Thread: Approximate Grit of Swaty Hones

Originally Posted by Utopian

A pale orange Swaty??? Could you post a photo? I have never heard of such a beast and I would love to see it.

The DMT XX is really the only DMT that should ever touch a barber hone. The others will just get chewed up by them.

The pale orange swaty was on Ebay by seller N_Green. I'm thinking it was a bad photo of light brown? Maybe? When I saw it, I too was very interested, afer closer inspection, it needed too much work for my hands...As you said, those are hard little suckers....requiring major honing....

Originally Posted by Utopian

I used a DMT 325 grit on a few barber hones and found that it lost a lot of its bite during the process. Swatys and Carborundums, especially the 102, can really do a number on it. It still works but it's a lot slower. After doing a few barber hones with it, I tried to lap a wide and narrow side of a Chinese 12K and it took me over 30 hours--I watched a lot of movies over the sink. After that, I bought the DMT extra coarse and now the only time I use the 325 is to begin to set the bevel on chipped razors or to do a final lapping after the DMTXX.

Your right. My 325 is pretty smooth now. I do a lot of lapping, 12k, Cotis, BBW, and then they Swaty.
I now have permanent choclate lines in it that won't come out....

Originally Posted by Utopian

A three line Swaty has three lines of text in the imprint. A two line Swaty has two lines of text. That's it. That's the entire difference. A "Swaty" that literally says "Three Line" is not a Swaty but rather a Swaty clone capitalizing on the popularity of the Swaty.

Thanks for that. I have a few chocolate brown 3 lines and one 4 line gray, 8". ?

Originally Posted by zib

Your right. My 325 is pretty smooth now. I do a lot of lapping, 12k, Cotis, BBW, and then they Swaty.
I now have permanent choclate lines in it that won't come out....

You'll probably be able to get them out with a stiff bristled brush, or even a toothbrush, and an abrasive kitchen cleanser, like Comet or Ajax. I have seen that suggestion on websites selling DMTs so I presume it to be safe for the plate.

Originally Posted by zib

Thanks for that. I have a few chocolate brown 3 lines and one 4 line gray, 8". ?

I believe the 4 line gray version was made in Yugoslavia.

Here is an old thread on the three line business with some photos. I didn't know of a gray Swaty. My HAD kicked up a little but I think I can live without it. Too darn many to get all of 'em.

I have lapped a couple of Swatys with the 325 and it is a long trudge uphill. I didn't ruin my plate but I am going to get one of the XX plates for the tough stuff and to lap stones that haven't been previously flattened.

For awhile now since reading ChrisL's method of lapping barber hones I've been thinking of doing a progressive lapping starting XX and then going to the D8C and maybe follow with the D8F. The F is my flattest diamond plate according to my straight edge. If I did the progressive thing I probably wouldn't have a risk of ruining any of them.

Jimmy,
Given what you have invested in hones, yes, definitely spend the $80 for the DMTXX. After using the 325 grit version, the DMTXX will just make you smile and make want to buy more hones to lap! I cannot imagine anyone who has ever lapped a hone would be able to hold back a smile when using the DMTXX for the first time!

I've for the most part given up on using my 325 grit DMT D8C for lapping. I use the 120 grit DMTXX and then, if needed, (and it's not always needed) I progressively use finer wet/dry sandpaper placed on top of the D8C plate just to have a flat surface. Of course, the diamonds help nicely to hold the paper in place.

(For anyone who is new to lapping who might be reading this, all of this lapping is done under a steady stream of running water.)

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Here is an old thread on the three line business with some photos. I didn't know of a gray Swaty. My HAD kicked up a little but I think I can live without it. Too darn many to get all of 'em.

I have lapped a couple of Swatys with the 325 and it is a long trudge uphill. I didn't ruin my plate but I am going to get one of the XX plates for the tough stuff and to lap stones that haven't been previously flattened.

For awhile now since reading ChrisL's method of lapping barber hones I've been thinking of doing a progressive lapping starting XX and then going to the D8C and maybe follow with the D8F. The F is my flattest diamond plate according to my straight edge. If I did the progressive thing I probably wouldn't have a risk of ruining any of them.

With all the talk about DMT "finer" grit plates not being intended to lap stones, I've proceeded with caution on the progressive lapping. Especially with my publicized issue with the Shapton GDLP. I still do it, but I've used an alternative progressive method a bit more where I lap the higher grits on my Woodcraft granite surface plate using fine wet/dry and even the 3M lapping films. Stiction is a huge bear, but some dishsoap in the water seems to break the surface tension.

Chris L

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Here is an old thread on the three line business with some photos. I didn't know of a gray Swaty. My HAD kicked up a little but I think I can live without it. Too darn many to get all of 'em.

I have lapped a couple of Swatys with the 325 and it is a long trudge uphill. I didn't ruin my plate but I am going to get one of the XX plates for the tough stuff and to lap stones that haven't been previously flattened.

For awhile now since reading ChrisL's method of lapping barber hones I've been thinking of doing a progressive lapping starting XX and then going to the D8C and maybe follow with the D8F. The F is my flattest diamond plate according to my straight edge. If I did the progressive thing I probably wouldn't have a risk of ruining any of them.

I'm going to invest in the XX myself. With the amount of lapping I've been doing latey, I think it would be an excellent addition. Same rotation for lapping xx, C, then F

Originally Posted by zib

I'm going to invest in the XX myself. With the amount of lapping I've been doing latey, I think it would be an excellent addition. Same rotation for lapping xx, C, then F

Well, in that case, let me know if it makes you smile!!!
I'll bet it will!