Thread: DMT D8C mileage?

Just ordered a DMT D8C to lap with. Just read in another thread that barber's hones will cause them to wear excessively fast? Just wondering how long I can expect it to last if I'm just lapping waterstones, and occasional barber's hone for regular use, not professional? If you had to replace the DMT very often, the sandpaper/granite would be the way to go.

I have had my DMT 8C for over a year. I have lapped everything with it from barber hones to carborundum. She is still running strong. There is some wear, but I lap a lot of stones. I just bought a new 8C about 2 weeks ago, only to dedicate to my Shapton 16000 & Norton 8000 only. I had a little extra to spend. My older 8C still works great.

Unless you are planning on buying lots and lots of barber hones, I cannot imagine you having to lap a barber hone more than once.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Unless you are planning on buying lots and lots of barber hones, I cannot imagine you having to lap a barber hone more than once.

True.
I due lap an old Swaty quite often, but I only use it for my hunting, camping knives, my axes.
It actually polishes quite well, but collects metal fast.
The few barbers that I have refreshed razors with, I just wash them off.

This is one I can't answer, accurately I haven't found the end yet...


A Whole Lot

The DMT should last fine. If you're worried about it, use a lubricant (like lather) when you lap the barber hone, and lighten the pressure a little.

The thing that eats DMTS is aggressive coarse stones, silicon carbide and such (presumably because they work over the plating that's holding the diamonds).

Make sure if you get one, you don't confuse slower cutting after it settles in with being worn out.

I've gone thru my first, and replaced that with a new one.
It holds up very well, just don't try to flatten the backside of too many ultra hard Japanese Naturals...

I have had my DMT8C for a few months and I have lapped alot of stones. I find many stones at flea markets, antique malls, and auctions that have been WELL loved over the years and it is much more than just a simple lapping. My DMT is still going strong. Yes it has slowed down since new but it leaves a much smoother surface than when it was new. When I lap a vintage stone I usually lap it flat with my DMT and then smooth it out my big BBW and its ready to go. You lap a few barbers hones on it and it should be broken I nicely.

Thanks for the info guys. Sounds like I won't have to worry about it for awhile.

Haven't lapped any barber hones, but have lapped all manner of naturals & synthetics w/ mine (and used it for resto work) & it's nowhere near worn out. Had it for damn near 3 years (& lapped a few hard Jnats) & it's still going strong, but again no barber hones were harmed... I imagine for routine use, you'd be fine for some years, but again, I've never lapped barber hones w/ mine, so I couldn't say for sure.

For smoothing the surface, you'd probably want to go finer & for that sandpaper on glass would probably be the cheapest way to go, but for routine lapping of regular hones, you'd actually save money w/ the DMT compared to sandpaper (it adds up over time).