Thread: DMT 325 to set a bevel?

Gentlemen, to me it seems like a bad idea but I am curious if anyone has had any success in doing this? I use my DMT to lap my norton but was thinking about using it instead of buying a 200/1000k to save some cash but I have never heard of anyone using this as a sharpening stone for a straight razor. I have a few razors that are too far gone to get anywhere on the 4/8k. Any thoughts? Please chime in before I get too curious and go destroy an edge or something.

With how fast my DMT 600 removes metal, i would be afraid for anything other than major restoration work.

You can get a King 1k pretty cheap at woodcraft. I have been using one lately, building a slurry on top initially then just water to clean up the edge and it works pretty well.

Originally Posted by cessnabird

Gentlemen, to me it seems like a bad idea but I am curious if anyone has had any success in doing this? I use my DMT to lap my norton but was thinking about using it instead of buying a 200/1000k to save some cash but I have never heard of anyone using this as a sharpening stone for a straight razor. I have a few razors that are too far gone to get anywhere on the 4/8k. Any thoughts? Please chime in before I get too curious and go destroy an edge or something.

INSTEAD of the 1k?
No.
The 325 plate, can be used to remove chips, but it produces scratches that are too deep to be readily removed by the 4k. In my opinion, a 325 plate, especially a worn 325 plate, can be use before a 1k, but not instead of a 1k.

Yeah, 325s are for repair work. I really wouldn't want to even go to a 1k after a DMT 325 without something in between like a 600.

If you get a 600/1200 to go along with your 325 you should be pretty much set to handle anything ebay throws at you.

The six inch DMT 1200's are not very expensive. The king is another option. Shaptons aren't too expensive either (30 bucks?)

Here's a DMT extra fine at the best price I could find: 6 in. Dia-Sharp Diamond, Extra-Fine - DMT

EDIT: That's special order only. Still, you could probably find one in that price range. Or get a Shapton for only a little more. I have the Shapton and it's been working reliably for me.

Originally Posted by Pete_S

Yeah, 325s are for repair work. I really wouldn't want to even go to a 1k after a DMT 325 without something in between like a 600.

If you get a 600/1200 to go along with your 325 you should be pretty much set to handle anything ebay throws at you.

I respectfully disagree with this. I've made this jump many times without any difficulty at all. After all, you can remove chips, albeit slowly, with the 1k. Removing the scratch pattern from a 325 grit plate is certainly within the capacity of the 1k.

I dropped the whole 1k ladder up to a finishing hone. The truth is the bevel on razors is so small that I just go dmt C to japanese natural with slurry and get the same results as a multi step ladder. If you don't believe me try it.

Originally Posted by Memorael

I dropped the whole 1k ladder up to a finishing hone. The truth is the bevel on razors is so small that I just go dmt C to japanese natural with slurry and get the same results as a multi step ladder. If you don't believe me try it.

Yup, you CAN do it. You could also hone on only a PHIG (you're welcome, Ron :-) ) and get an ebay special shave ready. It's all a question of how long it will take compared to a progressive method. Though I will say that, in my experience, the width of the bevel doesn't really matter with respect to how long it takes to hone a razor. Once the bevel is set on any razor, they all need pretty much the same thing (except the final tweaking, if you play with that).

IIRC doesn't Robert Williams use a DMT 325 often for bevel setting?

If you are making customs, I would have to imagine you do some serious honing to form the pre-bevel. I still wouldn't call it bevel setting, though. To me, the bevel is what you create on the 1k or it's equivelant.