Thread: DMT 325 and the Atoma 400

The 1200 Atoma will lap down to 800 grit waterstones IME. I can't tell you how long for because I mostly use the 400 below 4-5k.
I only did that a few months till I bought the 400 but no great diamond loss was obvious. I would imagine it's life would be shortened but not nearly as quick as a DMT.

I still feel that I'm missing something, I'm guessing studying for my accounting finals is finally taking its toll. On the website, it says the 400 is good for truing water stones and lapping, while the 1200 is good for fine lapping. If I'm reading all of this right, would the Atoma 400 be used on say, a Norton 1k/4k/8k and the Atoma 1200 be used on a higher grit stone such as a Naniwa 12k?

Sorry if my questions seem repetitive, my brain is starting to feel mushy and even clear and concise answers are taking work to process

That's ok. Know the feeling. See if this helps. It's just my usage I'm describing.

Stones 4k & below =400 Atoma
Stones 4k & finer =1200 Atoma

Gosh that is so much better, thank you. I have the same question for the DMT 325 - can that be used on the Norton 1k/4k/8k and Naniwa 12k? I think it's time to go horizontal and count some zeds Z_Z

Thanks for the help.

Originally Posted by Jonah

I guess my main question would be if I only had to get one lapping stone (if possible) whether a DMT or Atoma, which would be the best case?

i don't know what to tell you. Guys who have the atoma swear by them but you can by 3 D8Cs for the price of the one atoma 1200. You pays your money and you takes your chances.

I have the Atoma 400, Atoma 1200 and the DMT325 and all I can tell you is that all three work very well, I would not use the Atoma 400 for my Shapton 16k, but I would use the well worn DMT on it, just fine. I find that it finish better with the smoother surface of the Atoma 1200 or the well used DMT 325, even better than those two, use a turi to raise a sluty on it. However, if I only could use one, that would be the Atoma 1200. It is truer than the DMT and faster, and it can be used on the 1k up to the 16k. The thing is that the 400 is ultra fast and would be saving my Atoma 1200 for longer use.

If I was on a budget, I would buy the Atoma 1200, then lap new stones using sand paper on the back of the Atoma plate (it's pretty true), then use the Atoma 1200 for all your other needs (re-lapping (keeping the surface true), refreshing a surface, raising slury...). Hope this help. Double O

I have gone through 4 DMT 325 plates and I have a DMT 220. I am trying to make a decision on an ATOMA but not sure if I need a 400 or a 1200. Dmt 325s wear out fast as I see it. Not happy about that. I guess I will try an ATOMA 400 if they reportedly last 3 times longer than the DMT.. I will use the 400 and if I don't like the surface, I will smooth it out with a worn down Dmt325.

Bottom line is - if you wanna play, you gotta pay.

Originally Posted by mrsell63

I have gone through 4 DMT 325 plates and I have a DMT 220. I am trying to make a decision on an ATOMA but not sure if I need a 400 or a 1200. Dmt 325s wear out fast as I see it. Not happy about that. I guess I will try an ATOMA 400 if they reportedly last 3 times longer than the DMT.. I will use the 400 and if I don't like the surface, I will smooth it out with a worn down Dmt325.

Bottom line is - if you wanna play, you gotta pay.

Jerry there's no question in my mind, a worn down DMT C will leave a finer finish than the 400 Atoma but you will see the Atoma shines in other areas.

If the atoma 400 is that rough, it sounds like the DMTXX 120. It will cut through a waterstone a whole lot faster than a 325 but leaves deeper scratches. Following the 120, if I use it, I hit it with the 325 to get rid of those. Why a 1200 if what I have is flattening my stones ? Well I have known a few guys who used 1k sandpaper to get a finer finish on their stones but I'd never tried it.

Finally a friend of mine who is a very experienced and busy honer told me that he went for the 1200 after staying at 325 all these years, and there was a tangible improvement in the results of his honing. Pushing the envelope a bit further. I see a atoma 1200 in my future.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If the atoma 400 is that rough, it sounds like the DMTXX 120. It will cut through a waterstone a whole lot faster than a 325 but leaves deeper scratches. Following the 120, if I use it, I hit it with the 325 to get rid of those. Why a 1200 if what I have is flattening my stones ? Well I have known a few guys who used 1k sandpaper to get a finer finish on their stones but I'd never tried it.

Finally a friend of mine who is a very experienced and busy honer told me that he went for the 1200 after staying at 325 all these years, and there was a tangible improvement in the results of his honing. Pushing the envelope a bit further. I see a atoma 1200 in my future.

It's not that rough Jimmy. Just that a worn DMT C leaves a very glassy surface. Remember all Atoma have that pimpled surface so any pressure results in a deep cut ie scratches but it's not like you can feel them or they affect honing.
The Atoma 140 is a killa dilla for recalcitrant waterstones .
The main advantages of the Atoma is that they are consistently flat with an even diamond coat, don't stick to the stone you're lapping & last for years. The surface is also replaceable but I'm yet to do that.
The disadvantage is, they ain't cheap.