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.