Thread: DMT question: how worn is worn out?

I Sharpen carbide Bits on my DMT almost every day (is maybe 5 yrs old).
For some reason Carbide really gunks them up.
Some cleanser (I use bar keepers friend) a stiff brush, is good as new.

DMT® Diamond Whetstone™ Care Kit


I bought one of these off e-bay years back for WAY less it worked ok but I have to +1 with Pixel
Barkeepers Friend and a stiff brush actually worked better then the DMT cleanser and the rest of the Sprinkle type cleansers

You can test you DMT by running a dry thumbnail over the worn spots and feel for diamonds but the best way is actually using the base of a Glass and rubbing the edge of the base on the worn spots and observing the scratches, don't let the wife catch you

I don't like the glass test personally, other than making sure the diamonds aren't completely gone it doesn't tell you much. Half the diamonds could be pulled out and glass would still be abraded all the same. Barkeeper's friend is definitely the best cleaner for embedded steel swarf though, bar none. The oxalic acid dissolves the steel and breaks it loose quickly.

Mine started gliding without cutting across a stone. Pixel's fix did it for me too :<0)

The only thing I know of that will destroy a DMT is a Charnley. I watched Sham try to lap a Charnley one time and the stones broke away from the binder and it went down the drain while lapping. It was just too funny.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

The only thing I know of that will destroy a DMT is a Charnley. I watched Sham try to lap a Charnley one time and the stones broke away from the binder and it went down the drain while lapping. It was just too funny.

Not funny, but dougbt you could wear out a DMT on a charnley.

I know what a worn out Atoma 1200 looks like.

Your pics tell the story (good job). It's clear the cutting action of your DMT is slowing down. I use one daily with hardened stainless and when the cutting speed slows to a point then I replace it. I don't throw the old ones away because they work well for other uses.