Thread: DMT Breakthrough!

I am presently shaving with four razors honed by using this process.

If a bolt of lightning were to come from the sky, and all my beautiful edges were to crumble in to dust, I will report back to you all. - otherwise,I will continue to begin my all honing jobs with the DMT 325.

* Did ya hear the one about the guy who jumped off the building?
Well, as he passed each floor, he said, "so far so good".

Maybe you experts are thinking of me in that way.

Steve

What popped into my mind was: 'If it sounds stupid but it works, then it's not stupid'.
If I ever get the time to attack a couple of fleabay razors, I'll have to try your approach.


Wayne

Seeing how we are on the topic of DMT stones, has anyone tried the new DMT D8EE 8000 grit Diamond ston e yet? If so, how did it do? Impressed or dissapointed? Would like to know as I would like to add some DMT's to my arsenal as well.

Thanks guy's!

Zepplin,

I've talked with Howard in the past, and I just double-checked his site . . . he recommends that the DMTs only be used to flatten your whetstones, but not to use them directly on straight razors.

That said, if you check DMTs' website, you'll see that the D8C (325 grit)
and D8E (1200 grit) have a continuous surface http://www.dmtsharp.com/products/diasharp.htm

However, the W6EP is a perforated surface http://www.dmtsharp.com/products/whetstone.htm
that would not be good for a straight.

I'd stick with Howard's recommendation and at least avoid using the perforated whetstone on your straights.

YMMV

Tom

Originally Posted by tombuesing

Zepplin,

I've talked with Howard in the past, and I just double-checked his site . . . he recommends that the DMTs only be used to flatten your whetstones, but not to use them directly on straight razors.

That said, if you check DMTs' website, you'll see that the D8C (325 grit)
and D8E (1200 grit) have a continuous surface http://www.dmtsharp.com/products/diasharp.htm

However, the W6EP is a perforated surface http://www.dmtsharp.com/products/whetstone.htm
that would not be good for a straight.

I'd stick with Howard's recommendation and at least avoid using the perforated whetstone on your straights.

YMMV

Tom

Tom,

All I can say is, "so far so good".

No deterioration of edges, no wire edges, and no chipping. I am lovin' these DMTs! I do go straight to the 4K Blue Belgium after, and then to the Thuringen. Sometimes I will throw the Coticule in the mix depending on what the "edge" is needing. Different razors seem to want perhaps a differerent order of progression and/or a different set of pyramids, but for now, the beginning of my proceedures will start with the 325 + the 1200 DMT.

The only thing I haven't tried is a finish with a dry Coticule or a Thuringen. - Don't know if I will, but maybe, if I get a stubborn edge. Sometimes, I struggle with the finial edge. Perhaps I am too critical of what I see in the microscope. There have been times when the edge (dark as possible) just never gets where I want it, but the razor will pop forearm hairs and shave like a dream.

Regards -

Steve

Originally Posted by tombuesing

Zepplin,

I've talked with Howard in the past, and I just double-checked his site . . . he recommends that the DMTs only be used to flatten your whetstones, but not to use them directly on straight razors.

That said, if you check DMTs' website, you'll see that the D8C (325 grit)
and D8E (1200 grit) have a continuous surface http://www.dmtsharp.com/products/diasharp.htm

However, the W6EP is a perforated surface http://www.dmtsharp.com/products/whetstone.htm
that would not be good for a straight.

I'd stick with Howard's recommendation and at least avoid using the perforated whetstone on your straights.

YMMV

Tom

You are correct about what is said on the site; however, if you talk to Howard directly I can guarantee that he will recommend using the DMT 1200 and DMT 8000 grit stones on razors. He is one of the main people that started to get members using the DMT-E, Belgian Blue, Belgian Yellow Progression. Personally I like to use the Norton 4K instead of the DMT-E whenever possible, and if it is not realistic then I will use the DMT-E followed by the Norton 4K before going to the Blue and Yellow.

Howard did encourage me to try the DMT X-Fine 1200-grit for eBay razors, and he has endorsed the 8000-grit on this site. I think the statement on his website is to keep people from thinking that a relatively coarse DMT hone is all they need for a straight. You wouldn't want a bunch of people calling after trying to shave with a 1200-grit edge... Ouch.

I do agree with the overall thrust of this thread: A good bevel and straight, chip-free edge are essential for a razor to reach its maximum potential, and sometimes using a coarser hone is necessary. I personally have had great success with DMTs.

Just my 2 cents,
Josh

Howard should really address this, but

I'm simply trying to clarify the distinction between DMT continuous stones which have a solid surface and the rest of their stones which have a perforated surface.

The continuous stones that you all mention are good for straights, I just remember Howard warning me against using the perforated stones on straights.

Tom

Just for the record - there were barber hones that were "perforated" and they were supposedly a scientific "improvement" - but I cannot attest if this was true or just a marketing idea

I think that when I use 600 I notice the metal teeth / roughness in the edge under magnification.

By the way, I am not one of the guys who espouse the *wisdom* that if you spend more than 10 minutes you are using the wrong hone. I don't race, I am trying to get a nice edge (for me, with my skills and my limited arsenal of hones). I remember once I used 200 but generally I try to stay away even from 600. YMMV, of course

Cheers
Ivo

Tom,

That's a good clarification--sorry I misunderstood. Howard said the same thing to me. I do own a 600-grit DMT with the holes, and I found that it damaged a couple of razors pretty well, especially when it was new. Even after it was broken in, spike-tips sometimes catch in the holes. And if you need to do some back and forth honing on a single spot on the blade, it leaves weird groove marks on the bevel.

They also don't cut as quickly, since there's less diamond per square inch. My 1200 continuous cuts faster than the 600 but leaves a finer scratch pattern.

I'm keeping the 600 for knives. In a pinch I'd consider using it for a razor, but the continuous hones are much better in my opinion.

Josh