Thread: Lapping Eschers - scratches on surface w/ DMT325

Hi guys,
I have an Escher (Y/G) which I got from Jimmy a few months back and I love this stone. The edges are unreal and the feedback is fantastic. I have lapped this thing with a DMT325 and it is flat as they can get, but I have noticed some scratches on the surface of the stone (nothing deep, but you can visibly see) and I can't seem to get rid of it. A few questions for you pros out there

1. How can I get rid of them?
2. Is this the result of me sing the DMT325? If so, what lapping stone do you guys recommend

I read somewhere that scratches can affect the edges...I haven't experienced any adverse effects based on shave tests...I just want to make sure I use the appropriate medium for lapping this beautiful stone and not end up ruining it over time.

Thanks in advance guys.

In my opinion, scratches in the hone represent a negative honing surface and have no impact on the edge at all.

The cause is high diamonds in your DMT plate. Over time they will wear down and your plate will then cut more uniformly. In the mean-time, you can put a more fine piece of wet/dry sandpaper (400 to 600 or higher on top of the DMT to use it as a lapper to remove the scratches.

I have a couple of Eschers and a couple of thurries. Not always, but sometimes you just get these scratches. I find that use of a slurry stone gets rid of them, as would a finer DMT. I have this problem using my 325 on Charnleys, but I think you're fine, especially if you are getting great edges.

Originally Posted by Utopian

In my opinion, scratches in the hone represent a negative honing surface and have no impact on the edge at all.

The cause is high diamonds in your DMT plate. Over time they will wear down and your plate will then cut more uniformly. In the mean-time, you can put a more fine piece of wet/dry sandpaper (400 to 600 or higher on top of the DMT to use it as a lapper to remove the scratches.

+1, I use the 325 too and I ignore the scratches. I've seen Randy post that he goes all the way up to 1k wet & dry sandpaper lapping his but I've never done so.

Thanks guys ...this was very informative.

I'll leave it alone and not worry. I may at some point, try what Ron suggested with the wetordry sandpaper of higher grit and see if that helps.

Take a long screwdriver or any long piece of round metal, and run it up and down the DMT a few times, use moderate pressure, that should knock up any high diamond points.. Lapping a Swaty or two will do it also...

I take out the scratches from my DMT325 by rubbing the stone with another, already lapped, hard, nonporous stone. A barber's hone works very well.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Take a long screwdriver or any long piece of round metal, and run it up and down the DMT a few times, use moderate pressure, that should knock up any high diamond points.. Lapping a Swaty or two will do it also...

Thanks Glen...I feel like I been using my DMT for awhile and it doesn't seem to have the same ""rough" surface anymore...It feels much smoother (compared to when new). Do you think high points can linger if this is the case?

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I take out the scratches from my DMT325 by rubbing the stone with another, already lapped, hard, nonporous stone. A barber's hone works very well.

Dylan,
You rub the DMT with the Barber's hone and not the Escher, right? Or do you mean rubbing teh Escher with the barber's hone (already lapped with DMT)? I don't have a barber's hone. Any other substitute without having to invest in one? I have Naniwas (I don't think these will do, will they?)

I rub the two hard hones together (so barber hone on escher - or whatever else is scratched). Though a barber's hone can also be good for breaking in a DMT.

I would not suggest using a Naniwa, because they are on the softer side.

You use some higher grit sandpaper - something in the 400-600 range would probably do it.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I rub the two hard hones together (so barber hone on escher - or whatever else is scratched). Though a barber's hone can also be good for breaking in a DMT.

I would not suggest using a Naniwa, because they are on the softer side.

You use some higher grit sandpaper - something in the 400-600 range would probably do it.

Got it...thanks Dylan for the clarification. I do have some of this finer sandpapers (they are black but say wetordry) you suggest...That is also what Ron suggested. I will give it a try tonight or tomorrow.