Thread: DMT 8000 - how is it ?

Hello
Did any one here had some experience with these stone?
How is it?
On the paper it seem to be very good, I mean it is the most flat stone out there, much more then the Norton and cut faster (Much faster)
So
Is it a good stone to have?
How will you compare it with other stones like Norton 4000/8000 ?
Tank you

This hone is a very new offering from DMT. I have seen it only sold at one online shop, and the proprietor (Howard) is the only person that I know who has had any use or done any experimentation with it.

I agree that, on paper at least, this would be a great asset for honemeisters and straight razors. I think it would be great for some of those harder German razors.

Originally Posted by xChris

This hone is a very new offering from DMT. I have seen it only sold at one online shop, and the proprietor (Howard) is the only person that I know who has had any use or done any experimentation with it.

I agree that, on paper at least, this would be a great asset for honemeisters and straight razors. I think it would be great for some of those harder German razors.

Yep I was talking about the one Howard is selling
What do you think of it?

I went to www.theperfectedge.com and read up on these diamond stones. At the very bottom of the page it states that they can be used to sharpen anything except straight razors. It also states they work great as a flattening stone for various waterstones. Not sure if Howard tried honing a straight to find out. Just my $.02.
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Del

Originally Posted by kimbal

I went to www.theperfectedge.com and read up on these diamond stones. At the very bottom of the page it states that they can be used to sharpen anything except straight razors. It also states they work great as a flattening stone for various waterstones. Not sure if Howard tried honing a straight to find out. Just my $.02.
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Del

Yep but the writing is kind of old, I think it was BEFORE the age of 8000 grit DMT

I have talked with him on the mail and he told me you can sharpen a straight with it, I just wonder how fast,good or pholish will the edge be

I use the coarse version of this stone to lap my Norton and Shaton stones and to cut a bevel on a razor in tought shape. Works great. Haven't tried the 8000 yet though - John

Originally Posted by EAD

Yep I was talking about the one Howard is selling
What do you think of it?

I have no experience with it myself, so I can't comment further on it.

Looks like your up to be the guinea pig!

I have one and like it quite a bit. Unfortunately I haven't replaced my Norton yet so I can't make a fair comparison. It cuts fairly quick, however.
John P.

I bought a case of these from DMT as I go there to pick up my stones when I place an order. I spoke with their Director of R&D who took me to his honing bench and showed me how it works. First, he recommends a breaking in period using a solution of 5 drops of Dawn dishwashing soap in 4 oz. of water. The breaking in is done with a piece of steel and he recommended the back of an old wood chisel. As I have a number of those I chose one and quickly understood why. Using the handle, it's easy to push and pull the back of the chisel across the stone. If you don't have a chisel, just use a piece of steel. I buy my used chisels at yard sales usually for a quarter or 50 cents. The breaking in period takes about 10 minutes and you'll notice a black swarf coming off of the stone. Remember to feel the surface of the stone before you start, during the breaking in, and at the end. You can hear and feel when the stone is ready. You'll also see that the back of the chisel is shiny which usually takes a few different steps to attain when one is polishing steel. That really caught my attention! What I like about it is that it's fast, it yields a nice polish, a sharp razor, and you don't have to flatten the stone... ever. The 8000 grit diamond stone is truly a breakthrough in technology from the geniuses at DMT as the diamond dust is about the same weight as the dust in the air so getting it to stick to the steel evenly and stay put while they electroplate a setting around each diamond is quite a feat.

I like the stone and am using it on more on more edges of different types as I get to know it. Will I stop using my coticule? No. I still feel it does a better job with my razor as judged by the shave. Is it better than a Norton 4k/8k. Yes, I believe it is but at $85 vs. $62 there's quite a price differential. Would I give up my DMT 8EE? Hell no! It's an awesome stone.

Now, that's for me. I love to sharpen stuff. I don't see owning one stone vs. another but instead populating my honing bench with a lot of stones all of whom have their own particular quirks, traits, and uses. The other thing to mention is that as I've watched the hone market over the years, I notice that companies don't always keep certain hones in their line. 3M does this and their extra extra coarse diamond hone is no longer available. Pity, as it was a good stone. For about 6 months in 2005, no one was selling an extra extra coarse diamond hone. You couldn't get one. Finally, DMT came up with one and I bought a case so I could have one and so my honing customers could get their hands on one. It's a real beauty for establishing or re-establishing angle geometry.

The 8k is fine for dull razors. It is Very aggressive. Follow with a cuticle or 16k shapton.