field Holder can officially hold up to three Shapton Glass stones. The dimensions of these stones (with the glass backing) are listed at 210mm x 70mm, 10mm thick. Whereas the dimensions of the pro stones (and the SG500 double thick) are listed at 210mm x 70mm, 15mm thick. Given these dimensions, and given that the Field Holder can hold three glass stones, shouldn't it alternatively be able to hold either two pro stones or one pro stone alongside the SG500 double thick? And since all these Shapton Stones are 210mm long, shouldn't they all work with the Shapton Holder?

The problem is, despite these official dimensions, I've done my research and I'm finding straightforwardly opposed answers to the above questions. If you have either of these holders and some Pro stones, it would be very helpful for myself, and for anyone else who tries searching in the future, if you could confirm one way or another whether these are all compatible. (Pictures demonstrating this would be especially nice...)

(In case anyone cares to see how much conflicting information there is about this, I'll document it in a separate second post.)

 

[CableReady]

Sources that say the Shapton Glass Holders are incompatible with the Pro Stones:

In their listing for the Field Holder, CKTG explicitly says "Please note: this holder does not work with the Shapton Professional stones." Likewise, SharpeningSupplies' listing says, "It is designed to be used exclusively with the Shapton GlassStones, other stones will not fit." And in another thread from this forum, daveb writes,

Most significant difference between the 2K pro and the glass is tha glass will fit into the Field Holder.

implying that the 2K pro will not fit into the Field Holder.

As for the more substantial (and expensive) Shapton Holder, I first discovered and considered buying it while it was on discount at PaulsFinest, but the listing said, "Note that it is NOT adjustable and so will ONLY work with the Shapton Glass and Rockstar Stones!" I emailed Paul to ask whether it would work with the Pro stones too. He wrote, "I don't think the Pro stones fit perfectly though, they're not quite the exact same dimensions (a tiny bit bigger)" (which suggests that either the Pro or the Glass stones are not really 210mm long after all). I thought I had my official answer, but later (see below) I found out that Shapton themselves say that this holder works for the Pro stones!

Sources that say that the Shapton Glass Holders are compatible with the Pro Stones:

Both Woodcraft's and Lee Valley's listing for the Field Holder says: "In use, it holds Kuromaku or GS stones..." Tom Blodgett of Jende Industries has a video (9 years old now) with the entire Pro and Glass line of Shapton products laid out on a table. At 1:44 Tom grabs the Field Stone Holder and says, "There's also the Field Stone holder, which will hold three glass stones underneath, or two pro stones..." though he does not demonstrate the fit.

As for the extremely sturdy Shapton Holder, if you scroll down the Rockstar product page, Shapton.co.jp says of the holder: "It can also be used as a support for our GlassStone, Kuromaku and Diamond Glass Lapping Plate products, as well as the RockStar", which contradicts what Paul says. Additionally, the listings for this holder by SharpeningSupplies, Cutlery and More, and Lee Valley Tools all say that this holder can be used with the Pro/Kuromaku stones.

 

[M1k3]

I don't believe so.

But 2 regular Glass stones will fit in a Pro/Kuromaku case.

 

[esoo]

I've used the big block Shapton Glass holder with the Shapton Glass and Shapton Pro. Both stones sit nicely on top.

I would assume that both would work on the field holder for sharpening. However, I wouldn't be certain if the Pro stones would be able to carried in the field holder.

 

[CableReady]

I don't believe so.

But 2 regular Glass stones will fit in a Pro/Kuromaku case.

Argh, I've read conflicting information about this too, even with pictures!

This reddit post (with photo) shows that the Pro case won't click shut with two glass stones inside, though it is very close. Whereas this post from Badger & Blade shows that, as you say, 2 regular Glass stones will fit in a Pro case.

I assumed that 2 Glass stones will fit only after a bit of use / slimming down. But maybe they've changed the box design?

 

[daveb]

Its all correct.

The Pro will fit when in use, sits on top just fine. X, Y dimensions on stone are the same.

But the height or Z dimension is different with the SP being taller than the SG. The field holder will transport 3 SG stones. But not 3 SP stones. Note the thick SG500 is also too tall for 3 stone transport.

