Thread: Lapping / Slurry stone question not covered in the Wiki

A coarser lapping plate will make the work faster, so for tons of lapping, the XXC will be helpful.

Yes, the XXC will probably leave scratches in hard hones, which is why I suggested you also get the DMTC to finish the job or use sandpaper to do it. As I said above, I have found that even the DMTC leaves scratches in my hard hone, so I finish with the Spyderco medium. A barber hone also does this job nicely, and some higher grit sandpaper (maybe 600 or so) would also work. I prefer a barber hone or the Spyderco because I already have them, and they won't wear out. They are also already flat, whereas the sandpaper would have to be used on a flat surface.

DMTC = DMT325 - the "coarse" is 325 grit. I use the two terms interchangeably.

Frankly, the DMT XXC is £119. That's pricey. And it seems, I'll have a deep scratch pattern on a a stone that should have no scratch pattern. I'm assuming that once I flatten the hones with the XXC, I'll need to lap it again with a finer stone, a 325 perhaps, and then again with a 600 and so on and so on.

DMT makes a 325/600 Continuous plate
Buy DMT DMT Dia-Sharp Double-Sided Continuous Diamond Whetstone from Axminster, fast delivery for the UK that's "only" £69. Couldn't I use this?

I know that this thread is long, and for that I'm truly sorry. But I'm innocently ignorant about lapping.

You really shouldn't use any DMT's above 325 for lapping. The diamonds can be ripped out of the nickle substrate that bonds them to the steel plate, which renders the DMT useless. If you want to go above 325, you should use something other than a DMT.

There is more money to invest, but it's necessary if you want the hones lapped so you can used them and don't want to spend hours and hours doing it. It's also a one time investment that should last decades (if used properly). Or if you don't foresee the need to do lots of lapping in the future, you can sell the plates and get back most of our money.