Thread: DMT 8K Question

Hi,

I just got a DMT 8k.

I have heard some say it needs no water or lubrication to hone with. Yet when I looked at the instructions that came with it, it says for best results to use water with a small bit of soap as a lubricant during sharpening.

Opinions on this?

Also, are both sides of the DMT 8K equally good to be used? It came with some rubber stickies to stick on one side and I'm not sure if using those is a good idea.

Thanks.

Use water and a couple drops of liquid soap or you can hold the hone under running water from the faucet. The diamond abrasive is only on the top of the hone. Put the little rubber feet on the bottom of the hone. You will be glad you did.

bj

I spritz my DMT hones with water from a small spray bottle. I've tried the soap thing, and it works but it tends to make the razor slippery, causing me to drop the razor, edge first, of course, onto the corner of the steel hone. This always makes me smile and whistle a happy tune.

I suspect the main purpose of the soap is to break up the surface tension of the water, which I'm accomplishing by using a spray bottle. If you just pour water onto the hone it'll tend to bead up.

Josh

Originally Posted by bd555

...
Also, are both sides of the DMT 8K equally good to be used? It came with some rubber stickies to stick on one side and I'm not sure if using those is a good idea.
...

I tried the soap too and didn't like it. Spray bottle here.

The D8EE is a single side/grit hone. I use one of these to hold mine, but a rubber mat is just as good.

DMT currently makes continuous double-sided diamond hones in 2" x 6" x 1/4" size. Double-sided "polka dot" models are even bigger but I wouldn't prefer to use one of those on my razors. (Might catch a spike point on a "dot")

Great, thanks to everyone for their help. I appreciate it.

Actually the "dotted" DMT's are better than the plate IMHO.

If a bit of metal breaks off with the plate, it has no place to go.

The dots help keep the stone from clogging and they do work.

If you are honing properly, you won't catch anything on those dots.

Originally Posted by toolarts

Actually the "dotted" DMT's are better than the plate IMHO.

If a bit of metal breaks off with the plate, it has no place to go.

The dots help keep the stone from clogging and they do work.

If you are honing properly, you won't catch anything on those dots.

I don't think one is "better" than the other. The continuous plates cut more quickly because there are more diamonds per square inch. No holes = more diamonds. They are also smooth so there's nothing to catch the edge.

The ones with holes are cheaper and less prone to rusting. Once they're broken in, the edge doesn't hang up on the holes. I still occasionally catch the tip of a square point, though. It doesn't do much damage when it happens.

My non-continuous one is my 600-grit hone. I like a slower cut at this level because it's easy to overdo things.

Josh

Originally Posted by toolarts

If you are honing properly, you won't catch anything on those dots.

You might if you are honing a curved razor and you have to roll the razor from heel to toe.
Those thick 8/8 W&B 'for barbers use' razors come to mind.

Originally Posted by Bruno

You might if you are honing a curved razor and you have to roll the razor from heel to toe.
Those thick 8/8 W&B 'for barbers use' razors come to mind.

I haven't tried this on a DMT with holes, but the same thought occured to me. Seems like it would be easier to catch the toe this way.

Once broken in, the hone doesn't catch the tip very often, but it does happen. It isn't as catastrophic as you'd think, though, when it does happen.

Josh