In my opinion (unless my hone was a fluke) the N220 will not sharpen tools it was designed to sharpen before braking down… no question about dishing… on the first stroke the tool will make a nice, neat gouge. It seems the tool “cuts” the hone because the binder is not strong enough to allow the grits to cut the tool before the releasing the grit.

No question as to the need for the grinding wheel to be soft. But a hone powered by One “Human” Power cannot generate enough heat to burn metal, so why is the N220 so soft?

But you may be right… for those who can afford it; the DMT may be the best bet for rough cuts and flattening other hones.

I use 220grit W/D sandpaper… grit for grit; I get better mileage than I ever did with the N220… dollar for dollar; is also get better mileage because in my case, 220grit is used rarely.