Thread: Suehiro Gokumyo 20K

That 20k made me glad I went for the Atoma 1200. The Atoma is superior to the DMT Dia-Sharp, and the Shapton DGLP in my experience. What I did with my 20k was start out with the 325 (D8C) and did the initial flattening, and then came in at 1/3 to go with the Atoma. The difference in effectiveness was startling the first time I did this. I went as far as I needed to go to have an unobstructed field for honing and no further. I figure I will get the rest of the grid over time, as I use the hone and continue to lap it. That corner is still got a long ways to go but I'm in no hurry.

Yup. Looks just like one of my corners, does not hurt anything and will waste too much stone to get it flat.

Thanks gents..

Jimmy, that is about where mine is now. Does Atoma use a different grit system than the Dia-Sharp, or is it that much finer? My Dia-Sharp 325 must be severely worn, because it gives the G20 a reflective, glass-like surface! But it still cuts SuperStones like crazy!

Originally Posted by Druid

Thanks gents..

Jimmy, that is about where mine is now. Does Atoma use a different grit system than the Dia-Sharp, or is it that much finer? My Dia-Sharp 325 must be severely worn, because it gives the G20 a reflective, glass-like surface! But it still cuts SuperStones like crazy!

The Atoma have a raised surface so stiction is no issue unless you never rinse it while lapping.
They also have a consistency of flatness that DMT doesn't have.

Originally Posted by Druid

Thanks gents..

Jimmy, that is about where mine is now. Does Atoma use a different grit system than the Dia-Sharp, or is it that much finer? My Dia-Sharp 325 must be severely worn, because it gives the G20 a reflective, glass-like surface! But it still cuts SuperStones like crazy!

Originally Posted by onimaru55

The Atoma have a raised surface so stiction is no issue unless you never rinse it while lapping.
They also have a consistency of flatness that DMT doesn't have.

What Oz said. You can buy 3 D8C DMTs for the price of one Atoma 1200, but if I knew then what I know now I'd have only bought the Atoma. It is in a class by itself. Once you have the plate they sell replacement stick on diamond skins that are not as expensive as the whole plate. As Oz said, they are far more accurately flat than the DMTs.

I've got the XX 120, the 325, 600, 1200, and 4000 DMT. Only the 600 is dead flat. The others are close, but it ain't horseshoes, or hand grenades, and flat is where it's at.

Only one thing. If you purchased your Gokumyo 20k from Tools of Japan (Stuart Tierney). he says emphatically that using a 1200 Atoma to lap it will void the warranty of the stone, due to particles of diamond breaking free of the plate and lodging in the hone. He recommends the Atoma 400 which I have used for nearly 2 years with great results. E mail him not me.

People must have a lot of time on their hands to try lapping a new 20k with a 1200 Atoma.

Originally Posted by bobski

Only one thing. If you purchased your Gokumyo 20k from Tools of Japan (Stuart Tierney). he says emphatically that using a 1200 Atoma to lap it will void the warranty of the stone, due to particles of diamond breaking free of the plate and lodging in the hone. He recommends the Atoma 400 which I have used for nearly 2 years with great results. E mail him not me.

Why the 400 and not the 1200? I thought they both had the same construction. Tc

Originally Posted by bobski

Only one thing. If you purchased your Gokumyo 20k from Tools of Japan (Stuart Tierney). he says emphatically that using a 1200 Atoma to lap it will void the warranty of the stone, due to particles of diamond breaking free of the plate and lodging in the hone. He recommends the Atoma 400 which I have used for nearly 2 years with great results. E mail him not me.

I did a google search and went to Chef's Knives, and then to Stuart's Japan Tools site. Not a word about there being any problem with lapping using the 1200 plate. I don't doubt Stuart said that in an email, but if there is a potential problem they ought to make it known on their websites. Especially if they're talking about voiding warranties.