Thread: 1k DMT staight to 8k DMT?

Often i'll take what may seem a backward step after the 8k DMT & use a BBW, then the coticule & water. I'm no honemiester & still experiment a bit. I've probably got too varied a selection than is good for me!

While I don't question it's quality, I think the DMT-EE is rated 8K only for marketing reasons. The result is coarser than my Chosera 5K.
The edge of the DMT is a bit toothed which makes it perform well, but as soon as you remove the bite with a finer hone, it shows that the real keenness is not as good as other "8K" synthetic water hones.

By the way: Shapton states that their 8K has 1.8 micron particle size. The DMT-EE is rated at 3 micron, according to the DMT website.

To answer the original question: yes you can step up from the DMT-E (9micron) to the DMT-EE.

Bart.

Originally Posted by Bart

While I don't question it's quality, I think the DMT-EE is rated 8K only for marketing reasons... The edge of the DMT is a bit toothed which makes it perform well, but as soon as you remove the bite with a finer hone, it shows that the real keenness is not as good as other "8K" synthetic water hones...

Bart.

I have noticed this very same thing. I just assumed it was my DMT, and it was messed up.

I do think the DMT 1200 is a very nice hone though, and I have no problems going from that to a belgian hone.

I have never used the 8K, though my thoughts are as long as it removes metal and is a finer grit you can use it in your next step. Now whether or not you spend the next year removing those scratches is another story.

Based on what Bart said it seems going from the 1.2K to the 8K shouldn't be a problem. I go from the 1.2K to my BBW all day with no problems, it's not quite the same but still.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Here is something to consider, I know DMT's are a different animal, but there are still three basic steps in honing a razor...

(I know these are a huge generalization)
Set the bevel, around 1k
Sharpen the razor, around 4k
Polish the edge, around 8k

Seems to me that you would be skipping the sharpening step, again I understand DMT's are different...
Please correct me if I am wrong here but doesn't their grit pattern go

120
220
325
600
1200
8000

???????????????

I noticed that too. I didn't like the DMTs for anything but lapping at first but I came to appreciate the 1200 more by the simple step of following the instructions that DMT included with the plate and using a drop of dish soap in the water. I missed that at first.

They do jump from 1200 to the 8k but there ain't a thing about straight razors on their website. When you go to their website here they have listings for planes, ice skate blades, knives, tools, etcetera but nada for straight razors. If they did I betcha there would be a 4k and maybe a 12 or a 16 k in the menu.

The only stones I have seen that are actually advertised as being for straight razors are the old Eschers marketed for barbers. The Eschers, Thuringans and the venerable coticule were the go to stones for barbers. We are not even a niche market.

We are lucky to have the Nortons, Shaptons and Choseras in the grits and sizes suited to straight razor honing. I am going to write to DMT and give them a link to SRP and tell them that they are missing a chunk of market share they might pick up if they were to put a grit in between the 1200 and the 8k as well as an even higher grit plate. As Bart points out the 3 micron plate isn't truly equivalent to an 8K Norton or Shapton.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

They do jump from 1200 to the 8k but there ain't a thing about straight razors on their website. When you go to their website here they have listings for planes, ice skate blades, knives, tools, etcetera but nada for straight razors. If they did I betcha there would be a 4k and maybe a 12 or a 16 k in the menu.

I would think that the same gap issue would present itself when sharpening other tools. Sharpening is progressively finer metal removal regardless of the tool so it seems that the gap would be a sharpening issue for other tools as well.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I would think that the same gap issue would present itself when sharpening other tools. Sharpening is progressively finer metal removal regardless of the tool so it seems that the gap would be a sharpening issue for other tools as well.

Hmmm this is true Ron. I don't sharpen anything but straight razors and an occasional pocket knife so I don't know first hand but that certainly makes sense. I did write to them with an email and sent a link to SRP and told them that there is a market for a plate that is between the 1200 and the 8k. We'll see if they get back to me with a reply.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I would think that the same gap issue would present itself when sharpening other tools. Sharpening is progressively finer metal removal regardless of the tool so it seems that the gap would be a sharpening issue for other tools as well.

Yes, but it makes tremendous difference that you can use more pressure while honing other tools, than would be advisable on the flimsy edge of a razor.
But even so, going from 9µ to 3µ is not an impossible gap on diamond particles, even for razors.

Originally Posted by joke1176

I have noticed this very same thing. I just assumed it was my DMT, and it was messed up.

I do think the DMT 1200 is a very nice hone though, and I have no problems going from that to a belgian hone.

+1. The DMT's C, F and E are great for shaping a bevel.

Originally Posted by JCitron

I go from the 1.2K to my BBW all day with no problems, it's not quite the same but still.

+1. I sold my DMT-EE, because I had zero use for it, owning a Blue.

Bart.

I routinely use a DMT progression of E 9 micron 1200 to EE 3 micron 8000. I get results very comparable to the test results achieved by Russel Baldridge a while back. See also post #29 in that thread.

I never worry about getting all the striations out from the previous grits. Around eighty percent or so seems to work well for me. On most of my razors, 10 to 20 laps on the EE will work after coming off of an E.

Recently I bought both E and EE from a member. I agree they can be used without need for in betweens and one can shave off the EE. A few extra passes on an Escher obviously make for a smoother shave.