Thread: Honing/lapping use a DMT325 or an Atoma 400

I bought a Gokumyo 20k, and when out of the box needed a good lapping. I put a DMT325 on it to tidy it up, but scratched it too much IMHO.I mellowed the DMT by doing knives on it to knock the top off the plate. I was honing the Gokumyo 20k and really didn't want to stuff it up. So I bought an Atoma 400.

Can anyone add light to the problems I have outlined? I do firmly believe the Gok 20 should be grid lapped well prior to use. It may take longer than a few figure 8's.

Also, what process if any does the ATOMA 400 require (It's yet to arrive)

Cheers Bob

Originally Posted by bobski

I bought a Gokumyo 20k, and when out of the box needed a good lapping. I put a DMT325 on it to tidy it up, but scratched it too much IMHO.I mellowed the DMT by doing knives on it to knock the top off the plate. I was honing the Gokumyo 20k and really didn't want to stuff it up. So I bought an Atoma 400.

Can anyone add light to the problems I have outlined? I do firmly believe the Gok 20 should be grid lapped well prior to use. It may take longer than a few figure 8's.

Also, what process if any does the ATOMA 400 require (It's yet to arrive)

Cheers Bob

Flatten your 20k with the Atoma & it will be broken in when you finish. If you're worried by the appearance of scratches I think a worn dmt gives a smoother looking finish.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Flatten your 20k with the Atoma & it will be broken in when you finish. If you're worried by the appearance of scratches I think a worn dmt gives a smoother looking finish.

Thanks Oz,

I do believe your right about the well worn dmt. I like the surface of what is a $300 stone to look flat and mirror like. When I first used the new DMT325 prior to 'mellowing' I was annoyed, but following good advice got things clicking. Bear in mind the atoma 400 is yet to arrive, I'll be leaving the stones alone for a week or so.

Once again Oz, thankyou, sir.

Regards Bob

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Flatten your 20k with the Atoma & it will be broken in when you finish. If you're worried by the appearance of scratches I think a worn dmt gives a smoother looking finish.

I also concur, not about the Atoma or the 20k because I have no clue / experience but about the worn dmt giving a nice finish. I have a DMT DIA-FLAT Lapping Plate and it leaves the surface of my hones with a distinct feeling. I can use my DMT C to make it smoother but I don't feel the need to as I like the feeling it leaves. Let's me read the feedback easier I find. None of my synthetics break 8k though. I'm sure if I had a 20k I would be using the worn dmt to make the surface ultimately smooth.

I find that my DMT 325 or whatever it is leaves scratches in harder stones. Those scratches can be worked out by rubbing the scratched hone with some other hone. A barber hone is great for this purpose. You could also use wet/dry sandpaper, the slurry the diamond hone generated, lapping grit, any other hone, etc.

I haven't had the 400, but I've got the Atoma 1200, and the DMT 325. The Atoma eats through everything like Grant took Richmond. You can buy 3 DMT 325s for the price of one Atoma, but if it lasts it will be worth every penny.

I suspect the 400 will be similar to the 325, since the grits are so close. The 1200 leaves some scratches too. Nothing I worry about. Before I had the 1200 all I ever used was a 325 and the hones got flat, the razors got sharp.

I really don’t think it matters, if you finish on a stone or stones or just use the lapping/cleaning 1/3K stone supplied. It is a very hard stone.
I lapped mine on a worn,140 plate to flat, had a small dip in the middle so remove a bit of the face, then finished with, 300, 600 and 1200 plates, it progressed quickly, not many laps at all, once flat.

Then I smoothed the face with the 1&3k supplied stone.

I use a small translucent to clean and refresh the face, with good results.

All probably over-kill... but then... so is buying one...

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I haven't had the 400, but I've got the Atoma 1200, and the DMT 325. The Atoma eats through everything like Grant took Richmond. You can buy 3 DMT 325s for the price of one Atoma, but if it lasts it will be worth every penny.

I suspect the 400 will be similar to the 325, since the grits are so close. The 1200 leaves some scratches too. Nothing I worry about. Before I had the 1200 all I ever used was a 325 and the hones got flat, the razors got sharp.

I believe I read one of your posts you posted a couple years back when you said that you knew a honemeister that preferred the feel of a DMT XXC for lapping his stones. It might have been you that posted it. Anyways I have always been curious as to the finish of the hone and if it would effect the edge.

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

I believe I read one of your posts you posted a couple years back when you said that you knew a honemeister that preferred the feel of a DMT XXC for lapping his stones. It might have been you that posted it. Anyways I have always been curious as to the finish of the hone and if it would effect the edge.

IIRC I may have posted that a couple of guys recommended the XX for lapping harder stones, such as barber hones. I bought one, and it damn sure will cut through anything in its path, but it leaves a rough finish. I used to use it to do the 'heavy work' and follow up with a 325. I don't use it at all now.

The post you are referring to might be in relation to a honer I know who preferred the older Norton lapping plates which left a rougher finish than the later Nortons. He has since moved on to diamond plates AFAIK.

Some honemieisters I know prefer to lap their hones up to 1k, even 2k. They feel it is advantageous to do so. Other honemeisters I know find 325 good enough. Until I got the Atoma 1200 I was a 325 man. Mostly because I'm too lazy to bother with sand paper and there was no diamond plate alternative until the Atoma. I mainly use the Atoma because it is so efficient, not because of the 1200 grit. The 325 was always okay for me, just that the 325 plates are too slow compared to the Atoma.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

IIRC I may have posted that a couple of guys recommended the XX for lapping harder stones, such as barber hones. I bought one, and it damn sure will cut through anything in its path, but it leaves a rough finish. I used to use it to do the 'heavy work' and follow up with a 325. I don't use it at all now.

The post you are referring to might be in relation to a honer I know who preferred the older Norton lapping plates which left a rougher finish than the later Nortons. He has since moved on to diamond plates AFAIK.

Some honemieisters I know prefer to lap their hones up to 1k, even 2k. They feel it is advantageous to do so. Other honemeisters I know find 325 good enough. Until I got the Atoma 1200 I was a 325 man. Mostly because I'm too lazy to bother with sand paper and there was no diamond plate alternative until the Atoma. I mainly use the Atoma because it is so efficient, not because of the 1200 grit. The 325 was always okay for me, just that the 325 plates are too slow compared to the Atoma.

I'm going to go on a hunt for that post Does it really even matter what your hones are lapped to grit wise as long as they are flat and consistent?