Looking for DMT D8C and possibly D6EF

So my Norton lapping stone is bad. Looking around here I see a D8C (8"x3" coarse) DMT tablet will do the trick for lapping the Nortons. I sacrificed a flawed 6"x2" extra-fine DMT tablet while working on some razors, sharpening my honing skills while making humble progress on a razor or two. My 4k/8k combination Norton is also quite flawed, the 4k Mexican side is basically evil. Micro pores allow for disasterous swarf that kills the edge with impactions/chips. I have the Spyderco medium, fine and ultra-fine sapphire hones and have been using the medium as the intermediate between the uncursed Norton 1k progression to the final 8k. It's slower work, missing the whole grit plan of those Nortons but I'm making do. The Spyderco ultra-fine, which is my finishing hone, was imperfectly machined but now that I've been working on it for many hours with practice honing with some "bad" razors (which are looking quite good at this point with all the time on the hones) it would appear the ultra-fine can now do x-patterns without chipping the edge. Shaved off with a razor and my facial skin (and microscope) doesn't lie.

So now I'm looking for a dedicated DMT lapping tablet. Anyone care to offer a reputable seller? Should I bother to get another 6x2 extra-fine or just let it go? I need to buy from a seller that understands that these honing tablets have got to be unflawed as they will be used for razors.

I have a DMT6C that does all my lapping, but if I could go back and do it again I'd get the 8 or 10. I got mine at my local woodcraft. Craftsmanstudios also has them at good prices, as does SRD.

If you want a little flatter than DMT; Atoma's are usually a little better.

I have checked both against a high quality straight edge, both had gaps but atoma was smaller.

I just want to purchase a DMT 8x3 coarse for drastic rebeveling of a future problem I may run into and of course for lapping these Nortons. I find this ridiculous, the difficulty of the spyderco ultra-fine, which seems relatively tamed at this point (many hours of work) and the disgusting Norton 4k. I got my federal tax return and want an end to the constant tinkering and quick fix of the sandpaper (it's like I'm a hone addict and the sandpaper is my temporary "fix"). I just need a reputable seller. I was thinking about the D6 extra-fine but maybe it wouldn't be prudent. Probably be better to find a 4kish stone but I'm wary as hell at this point.

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Originally Posted by AxelH

I just need a reputable seller. I was thinking about the D6 extra-fine but maybe it wouldn't be prudent. Probably be better to find a 4kish stone but I'm wary as hell at this point.

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I don't know if you're familiar with SRD but they have a spotless reputation around here. As far as the hones, the D8C is ideal for the lapping IME and in extreme cases of chip removal might be a starting point. As far as the Spyderco, I've got the three of them including the UF and I've read some people like them a lot but I have no luck with mine. Not enough 'feedback' to suit me and I rarely use them. The naniwas beat them hands down AFAIC.

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Originally Posted by AxelH

So my Norton lapping stone is bad. Looking around here I see a D8C (8"x3" coarse) DMT tablet will do the trick for lapping the Nortons. I sacrificed a flawed 6"x2" extra-fine DMT tablet while working on some razors, sharpening my honing skills while making humble progress on a razor or two. My 4k/8k combination Norton is also quite flawed, the 4k Mexican side is basically evil. Micro pores allow for disasterous swarf that kills the edge with impactions/chips. I have the Spyderco medium, fine and ultra-fine sapphire hones and have been using the medium as the intermediate between the uncursed Norton 1k progression to the final 8k. It's slower work, missing the whole grit plan of those Nortons but I'm making do. The Spyderco ultra-fine, which is my finishing hone, was imperfectly machined but now that I've been working on it for many hours

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If I could re-edit I would. The whole:

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Originally Posted by AxelH

I have the Spyderco medium, fine and ultra-fine sapphire hones and have been using the medium as the intermediate between the uncursed Norton 1k progression to the final 8k.

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Should read "accursed". Proper (very proper!) use of the word.

I just ordered a coarse grit 8"x3" DMT tablet from our most reputable SRD vender. I didn't even try to get a 4,000 Norton from another vendor (apparently our reputable seller doesn't deal in many Nortons...). And I'm leaving off the 1,200 grit (extra-fine) DMT because I've already got a great Norton at 1k and I'm not in the professional honing biz.. (though I'm sure I've done stuff for some people and locals in the area who might make use of a local pow-wow... you know how it goes).

So I guess I'm taken care of. I wish I had a suitable intermediate from off the 1k Norton to the glorious 8,000 Norton, though... darn it. I've got just over a handful (Mary's count ends at five..) of self-honed/fixed/refreshed razors so I should feel just fine...

Ahhhhh. Feel tired but good. I received the D8C and rubber pad day before yesterday and done the 1k Norton up properly. Though the graphite (pencil) grid was made more a grayish blur and then haze rather quickly, I found the cloudiness of the stubborn spots (sunken areas, of course) to be a good enough diagnostic for understanding when the lapping was finally completed. Delighted to notice that their wasn't much slow down when nearing the end of the final stages of the flattening.

I think I may not have brought the Norton 8k to true flatness, given how I chewed up the sandpaper on it. I did initially use the convex/concave flawed Norton lapper in creative ways (perpendicularly across the length, lengthwise, both sides (as if I could tell the difference in convex/concave to perfection), but that was what the sacrificial extra-fine six inch DMT was for.. sigh. What a struggle.

Anyone know how to lap the Norton 220 side? Because I don't know if I can actually see the graphite residue as a visual clue, given the color of the 220. Or maybe I should stick to the D8C for initial bevel setting?

I've marked the 8k, gonna have a lot of healing to do. Now that I see how imperfect the Nortons still were (8k must be the same situation as the 1k) it's interesting to note that I did manage to make real, workable, good shaving razors with them in the honing progression. I used the concave side of the Norton flattener less, preferring to err on the side of a slightly convex hone, which I understand was reflected in tonight's 1k lapping. A REAL lapping!

I feel so relieved. I would have purchased some quality shave soaps from SRD, too, but I'm really watching my financial situation and I have multiple years worth of good stuff (hardly touched them, using up the inferior eBay stuff first). Those soaps look nice. Thanks, SRD.

IME the best way to lap those stones is with the pencil grid under lightly running water in the kitchen sink. If the swarf is allowed to build it may defeat the purpose. For the 220 I would go to 120 grit sandpaper on a flat surface. Lapping a 220 grit stone with a 325 grit plate may not be advisable for the longevity of the plate.

Also , just IMO, no need for the 220 on razors unless you have a serious frown or chip to remove and now that you've got the 325 plate use that instead of the 220 stone. Set your bevels on the 1k Norton.