Thread: DMT progression for bevel set

I need to get a bevel set on a new razor. Instead of soaking the Nortons, I want to use my DMTs to get there quickly. Fine, extra-fine, and extra-extra fine and then moving to my normal BBW - Coticule - 16K Shapton glass finishing routine.

Are the DMT scratches going to be easy enough to clean up? Never used the XXF on a razor.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Personally I have a four sided Diamond hone from harbor freight 200-600 grit. I use it to set bevels then proceed to a 6000 grit water stone. Scratches quickly are removed.

The problem with the DMT plates is that the diamonds are of extremely varying heights. This results in a lot of deep scratches so you will have to be prepared to deal with them.

Wait a minute...isn't the XXF like an 8000 grit diamond plate? Wouldn't shifting from that to a BBW be a step back? Sounds to me like the route you want to take extends the time it would take to hone, rather than saving you anything skipping the Nortons. I only soak mine for 10 to 15 minutes.

There are tons of Micro-Pics of exactly what the issue is with using deep cutting diamonds etc: on razor and the micro-chipping it leads to... All you have to do is to search it out

The real trick to a Comfortable long lasting edge is to cut the steel as shallow as possible, the "Stria" should be fine and shallow..

They are however your razors and your face so it is your choice, but the ill effects are well documented...

I have to agree with Marshall the even 30 minutes to soak the Nortons is well worth the time

Originally Posted by gssixgun

There are tons of Micro-Pics of exactly what the issue is with using deep cutting diamonds etc: on razor and the micro-chipping it leads to... All you have to do is to search it out

The real trick to a Comfortable long lasting edge is to cut the steel as shallow as possible, the "Stria" should be fine and shallow..

They are however your razors and your face so it is your choice, but the ill effects are well documented...

I have to agree with Marshall the even 30 minutes to soak the Nortons is well worth the time

Originally Posted by Marshal

Wait a minute...isn't the XXF like an 8000 grit diamond plate? Wouldn't shifting from that to a BBW be a step back? Sounds to me like the route you want to take extends the time it would take to hone, rather than saving you anything skipping the Nortons. I only soak mine for 10 to 15 minutes.

You guys are right. Shortcuts are seldom as good as they sound. Was hoping someone else had tried and I didn't have to be the guinea pig and end up doing twice the work to remove the scratches. That XXF is really tempting though...

Well .50um /30k Diamond paste is usually too harsh for most folks and needs to be “finished” with Chrome, Ferrous Oxide or CBN. So if 30K diamonds are harsh…

But if you have an 8K, diamond plate, try it… worst that could happen is you have to re-set the bevel on a 4k.

So put the Norton in water now, you will probably need them…

The dmt EEF is a pretty sweet hone if you can get down with the feel of it. Works well and only needs an 8k or similar to finish the edge. If using a diamond plate to set the bevel which I use when I've got a lot of steel to remove then I make sure to kill the edge and reset the bevel on a more gentle hone. Sometimes I have to reset it a couple times or that microchipping Glen mentioned persists to the finish leaving an uncomfortable shave to say the least.