Thread: Did I Wreck My DMT 320?

Well, I THOUGHT I had it right: My relatively soft, 220 grit Japanese water stone need some lapping, and my lizard brain hissed, "Diamond is MUCH harder than anything else, so you can use your brand new DMT 320 diamond hone from Howard to lap the 220 grit waterstone!" So I did, and was gratified to see the grayish material of the waterstone flush away with the water I was using on the DMT. But now I have a creepy feeling that the DMT's surface is different from how it was right out of the box, and NOW the lizard brain is singing a different tune: "Sure, DIAMOND is harder than anything, but the substrate in which the abrasive is embedded ISN'T! BEE HEE HOO HAH HAH HAH HAH!!!" I hate my lizard brain...

Sigh... Any illuminating opinions appreciated.

-denis

i would have guessed monkey brain but...

i have read that people here have used their dmt plates to flatten barber hones and other very hard hones with out any problems. they will probably chime in shortly.

cheers,
ryan

There's no way a Japanese waterstone or any waterstone for that matter, is going to ruin a DMT 325 stone. Those stones are used to sharpen tungsten carbide tools and tungsten carbide is almost as hard as the diamonds. Using diamonds on carbide is standard practice in any machine shop. I have a couple of double ended diamond wheeled grinders and they are what I use to sharpen drill bits, end mills, etc.

The DMTs do have a break in period after which they hone better than when they are fresh out of the box. This is due to the manufacturing process which electroplates the diamonds in place on the steel forming a type of setting (just like the setting for a ring except all around the diamond particle) which "grows" up from the steel around the diamonds. The break in period removes the nickel from the tops of any diamonds that were coated during the electroplating exposing fresh, sharp diamond.

Don't worry, you and your stone are just fine! : )

Many thanks, guys! (Ok now, SHADDAP, lizard or monkey or whatever you is!)

-denis

At most the high points on the diamonds will chip down to be level with the rest of the DMT.

After flatening a dozen stones I used it to grind down a cleavers bevel a but... No problem...

And a little ways further along the stone just gradually grinds away and you end up with a fist full of diamonds.

Originally Posted by Howard

Those stones are used to sharpen tungsten carbide tools and tungsten carbide is almost as hard as the diamonds. Using diamonds on carbide is standard practice in any machine shop. I have a couple of double ended diamond wheeled grinders and they are what I use to sharpen drill bits, end mills, etc.

+1 on that

I agree with what's been said so far. Also, be prepared for the hone to change its appearance and color somewhat. My 1200-grit has taken on a slight brownish tinge. I think it's the honed-off razor steel particles rusting a bit... My 320 looks a little different too.

But both still work better than new.

Josh