Order 12k Shapton Pro Waterstone

Shapton Professional 12000 Waterstone

Next up order in the series, we have the Shapton Pro 12k, or 12000x ‘Pro' stone. This is the Japanese version; the actual series name is Ha No Kuromaku. Like the other ‘Pro' Shaptons, it's a fairly hard ceramic binder type of hone that is, essentially – a splash and go type. It will take on some water at first but it'll settle down pretty quickly.

This one is a finishing stone only – there is zero ‘mid-range' anything about it. It will take out the striations left by the 8k Pro easily, usually within 5-6 passes (when all else was done correctly), and after that you're just putting the sprinkles on the cake.

Like the 1.5k, 5k and 8k, the 12ks feedback is very similar the rest of the gang. It's clear, easy to read, and each stone in this line up ‘speaks' the same language so there's no ‘interpreting' to do. The working surface has a bit of a wet-velvet sort of honing sensation; similar to the 8k Pro Stone but it's silkier. This 12k leaves a very mirrored polish with just a tinge of haze in it.

When honing straight razors, it'll follow the Pro 8k perfectly.

To make a comparison – the Pro 12k seems to me to be just as fine as the Naniwa 12k Super Stone/Specialty Stone/Sharpening Series Stone.


Approximate dimensions - 8.2" x 2.7" x 0.6"

This Shapton Pro stone ships free via USPS Priority, fully insured.