Thread: if you had to keep it down to... 3...

Originally Posted by Basher052

Bart, where did you find the DMT for $18

I got mine here:
DMT Dia-Sharp Hone - 6"

His price went up, since the last time I checked, it's 20$ now.

Here's another resource, still at 18$, but I never bought from them:
DMT Dia-Sharp 6x2x1/4 in. Diamond Plates

Bart.

Thanks Bart. The 1200 looks like what I might need to keep the Norton in shape.

I've been listening very carfully to what you've all been saying and doing my investigation for the better prices.
I noticed tha none of you mentioned arkansas stones... why is that? I'm just trying to understand what could be a good starter choice.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by fpessanha

I've been listening very carfully to what you've all been saying and doing my investigation for the better prices.
I noticed tha none of you mentioned arkansas stones... why is that? I'm just trying to understand what could be a good starter choice.

Thanks!

Hey fpessanha, I have a hard black Arkansas, it's about 8k grit wise. I have tried to use it about 7-8 times, and it positively wrecks my various razors edges.

I tried hard steel, soft steel, ready to shave razors, razors off the DMT 1200, razors off the DMT 8K... and it sucked on them all!!

Lots of microchipping on the hard steel, crappy dull edge off the softer steels. Feh.

Not only does it wreck the edge, it cuts super slow....so it pretty much sucks all the way around. I even tried it on a few fillet knives, hunting knives, and a lawnmower blade. Blargh, what a waste of time.

I am keeping it as a "nothing else is working, so I will try this" hone, just in case, but...

I use one as a door jam in the summer.

Difficult question.
With the experience that I have so far
The DMT8C is a lapping plate so that doesn't count as a hone, surely?

Norton 1000/4000
Narutaki
Nakayama

I'd leave the Norton off if the DMT was counted as 1, but that'd mean I wouldn't be doing any real edge restoration.
Frankly, 3 hones is not enough for me, considering the different honing scenarios I find myself in.
The 4000/8000 is a valuable asset as well, and the 8x3 yellow coticule comes in handy from time to time.

EDIT: I have more of course, but these 5 (well, 6) are the essential ones.
EDIT2: I once considered going the paste route, but now that I have my nakayama, I won't bother. Of course, pastes are 2 orders of magnitude cheaper, but using pastes feels like cheating to me