Thread: Lapping Stones Compared

Originally Posted by MinATX

I'm worried about grit getting stuck in the Norton / Naniwa. Anybody try this method for flattening their high grit stones?

Yes plenty of us have done this. Wet n dry is better IMHO but keep your pressure light & particle embedding is less likely.
Hone Lapping 101 - Straight Razor Place Library

A 325 dmt does the job just rinse well after lapping

So, I've been sharpening some old razors, and using the sandpaper on glass trick to flatten my stones. It works great, but it's a mess, and slow to flatten water stones. I got sick of dealing with the mess, so today I went to Woodcraft and got a DMT 220. I flattened all my stones in the times it would have taken to use sandpaper on just one stone. I didn't want to spend another $50, but now I'm glad I did.

Thanx 2 u all 4 ur comments & suggestions. Ur consensus seemed 2 b that a DMT might work 4 me. Bought the 325 & the Norton 4k/8k combo. It was suggested that I do a few figure 8s on the garage floor, 2 eliminate diamond outliers. Really? That's a good idea? If it's actually worked for you, I'll certainly give it a try. Looking forward 2 Zen and the art of honing.

Personally I think it is a terrible idea. You have a precision ground plate in your hands so treat it like one. Take a dull kitchen knife and hone it on the plate to accomplish this. Alternatively, use a long shafted screwdriver and pass the rounded shaft over the surface for a few minutes.

The plate is relatively flat but the diamonds may not all protrude to exactly the same height. The higher ones are going to cause abberant scratches in your hone. By passing metal over the surface your are going to break away or wear down the high diamonds until they are at the level of the rest of the rest of the diamonds.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Personally I think it is a terrible idea. You have a precision ground plate in your hands so treat it like one. Take a dull kitchen knife and hone it on the plate to accomplish this. Alternatively, use a long shafted screwdriver and pass the rounded shaft over the surface for a few minutes.

The plate is relatively flat but the diamonds may not all protrude to exactly the same height. The higher ones are going to cause abberant scratches in your hone. By passing metal over the surface your are going to break away or wear down the high diamonds until they are at the level of the rest of the rest of the diamonds.

sharpen a mower blade or some clippers is plenty and also looks like you're doing constructive things, not being a nut.

I always use the Shapton Diamond on Glass Lapping Plate



It's dead easy to use and produces plenty of slurry if wanted.

Chris

Originally Posted by drmoss_ca

I always use the Shapton Diamond on Glass Lapping Plate

It's dead easy to use and produces plenty of slurry if wanted.

Chris

I must agree, I used Utopian's SG lapping plate at the last chicago meetup and it was better than a DMT 325 IMHO. Granted, it was just to freshen an already flat hone and not doing major corrective work on a vintage stone.

I agree it is great but I would never use it for lapping. I only use it for refreshing surfaces. I'd prefer it to last as long as possible, given its cost, so I use cheaper and more aggressive options for lapping.

I have a DMT Dia Sharp D11C 11,5 x 2,5'' and i feel difficult to use as laping plate so i'm back to sandpapper on a glass.
But how about this one here? BladeConnection: Practical and Tactical Knives for Daily Carry
Does anyone have any thoughts or already used this stone Flattener?