Thread: Used DMTs

I do quite a bit of lapping. I use the DMT lapping plates. They stand up pretty well. They need a good scrub periodically with soft scrub and a stiff nail brush and they spring right back. Without having them in hand and trying to clean them or use them it is impossible to tell.

OK, I'll take the counterpoint.

Diamonds are hard, but the nickel holding them are not. Honing steel on the plates gradually wears out the diamonds but lapping hones wrong quickly can undercut the nickel, causing the release of the diamonds. There have been many threads about this exact thing happening, so it is not uncommon for these plates to get trashed by misuse. If you treat them well they will last for a long time, but you have to wonder how many of the used ones up for sale were treated well.

Caveat emptor.

Everybody compares their lapping plate to DMTs.
Why is that?
IMHO its because DMTs are the gold standard to which all others shoot for.
I have never met a DMT I didnt like, or find a use for.
Lastly we dont speak in monetary terms here.
To paraphrase Glenn, He still uses his DMT325 and it works well. He is one who uses his Often.

Originally Posted by ultrasoundguy2003

Everybody compares their lapping plate to DMTs.
Why is that?
IMHO its because DMTs are the gold standard to which all others shoot for.
I have never met a DMT I didnt like, or find a use for.
Lastly we dont speak in monetary terms here.
To paraphrase Glenn, He still uses his DMT325 and it works well. He is one who uses his Often.

I heard that atoma plates were better than DMT's. I don't personally know if it is true as I only have an atoma.

You’re not going to be lapping a lot of stones with a 6 in plate. If you are lapping “a lot” of stones flat, a sub 325 plate will come in handy.

There are many good/great diamond plates out there, if money is an issue, see the many Diamond Plate threads.

But, for most… an 8 inch 325 DMT is a life time purchase, really they are not, that expensive.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I heard that atoma plates were better than DMT's. I don't personally know if it is true as I only have an atoma.

I have both. Atoma works much faster both for lapping and honing. I cannot speak to their longevity as I have not lapped anywhere near as many hones with them in comparison to DMTs.

I got an email back all the DMTs are the 8 inch except the 1200 which is 6inch. so they last a long time and a used purchase would work pretty well for me until I have more funds for a new one. Once I get a new one I'll have more then one which is never a bad thing.

No, crying…

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I heard that atoma plates were better than DMT's. I don't personally know if it is true as I only have an atoma.

It is true ........ IMHO.

Well since the price is right I will get at least a 220 and a 325 and maybe a 1200. I don't think I would use the 120 and I'm not sure I will get the 1200 since I have a king 1k/6k already. If they have decent life left then I'll have saved some $ to get the Naniwa stones I wanted. If they are dead I'll email back and find out what can be done for me. at the very least I'll have good flat plates for my wet/dry sandpaper.