Thread: What to use for flattening hones?

I have already wore out a DMT8C that I have had less than 2 months. Granted I tried to lap a couple Les Lats with it but even after I stopped using it for them it got progressively duller with each lapping session on coticules, and Naniwas like the 12K stick to it fiercely. Sandpaper is a better value than a DMT for lapping Coticules and Naniwas.

Originally Posted by BenG

I am looking to lap some Japanese naturals and am trying to decide between buying a DMT 325 or using wet/dry sandpaper from 320 grit and progress to 600 grit. Some have suggested that by using sandpaper you run the risk of embedding the sandpaper's grit into your stone. From your experience, do you feel this concern has any validity?

any one else have an opinion?

Thank you very much for sharing any insights or experiences.

Originally Posted by life2short1971

I have already wore out a DMT8C that I have had less than 2 months. Granted I tried to lap a couple Les Lats with it but even after I stopped using it for them it got progressively duller with each lapping session on coticules, and Naniwas like the 12K stick to it fiercely. Sandpaper is a better value than a DMT for lapping Coticules and Naniwas.

The DMT company specifically declares that their 120 grit plate is the only one they consider to be used for lapping. They acknowledge that the 220 and 325 (such as the DMT8C) grit hones can be used for lapping WATER stones only. That means you can use the C plate for Nortons or Naniwas, but not any natural stone. Yes, some on this forum have gotten away with it, but others have trashed their plates by doing it. Don't blame the company when you use the plate wrong. NONE of DMT's plates were designed to be used as lapping plates. Their intended purpose is for honing, not lapping, and just because people on this forum recommend the C plate for lapping does not change the fact that the company does not.

FYI, the problem with lapping on the higher grit DMTs is that the grit from the hone undercuts the nickel alloy substrate that hold the diamonds, causing their release.

If you use wet/dry sandpaper, I highly doubt that you will end up embedding any sandpaper grit in your hone. I consider this to be even much less likely on a hard natural stone in comparison to a waterstone. Just in case, you should rub your hand on the surface of the hone after lapping.

The trashed DMT still makes an excellent lapping plate to hold your sandpaper or other mediums instead of SWMBO's counter top.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

DMT also makes a 220 (and even a 120 grit!) plate as well, which comes recommended for lapping really hard hones (like barbers hones).
....snip...
I still say your best investment would be the DMT 8C (325), as it is an all-round versatile hone. In addition to lapping hones it also comes in handy for edge repairs (such as taking chips out of blades) and for honing other instruments like kitchen knives.
,,,,snip...

Check out the big extra extra coarse DMT especially if you
have the C12K rock. Reduce the number of lapping
strokes by half or more on softer man made hones.
One problem is that the price of a special lap for the
C12K reduces the bargain.

Keep an inexpensive small DMT, Arkansas or Ceramic
thing to rub up the occasional slurry on water hones that
do not come with a nagura (rubbing stone). Something like
a Diamond Sharpening Card for $15 or a small
ceramic pocket hone. Most times you only want
to remove less than half the thickness of a sheet
of paper and a little nagura action will do that as well as
soften any roughness left by the XXC lap.

The bigger the stable of hones you have the more
important a big flat lapping tool can be. For a personal
finishing hone a small 6" DMT bench hone or smaller DMT
sharpening card hone will maintain "flat" well enough that
the razor will see the lapped hone as flat.


There are a lot of ways to skin the cat...

I used to sell Coticules, I'm probably still a vendor for Ardennes. I've lapped hundreds of stones with the DMT C, and the XX. I also use it on the Chinese 12k's. I've been using the DMT C for about 3 years now, it still works fine, it's nice and broken in...I haven't worn mine out. Diamonds are harder than Garnets...Unless the aforementioned Les Latneuse vein is harder than Diamonds, I find it difficult to believe two Coticules trashed it out. It may be worn. YMMV

Its very worn. The Les Lats required a good bit on the backside. And one could still use more. The Dmt still works but it is very slow now.

I'm in Jax, If you want, I have the DMT XX, I'll lapp them for you...

Thank you for the offer. If you've never messed with the Les Lats I would say the are the equivalent of a Arkansas stone on the hybrid side.They are that hard.My DMT was new 2 months ago. I am also considering selling the one I haven't finished yet.

Let me know, I might be interested...

Ok I will Thank you.