 

[stringer]

I guess I never really thought about transportation logistics. I have stones everywhere I visit regularly (home office, basement workshop, home kitchen, work office, work kitchen, culinary school office, culinary school kitchen, my vehicle, my wife's vehicle, knife roll, etc.). Anything I would travel with (All of my toolboxes and luggage and backpacks and dop kit) has at least a pocket coticule or diamond stone or ark in it. I refurbish vintage knives for all of my friends and family and send stones with the knives so when I visit my knives I can have something to sharpen them with. And all the stones just kind of live free. They are out there just waiting for me to come to them. They don't need to be put inside your box or restrained by your holder. But I'll stop before I get too political

 

[M1k3]

Argh, I've read conflicting information about this too, even with pictures!

This reddit post (with photo) shows that the Pro case won't click shut with two glass stones inside, though it is very close. Whereas this post from Badger & Blade shows that, as you say, 2 regular Glass stones will fit in a Pro case.

I assumed that 2 Glass stones will fit only after a bit of use / slimming down. But maybe they've changed the box design?

Since I first got my Glass 500 and 4k, they've lived in a Pro case. I'll snap a picture tonight after work. If I had the double thick 500, it wouldn't work.

 

[CableReady]

Since I first got my Glass 500 and 4k, they've lived in a Pro case. I'll snap a picture tonight after work. If I had the double thick 500, it wouldn't work.

Good to know--thanks! I have a GS220 and am doing to get either a Rockstar 4000 or SG4000, so I might use one of these to store them both.

Alas, I also got the double thick 500 and the Pro 2000. I suppose I could transport them in their respective cases. But I was wondering whether the Field Holder would be tidier travel solution. After all, if the field holder can hold three regular glass stones, why not two thicker stones? I suppose the worry is that the Pro is not exactly the same length in actuality, despite the official specifications...

 

[Delat]

Here you go.

2 glass + 1 Pro = stands slightly proud

1 glass + 1 Pro = sits slightly low

 

[CableReady]

Amazing!!! Thank you! So I reckon if my "Glass" is the double-thick 500, it'll end up fitting close to perfectly with one pro stone.

 

[Delat]

1 glass + 1 pro + 1 upside down glass = top stone layer sits just about flush

 

[M1k3]

Argh, I've read conflicting information about this too, even with pictures!

This reddit post (with photo) shows that the Pro case won't click shut with two glass stones inside, though it is very close. Whereas this post from Badger & Blade shows that, as you say, 2 regular Glass stones will fit in a Pro case.

I assumed that 2 Glass stones will fit only after a bit of use / slimming down. But maybe they've changed the box design?

 

[M1k3]

View attachment 347891View attachment 347892View attachment 347893

They are slightly loose in the case. I can assure everyone that when new, they both fit perfectly fine.

 

[rickbern]

I've used the big block Shapton Glass holder with the Shapton Glass and Shapton Pro. Both stones sit nicely on top.

I would assume that both would work on the field holder for sharpening. However, I wouldn't be certain if the Pro stones would be able to carried in the field holder.

I have the heavy glass holder. It holds any stone that is 210 or less pretty well. I use it regularly with a gesshin 2000 and 6000 and a sigma hyper 1000. It wouldn’t fit my gesshin synthetic natural which despite the jki listing was 214 mm. The guy at mtc recommended gluing it to a 210 mm plate, that would’ve worked.

That glass holder is one reassuring hunk of solidity that is easy to pull out of a cabinet and start using. Never used the field holder but I bet it’s a compromise compared to mine.

 

[CableReady]

Thanks! I ended up pulling the trigger on the Field Holder. It arrived yesterday and it's great! As a holder while sharpening, it's a HUGE upgrade from the boxes that come with the pro stones.

As hoped, it will fit my SG500 double thick with my SP2000:

And now I can fit my two glass stones (220 and 4000) together in the Pro box the SG500 double glass came in, just as @M1k3 suggested one could:

I could also just store all my stones (SG220, 500 double, SP1000 and 2000, and SG4000) in the Field Holder if stored this way!! It's fairly snug, with just a smidge of wiggle room:

I suppose if I got the Shapton heavy holder that @rickbern praises, the field holder would still function very nicely for storage alone.

Anyway, here's a mint sandwich for good measure: