Thread: DMT Dia-sharp Extra Extra Fine 8000 Mesh 3 Micron

I just received the Dia-Sharp 8000 mesh diamond whetstone. I cannot feel any grit whatsoever on this stone. I have a Norton 8000 and a Shapton 16000, which I realize are not diamond stones, but can feel the metal being removed on a blade. I don't know if the stone I have is defective? I looked at both sides under 100 magnification and see no signs of diamonds on either side, just scratched up nickel.

Use the edge or bottom of a Clear Glass drinking glass and rub it lightly on the DMT the Diamonds will cut the Glass and you can see that and feel that ...

the 1200 mesh feels that way too but it does work

Well I'll be damned! Don't you get tired of being good at everything Glen?
Kidding aside, that is a neat trick to really show the scratch pattern.

I'm curious to hear how you like the edge off that hone.

You'll also note water turning black quite quickly when you hone on it. It's a fast and aggressive cutter for it's grit rating, which is actually why I didn't like mine.

Also, note that the back is shiny but the front is not. Should the front ever grow shiny, it'll mean you've worn the diamonds/substrate off the plate.

That shiny look brings up another point. I have noticed a very hazy appearance on my DMT diamond hones when I use them to lap my Norton and Shapton water stones. I always wonder if there is a limit to what you can lap with the diamond stones.

I'm no expert on definitions of grit and mesh, and I realize that there are different classification systems even for "grit".

That said, the DMT 8000 leaves a much coarser edge than the Norton 8000.

Additionally, I hear much talk of wearing diamonds off these plates over time. This confuses me a bit. Perhaps lapping will do this, but normal honing and sharpening should not.

I have DMT hones that are 25 years old and the still grind as good as they did 25 years ago. A person should NOT use pressure with DMTs, let the diamonds do the work. I have heard numerous stories of guys using lots of force to grind faster...they knock the diamonds off in a hurry.

All that said, I don't use them at all for my razors...the edges are just too harsh for my preference.

I've got a Dia Sharp fine/extra fine that I use mostly for knives, but it's handy for razors that I've had to work a chip out of or de-frowned. I never felt the desire to shave off of it, though, the edge feels harsh and not shave-ready.