Thread: Atoma lapping plate

Originally Posted by Lemur

Yes I've heard that, have to get one myself and try it out.
Any info on how fast they wear when used for lapping?

I think when I first met So Yamashita who suggested these plates he had his for about 7-8 years. I'm sure he still has it as he uses it to create slurry & the more wear the better in that case but they lose their aggression after a few years or if you deliberately break them in hard. The 400 is good for faster flattening & of course there are situations when even the 140 is not enough but the 400 & 1200 are the ones I use most.

I never tried the 600. Never saw the point. Also I don't like how razors feel on them but I have a feeling maybe Jimbo has done a few bevels that way. I might be imagining that tho.

I've done a few resto hones on the 400 but not many. Actually the 400 gets used very little.

I do (nearly) all my bevel sets on the 1200. I also use the 1200 to regularly lap my Norton 4/8 and all stones of finer grit. I specifically bought it to make slurry on (and I guess lap) a very hard Jnat I have, and my understanding and experience is that they are made for that task.

If you don't do anything too silly with them they should last a long time. Besides that, you can get the versions that have a replaceable diamond sheet so that if you wear it out the expense is not so high next time.

James.

Well, that does it, I'm going for a 1200 Atoma.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Besides that, you can get the versions that have a replaceable diamond sheet so that if you wear it out the expense is not so high next time.

AFAIK that is the only way you can buy them nowadays. Someone suggested they were going to buy a 1200 plate and a replacement 400 sheet to apply to the reverse side of the 1200. Best of both worlds. I don't know if they ever went ahead with that plan.

The reason I mentioned that I was going to buy a 600 is due to one of the members I asked about the Atomas to begin with, telling me that if he had it to do over he would get the 600 instead of the 400. He said the 400 was very aggressive and left scratches in his stones that he had to work harder to remove with the 1200. IIRC he already had the 600 and it didn't scratch the stones up as much, and was aggressive enough to do the job. Anyway, $ being what they are I'm holding off for the time being. If I ever get the 6 I'll letcha all know what I think.

I also have a 1200 Atoma and love it. I use it on my King 1000, PHIG, Norton 4/8, and also use it to raise slurry on my coticile and Oozuku. Ive also used it to flatten a few barber hones and it worked awesome. Its still like the day I bought it. I find it to be slightly coarser than a DMT 325 IMO.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

AFAIK that is the only way you can buy them nowadays. Someone suggested they were going to buy a 1200 plate and a replacement 400 sheet to apply to the reverse side of the 1200. Best of both worlds. I don't know if they ever went ahead with that plan.

The reason I mentioned that I was going to buy a 600 is due to one of the members I asked about the Atomas to begin with, telling me that if he had it to do over he would get the 600 instead of the 400. He said the 400 was very aggressive and left scratches in his stones that he had to work harder to remove with the 1200. IIRC he already had the 600 and it didn't scratch the stones up as much, and was aggressive enough to do the job. Anyway, $ being what they are I'm holding off for the time being. If I ever get the 6 I'll letcha all know what I think.

That's good to hear. I ordered the 600 with that reasoning, but was starting to think I may have made a mistake. It should be here soonish so will report how it goes.

Best price I could find was here; ATOMA Diamantschleifsteine
Anyone know any cheaper place in the EU?

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

I also have a 1200 Atoma and love it. I use it on my King 1000, PHIG, Norton 4/8, and also use it to raise slurry on my coticile and Oozuku. Ive also used it to flatten a few barber hones and it worked awesome. Its still like the day I bought it. I find it to be slightly coarser than a DMT 325 IMO.

It is impossible a 1200 is coarser than a 325 but because of the pimpled surface of the Atoma you can gouge a stone with too much pressure.

Took a junker blade to the 400 just to see. Its very new but I did break it in. What a mess! Wreaks way more havoc on steel than a 325. Cuts very fast. But you will be up all day and night honing out scratches. I don't think I would use it on any razor.

Originally Posted by bill3152

Took a junker blade to the 400 just to see. Its very new but I did break it in. What a mess! Wreaks way more havoc on steel than a 325. Cuts very fast. But you will be up all day and night honing out scratches. I don't think I would use it on any razor.

Yeah that's my experience. The 1200 is a bit gentler but I don't even use DMT's on razors any more.