Thread: Lapping scratches...

Originally Posted by Howard

Did you break in your DMT as recommended by DMT? A DMT 325 shouldn't leave scratch marks on a stone. I've been using them for this purpose for years and it doesn't happen to me. It's not that you "shouldn't" use a DMT1200 but that it loads really quickly - like after 3 or 4 strokes and then it has to be washed out to be useful again. Break in the DMT by rubbing it with a flat piece of steel for about 5 minutes. Use soapy water as the lubricant.

Yeah, I'm kinda anal about doing things exact and per instructions. My particular 8C just had a couple of taller-than-normal diamonds that I was able to remove with a screwdriver tip. It now laps great!

Howard, I hate to disagree with someone that has a ton more experience than me, but.... DMT does actually say that you should not use a DMT 1200 to lap with. It really does ruin them. I found this out the hard way last year when I used a 1200 to lap a bunch of stones including my Shaptons. My 1200 is pretty much ruined now; the front side of the hone looks like the back side now. All the diamonds and the material they use to bed the diamonds on the nickel is gone. Well, most of it, anyway.

I believe that hi_bud_gl actually had a conversation with DMT about this subject, and they stated 1200's were not to lap with... let me see if I can find a link to that thread....

Edit: this thread... http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...w-problem.html contains the information from DMT about what DMT's are suitable for lapping.