Crowned Stones (No Satisfaction)

No, not the Knighting of Mick Jagger! I've noticed, just recently, whether I use sandpaper, or more currently, the DC8, I can't remove the grid from the ends of my hones. The middle gets nice and flat, but not the half inch or so from the top and bottom edge. I've got a feeling I'm pushing the slurry up under the ends as I flatten, which in turn reduces more stone there. If I do it under running water to wash away the stuff, well, no change. Can anyone "Start Me Up" in the right direction? Maybe I'm flattening too often, and need to actually hone more to wear away the middle!

Are you lapping a super-hard hone like the Chinese 12k or Spyderco Fine or UF?

Yes, a 12k and a 4/8 Norton.

If the problem is with both hones then try using circular motions, alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. Swap the hone orientation by 180 degrees from time to time. Rinse the plate off whenever the slurry looks a bit too thick.

The Norton 4k/8k should lap pretty fast on the D8C. The very hard Chinese 12k might take quite a while. Once you get most of the 12k flat, the last parts will take a lot longer since you are working more surface area. If the last areas are on the corners or very small "depressions", it might be flat enough.

Use fairly light pressure on the D8C, heavy pressure can reduce it's useful service life. Diamonds cut pretty fast using light pressure.