Thread: DMT325 -- ok for knife sharpening too?

I'm getting a finishing stone and a DMT325 to flatten it. The DMT is advertised to "never dish or hollow", or somesuch. So I was thinking of maybe also trying it out on renewing the edge of some dull kitchen knives.

Is this a reasonable thing to try? Razor is the first priority in this arrangement. Don't want to do anything that would ultimately impair it.

Will be fine.I sharpen all my carbide lathe bits on my DMT 325.just scrub it off with comet and a sponge.

what kind of knife?
I'd not go under 1k on a EDC, and 6k on a kitchen knife.

I also use my D8c for knives. I've changed the bevel angle on a few knives without any problem.

I am finishing my kitchen knives on 1K shapton. They are cheaper Henkels knives, and the 1k edge seems fine.

Michael

Unless you need to remove some steel other than sharpening, the other guys are right here...you won't need to go that low. A good 600-800 bevel set, and a 1k or 2k should be plenty; unless you go with the high carbon japanese customs, then I wouldnt go beyond a
6k to be honest.

My fairly well worn d8c keeps my cheap kitchen knives cutting well, will get rid of small chips & breath a little life into old knives. For most kitchen tasks I find the d8c finish adequate, in saying that most of the time I don't reach for adequate but instead reach for something polished to the same level as my razors.

Thanks folks.

Fair to say that a truly dull kitchen knife will at least be better after some attention with the 325? Might try out a couple and then get a finer plate or two for finishing if I start leaning towards addiction.

If you have a lower end knife and don't mind a toothy edge then I think finishing at 325 is okay.

I would use something finer for routine maintenance though.



Michael

It is OK for rouging out a bevel after serious abuse, but for a working edge I would go a bit higher. For western and cheap knives I would go with about 500-600 grit, and about 1k for good folders, hunter knives and J-knives. Thats about the minimum imo, but a nicely broken in 325DMT can leave a usable adge, but a bit too rough for my tastes. It bites like crazy, so if you like that, than it could be enough for you. Try it, and you will see if its good for you or not.

I treat most of my knives like razors actually.. I strop them if I've been doing a lot of cutting for example. It makes them last a great deal longer between sharpens. Other than that there is some serious knowledge in this thread. Thanks have been liberally distributed
I mostly lean on the end of proinsias - I wouldnt use it unless I need to remove chips or anything requiring removing a lot of metal
One more thought.. depends on what blade you are using. I would totally use my 325 on a hatchet or a lawnmower blade, because I need a work edge. If your knife was some workhorse like a Becker, I could see that being an option. For fine cutting though stick above 1k