Shapton GlassStone 220 Grit

The 220 grit GlassStone is the most aggressive waterstone in the Shapton Glass lineup - the one you reach for when a knife needs serious work. Chips, completely lost bevels, neglected edges that have not seen a stone in years, high-hardness steels like ZDP-189 and HAP40 that resist lighter grits - this is what the 220 is built for. It is not a maintenance stone. It is a problem-solving stone that removes metal fast, sets bevels precisely, and transitions cleanly to a 500 or 1000 for refinement. One reviewer who had worked with many stones and methods described replacing his DMT Extra Coarse diamond plate with this stone - and said it does in two to five minutes what took him the better part of an hour with diamond, with noticeably less physical effort.

What makes the GlassStone 220 stand out at this end of the grit range is that it does not clog or load up under heavy use. Coarse stones often lose their cutting speed as swarf accumulates in the abrasive, slowing the process and requiring frequent rinsing. This one starts cutting the moment it is sprayed with water and maintains that cutting speed through extended sessions - the hard bond Shapton uses across the GlassStone line keeps the abrasive exposed and active. The white ceramic abrasive on tempered glass is also noticeably more consistent across the full surface than many lower-cost coarse stones, which translates to more even metal removal and better bevel geometry. One reviewer who has worn his stone down past thin is ordering another before it runs out - a better endorsement than any star rating.

What Customers Are Saying: All five reviewers gave five stars. One called it coarse and very fast, noting it starts cutting immediately and never clogs - and that after extensive use he is ordering a replacement before this one runs out. A second praised it specifically for very hard PM stainless steels like ZDP-189 and HAP40, calling it the most aggressive option short of a diamond plate. A third replaced his DMT Extra Coarse with this stone and called the speed and ease of use a revelation - saying he regretted waiting so long to get a proper coarse waterstone. A fourth used it as the starting point in a full progression through to 12000 grit and called the stone quality excellent. The consensus is clear: if you need a fast, reliable coarse waterstone that handles hard steels without fuss, this is it.

• Brand: Shapton
• Origin: Made in Japan
• Series: GlassStone
• Grit: 220
• Use: Splash and Go (no soaking required after first use)
• Construction: Abrasive bonded to tempered glass
• Stone Dimensions: 210 x 70 x 5 mm (8.25 x 2.75 x 0.2 in)
• Total Thickness with Glass Backing: 10 mm
• Weight: Approx. 14 oz (400 g)
• Item Number: 50101

Care Instructions: Splash with water before each use - no soaking required after the initial first-use soak. Flatten regularly with a diamond plate to maintain a true surface. Store dry between sessions. Handle with care - the tempered glass backing improves drop resistance considerably over standard ceramic stones but is not indestructible. Spots or color variation on the surface are normal and do not affect performance.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​