Thread: Coarse natural stones?

Thanks everyone! I guess I *will* look for a DMT 1200 for a starter. If naturals are only crap below 1000 though, that must mean there's something decent in the 1000-Blue range. Maybe I'll end up trying some of those lower Japanese ones, but until the budget allows I may have to get the 4/8k in the meantime...

How much does a DMT usually cost?

I bought mine from howard
www.theperfectedge.com

I think it was something like 55$.

AFTER I got it I found that the local hardware store also carries them. I buy all my tools in that shop because it is a store for professionals (carpenters etc) so they don't sell consumer crap.

However, even though shipping that big chuck of nickel was not cheap, it was still cheaper than buying it locally, thanks to the weak dollar.

Originally Posted by Bruno

I bought mine from howard
www.theperfectedge.com

I think it was something like 55$.

AFTER I got it I found that the local hardware store also carries them. I buy all my tools in that shop because it is a store for professionals (carpenters etc) so they don't sell consumer crap.

However, even though shipping that big chuck of nickel was not cheap, it was still cheaper than buying it locally, thanks to the weak dollar.

Thats right Bruno, rub it in!

Originally Posted by chancecatalyst

Thanks everyone! I guess I *will* look for a DMT 1200 for a starter. If naturals are only crap below 1000 though, that must mean there's something decent in the 1000-Blue range. Maybe I'll end up trying some of those lower Japanese ones, but until the budget allows I may have to get the 4/8k in the meantime...

How much does a DMT usually cost?

I got my DMTs from craftsman studios for about $35 per 8 inch plate (got three) http://www.craftsmanstudio.com/html_p/T!D8.htm
Cheapest place around when they have a sale, like they are currently.

The Coarse plate is 325 grit, Fine is 600 grit, Extra Fine is 1200 grit, Extra Extra Fine is 8000 grit. (I think they are steel plates, coated with nickel that holds the monocrystalline diamond media, fwiw)

As far as the Arkansas stones go, they are indeed slow cutters, but for the price you might get one or two, down the road, to experiment with.

Ah yes the craftsmen site. Yes they have a very good deal on DMT plates.
The reason I ordered from howard was that caftsmen didn't ship to europe.

I still get my DMTs from Howard, even though you can find them cheaper elsewhere. They won't spend an hour on the phone with you when you're trying to figure out how to use the hones.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

I still get my DMTs from Howard, even though you can find them cheaper elsewhere. They won't spend an hour on the phone with you when you're trying to figure out how to use the hones.

Josh

Ditto – Howard has my business. His prices are always competitive – a little less on this, a little more on that – but his customer service and quality control (esp. important when you're buying a natural hone) is unparalleled.

Don't get me wrong, Howard provides a personalized service that is of top notch quality. But I'd be surprised if Bill at craftsman studios refused anyone advice or guidance with his products.

Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

And some people don't like the Arkansas stones because they are supposed to be used with oil, but I have used them with water, though not extensively, and they seem to be fine.

I think honing oil is a big scam . I used to think that you had to use honing oil , and I used it for over 20 years . I tried water on a new hard Arkansas stone , and found that water worked better than oil . I think water will work better than oil , on any stone .