Thread: DMT Diamond Plate Extra Extra Fine (8K) for touch ups?

Hi everyone,

Just want to thank you all for the help and knowledge I've been gaining from this site, great stuff. I see that the DMT 325 is popular among honers for lapping hones, but is anyone using the Extra Extra Fine (8K) DMT plate for touch ups?

I'm a newb, and I've sent out all my razors to a fellow SRP member for honing, so honing isn't something I'll be getting at for a while yet. However I do have a few garbage razors that are chipped and damaged beyond repair, I wouldn't mind trying my hand at them just to get the feel and technique down etc.

I know that the Norton 4/8 is a popular recommmendation but I think I'd appreciate the low maitenance of a plate.

So, who's used it? I'm that this 8K surface would likely be far too unrefined a finish for most pros here, but I'm still a newb and just need a relatively comfortable shave.

Thanks again guys!
Padraig

Hi Padraig,

I haven't used any other than the 325 my self, and I can't reacall many, if any that have mentioned they use the DMT 8K.

There is a difference in how a diamond plate and a stone cuts the metal, and in my head I find it hard to believe that a diamond plate would be suited for razors other than for repair on the 325 and bevelsetting on the 1K for those who like that, personally I am not very fond of the feel of razors on diamond plates.

There are a few out there that uses it.
I've heard of using it as is, and with diamond spray as well, to further up the effectiveness and or fineness.
The Spyderco ultra fine seems to be another hone used in that manner.
Personally, I prefer other options though, as the DMT and Spyderco are too harsh for mmy liking.
The Norton 4/8 would, imho, be the preferred stone in your stuation, flattening it could be done quite easily with some wet and dry sandpaper on a flat surface. Cheap, effective and easily done

Maintenance on the Norton 4K/8K is a non-issue. Sandpaper in the proper grits works just fine. I have a DMT 325 and use that for lapping. Unless you are a production honer, you only have to do it every month or so, and it only takes 30 seconds to get it done.

This is what makes this place so great. Thanks for the advice guys. I'll get the norton 4/8 combo, lee valley has a nice lineup of nortons. I could also pick up a DMT 325 there for lapping.

Cheers,
PÃdraig

I do have the dmt "extra fine" and I consider it too coarse for touch ups on a straight razor. As you noted they classify it as 8k but I've read it is more comparable to a 4k waterstone in coarseness. I have used it with a couple of tough steels, S-30V and ATS34, but went on to higher grit stones to finish. For my neck a razor finished on one of those alone would be too harsh. The norton, which is my workhorse, is a better all around alternative IME.

I have 8ee but use it in honing progression beforw moving to naturals.

It not for touchups and you can not shave of it without screaming!

Buy a barbers hone for touchups!

A costeffective and small alternative that i use at work or traveling is

Dmt w4e + w4ee + a fine barber hone.

From dull to shaveready in less then 5 min
And they fit in pocket

I've used the DMT 8k for problem razors. I stumbled across the technique out of pure desperation when the Norton edge would just vanish in a puff of smoke or never appear at all.

Mind you, this is almost certainly because my technique with the Norton is lacking.

I've found some razors just will not take an edge off the Norton, but I can reliably get anything sharp off the DMT.

It's a crappy edge though. So I then go to a good-grade ChiNat. That gives me pretty good edges.

So no, I'd never use the DMT for touchups. For that I'd go with the ChiNat.