Thread: Hone Lapping/Bevel Setting w/ DMT

So I just recently purchased a set of 3 8"x3" DMTs the 325, 600 and 1200 with a base to hold them after spending a bunch of time trying to lap my Norton 4k/8k on wet/dry sandpaper and not getting the best results. Seemed like a really good deal with the reviews on them and getting the set new for about $130 with shipping.

I was curious how much of a mess it makes when you lap the norton 4k/8k with the DMT and if you just clean off the DMT with water afterwards without any trouble.

Do you lap with the 325 then finish off lapping with the 600? Does this make a significant difference on the stone?

Also I was thinking about using the 1200 for setting bevels on razors, since I got one from ebay that looks to not have a bevel despite the auction saying it was shave-ready. I tried, it pulled and left a bunch of stubble with the whiskers below my nose.

How many passes does it normally take on the DMT-1200 to set a bevel before going to the Norton 4k/8k? Given a razor in good condition.

The way you asked about clean-up after lapping the Norton with the DMT made me wonder...
Are you aware that the lapping should take place under water or under a running tap?
Hopefully you knew that.

I only have the DMT 120 and 320 but I don't see any need to go finer than that for lapping your hones. Others might disagree. (They probably are the ones with the finer DMTs.)

You're not going to get a specific answer to your last question about bevel setting with the DMT 1200 because A) every razor is different--either in its make-up or condition and B) every DMT is different depending upon its usage. I have used my DMT 320 a lot and it doesn't cut the same as when I first got it. I have used it to set bevels on old used razors with small nicks barely visible to the naked eye and it has taken over 100 passes with it remove the nicks. You can't get an answer to any honing question that begins with "how many passes to ..."

Good luck with it and have fun finding out for yourself!

Ah, I lapped my 4k/8k Norton as illustrated in the thread that is a sticky here for hone lapping as a guide. I haven't received the DMT yet so I haven't tried with that yet thought it might use a process similar to the sandpaper method on the sticky.

So then maybe a better question with regard to setting a bevel is what I should be looking for. How should the razor feel / bevel look when setting it? Any tips or things I should be aware of when setting a bevel?

Thanks.

I just got my DMT and love it. The shapton is better but the DMT was all my budget would allow (waiting on the luck of the livi draw). I have little experence but I just use the 320 for laping.

BTW welcome to the DMT club and Look for threads by Josh Earl for laping instruction with a DMT. He did a pictural guide.

Don

Ok so I just saw that on JoshEarl's thread for hone lapping he has some pictures of a demo with the DMT ... I didn't see that part before, maybe cuz I was trying to just use sandpaper initially

So any advice on setting a bevel is still much appreciated though I think the other questions were pretty much answered.

Its just something you do. I've never really thought it was all that difficult. I think some guys try to get the razor as sharp as possible with 4K, which seems like pretty decent advice. The real stress is if you think your never going to return to the 4K, which in the beginning is unlikely. Just retry if the razor fails to hone up with polishing. You can also wet your thumbnail and run the TNT as you go, sort of searching for a little bite into the nail as you go. It should be smooth etc., all the stuff you can read about the TNT (there must be pages and pages). With a microscope a bad bevel sculpting would be multi-colored. You want good uniformity.

Probably not critical but historically its recommended that all your striations line up as you go, but in practice its not really a big deal, but something for you to think about as your honing. I think, more important from a practical standpoint is to ensure that your strokes are even in pressure and length. You want the bevel to be balanced on each side. You also want the bevel to be nice and consistent along the edge so watch for uneven pressure etc.

There is a big push now in bevel creation theory and it gets pretty complex, with all the testing and such. You can probably find a thread or two on it. I'm sort of in a different camp. I think bevel creation is just time on the hone and sharpening is where the real skills lie, but if you build a poor bevel your not going anywhere, so don't be afraid to study up.

Lapping is messy. You want advice? Do it when the wife/gf isn't home. No biggie.

I use the DMT 1200 to set bevels and it works nicely. I got
so sick of counting that I now just check it every five
minutes or so to see how it is coming. Once it is complete I
move on to the Norton 4k/8k. I generally have the razor
passing all tests within and hour or so, finishing up on the
Chinese 12K.

John

I just used a DMT 325 grit for the first time to lap my swaty. It made quick work of it. Two minutes and that stone is smooth as silk and lapped better than I have lapped it before. This may be my best purchase yet. The norton is up next. I must recommend this stone to anyone who has a few hones they would like to keep flat and smooth.