Thread: Lapping plates

Lately I have been having a little trouble with the DMT325 lapping plate. I got it last year around August or Sept. I don't hone for anyone but me and I haven't honed that many razors. I did how ever use it to flatten a barbers hone that had a chip out of the edge. the chip was about 20K deep. when I use the plate I keep it under running water. could the plate be warn out this quick. anyone else have this problem.

Methinks Arkansas rocks are hardest on DMT's. I've flattened a couple of those and also a few barber hones. My 6" and 8" DMT's are still operating fine.

What is your specific issue?

When I first got the DMT plate when I lapped the honing stones you could feel the draw from the movemet. now there is almost no notable draw at all and the razors just don't feel right or as they did when I hone, I haven't change the way I hone I still use lynns circle method as he show on his video. that's what has me thinking about the lapping plate.

save your plates guy, use wet dry for the grunt work. I have dmts and atomas and only use those for slurries or touchups Diamonds last forever but with some hard stones the dmt diamonds just wash right down the drain,

+1. The DMT people specifically say NOT to use the 325 or 220 to lap stones. They make a 140 grit plate specially designed for lapping. That said, many here use the 325 to lap, more use the 220 and most of us have managed to knock off some (or most) of the diamonds in the process. We are a hard headed group.

rs,
Tack

I guess your right I must be hard headed. just won a Henckel and a Bengal of the bay. I was trying to reduce my collection but got caught up in moment and bid. who new.

Bill what grit wet dry paper do you use when lapping your finisher hones?

And here I just bought a DMT 325 specifically for lapping.............I was super pleased with how quickly I could get a hone flat. For the first time I've actually had my blades suction to the hones! Up till last week I used sandpaper and a Norton lapping stone. I would think if I hit the hones with the DMT for a couple of swipes before each use it wouldn't wear it out...
Now I'm hearing different?

I start all my stones the first time at 60 grit, then 100, 180, 320, 600 and finishers I use 1200 atoma and a bbw side of my Coti bbw combo. The 60 grit really saves my backside as it cuts fast and gets it flat fast, its easier taking out scratches then it is trying to lap a hard stone starting with 320. JMHO.

Originally Posted by Trimmy72

..
I would think if I hit the hones with the DMT for a couple of swipes before each use it wouldn't wear it out...
Now I'm hearing different?

That's what we use our almost worn out DMTs to do - double check the flatness, clean the stone, and make a bit of slurry.

rs,
Tack

Bill- I have switched to the mesh "sandpaper" used to sand drywall mud. The 80 grit is faster and lasts much, much longer than the same grit sandpaper I used to use. I don't have a package handy to check the actual name but the hardware store guy will know. Mine is even made by Norton.