Thread: Atoma lapping plate

Got my atoma 400 today. Broke it in on some angle iron and went to work on my phig first to break it in some more, then my j nats.Cuts incredibly fast. Hit my suehiros and choseras. Very fast. My question is is the 1200 useable to lap as well as the 400 grit would leave the edge too rough maybe? i have dmts and the 1200 just kind of gets stuck on the j nats and phig.would the atoma do the same? My jnats i will work with the naguras and tomo to resurface but the 1200 i think might be my next purchase depending on what you guys tellme. Thanks.

I'd go for the tomo, a fine plate like 1200 can be damaged fast from lapping, but it's your plate, try it if you like.
... and always use water, water, plenty of running water!

I only bought the Atoma 1200 for lapping after I was assured by some people, whose experience/opinion I respect, that it was fine for lapping waterstones. It is not the same construction as the DMTs. With DMT anything over 325 is not recommended for lapping.

How would you think it would do with a hard jnat or phig? If I can get these nicely resurface th$100 might be worth it. And any use on steel(chips). Maybe a bonus.

I used the A-1200 on my Choseras, 3,5,10 and the 20k gokumyo with no problem. Went through them like Grant took Richmond. I'm not inclined to try the 1200 on razors as I think it is too much of a good thing for that, but I could be wrong. I was wrong once before.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I only bought the Atoma 1200 for lapping after I was assured by some people, whose experience/opinion I respect, that it was fine for lapping waterstones. It is not the same construction as the DMTs. With DMT anything over 325 is not recommended for lapping.

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?

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 don't know. I intend to get a 600 and do the preliminary lapping with that. Finish lapping with the 1200. Right now I'm using the DMT or GDLP 325 for the preliminary . They are slow as molasses on a fall morning but that may be because they are worn. The 1200 cuts through waterstones very fast at this stage of the game. Some of the members who've had their's longer may see this thread and let us know more.

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.

I have both the 400 and 1200 but mostly use the 1200. I don't usually let my stones wear so bad that it takes the 400 to level them off. The 400 is great for a new stone that needs lapping and for lapping the 1k after an extended bevel setting session. Both the 400 and 1200 ATOMA plates are worth the money.