Thread: Atoma vs DMT

This has been brought up recently by Alx, sort of. I don't want to hijack his thread, but would like to get some input, especially from you Jnat guys, as this topic pertains to them, and is a bit more specific.

Which do you prefer and why. I, from time to time, in lieu of Tomonagura, or Nagura like to use slurry from my host hone or Honzon...(correct me jnat guys if I'm wrong) There is conflicting information on this on the web.

I think there's benefit from using slurry created by the stone itself during the final phases of sharpening. Using a softer tomonagura to me is basically using it as the cutting medium, or a big part of it. If the slurry stone is softer, you'll use it, if the host hone is softer, you use that...basically.

Anyway, DMT makes a 1200 mesh, and Atoma has 1200 too, or 1.2 I think. Why is Atoma preferred over DMT?
What's the diff? and what if you have a well worn DMT325, does that make a difference. Thoughts....?

There will be conflicting information on almost any process associated with straight razors. It is all subjective. Personally I prefer the Atoma to raise a slurry on my Japanese natural hones. And at the risk of raising the ire of Belgian hone lovers I
have used my Atoma on that stone as well. I cannot tell you exactly why I do use the Atoma, especially on my Japanese hones, but it works very well for me if I want a slurry. I frequently use my natural stones with no slurry at all if I am touching up or coming off a 8k or 12k naniwa. I lap my Naniwa's with my DMT.
I know this is not much in the way of answering your inquiry but it is what it is.

Thanks. Your right. I'm trying to figure out why the Atoma is preferred over the DMT when it comes to raising a slurry on Jnats. Is it somehow superior in cunstruction, or ease of use, or is it simply a matter of personal preference.

is atoma a japanese brand?

In fact I think Atoma is the model. The maker is Tsuboman, according to my packaging. But yes, they are a Japanese company as far as I know.

I was first recommended the 1200 grit for Jnat finishers by So Yamashita, to help make slurry with the very hard stones. He told me at the time that he had tried a few diamond plates (not sure if DMTs were among them or not) and had found that the Atomas were, in his opinion, the best quality he had found for that price range. I just trusted his word, knowing next to nothing about any of it at the time (which hasn't really changed much since either) and I really have not regretted the decision.

However, I think that the decision is a personal one. I've found the Atomas to be excellent, but I have read others don't like them. In the end I think they are just another brand of diamond plate.

James.

That’s exactly the same experience I’ve had James. The Atoma’s a little costly compared to the DMT. IMO The best feature of using a dimpled plate is to break the surface tension of the slurry and not stick to the stone. Plus you get the benefit of a flattening effect while raising the slurry.
MIke

Originally Posted by lz6

There will be conflicting information on almost any process associated with straight razors. It is all subjective. Personally I prefer the Atoma to raise a slurry on my Japanese natural hones. And at the risk of raising the ire of Belgian hone lovers I
have used my Atoma on that stone as well. I cannot tell you exactly why I do use the Atoma, especially on my Japanese hones, but it works very well for me if I want a slurry. I frequently use my natural stones with no slurry at all if I am touching up or coming off a 8k or 12k naniwa. I lap my Naniwa's with my DMT.
I know this is not much in the way of answering your inquiry but it is what it is.

Iz6
As you say with "the risk of raising the ire" of Arkansas lovers, I have used an Atoma to make a slurry on the Ark's, and they just spring alive with sharpening powers. The sheer mass of the 1 1/4 pound machine milled aluminum base plate aids in heavy stone lapping. I like the 600grit because is mellows out in the 1000 range for lapping finishing stones.

So Yamashita was the first to clue me in to the Atoma somewhere back about 2005-6 on the woodworking forums. So-san is probably the most knowledgeable person in regards to japanese naturals who speaks english. I have detected whispers and fumes of his father, a man who travels in high realms. Alx

DMT vs. Atoma Diamond Plates For the Edge Pro – A Microscopic Comparison « Jende Industries Blog Here is a link about comparing them, not about raising slurry but for honing. I found this link on a post here on SRP, they do have a few differences, but basically, Atoma abrades slower than DMT, it is faster and with a more consistent scratch pattern. That's what the article says anyway, I don't have experience with the atoma but I have seen a few.

I was interested in one a few years ago. I guess I saw So's article on his site. A + 1 on So being the most knowledgeable on j-nats etcetera. Anyway, at the time I was looking at them they were a lot more expensive than a dmt and when I found out they had a removable top and an aluminum base that turned me off. At least that is what I seem to remember from back then. I prefer generating slurry with the same type rock as the hone to doing it with a diamond plate. I once read that you can end up with residue from the plate .... i.e. diamond in the slurry. I don't know if that is accurate but coticule slurry stones for coticules, eschers for eschers is working for me.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I once read that you can end up with residue from the plate .... i.e. diamond in the slurry.

It happened to me once. And I was polishing a sword... I was using a 6k stone, made slurry with a new 200 grit diamond plate. The result was, a mirrored surface with 3 big 200 grit scratches on the surface. I heard the sound of the bigger diamond particles and then I stopped, but obviously, it was too late. I still have them. Decorating the sword