Thread: DMT diasharp EE8k - which side is up?

I recently bought a DMT 8000 to use for honing. I wonder if it's possible that I'm using it upside down?

One side is definitely shinier and smoother than the other. I *assumed* that I use the smoother for honing. But I've been reading how they usually need a lot of "breaking in" to refine the surface, so i wonder if I should have started with the rough side?

Also, when I'm honing with it currently (with the smooth side up) the writing on the side of it is upside down. Is that relevant?

The honing side is the side that your picture has the rubber feet on. i.e. use the top side when the markings are right-side up.

Originally Posted by Sticky

The honing side is the side that your picture has the rubber feet on. i.e. use the top side when the markings are right-side up.

What he said.

You have it upside down!

Good question, I had the same problem. Turned out, I didn't like it at all, I returned it.
If you can read the writing, then it's right side up...

Originally Posted by zib

Good question, I had the same problem...

Doh! Thanks for admitting I wasn't the only one!

I just took the feet off and spent a few minutes rubbing a chisel on the "rough" side. Sure enough it started to shine it up quite nice. I just wasn't expecting a surface that looked so rough to work so nicely.

Does anyone know how these things are made? Are the diamonds embedded throughout the steel, or just applied as some sort of coating? Thanks!

IIRC, the diamonds are in a nickel coating. I do know for a fact that the diamonds are only on the surface; I've seen them with the diamonds stripped off and you can see the difference. This is why the DMT's don't become dished (though they can wear out).

Just take a piece of expendable steel and rub it on each side to see which one abrades metal and which one doesn't.