Thread: Lapping leaves scratches on hones

I have a set of Naniwas and lapp them with a DMT 325 in the sink. I use the pencil tracing method to make sure I get them flat. They come out fine but sometimes I can see tiny surface scratches on the hones. Is this normal? and do these scratches in any way affect honing?

Originally Posted by tavli

I have a set of Naniwas and lapp them with a DMT 325 in the sink. I use the pencil tracing method to make sure I get them flat. They come out fine but sometimes I can see tiny surface scratches on the hones. Is this normal? and do these scratches in any way affect honing?

it is ok not big deal don't worry about it.

You can get some cheap wet sandpaper, try any auto parts store. they should have up to 1000 grit. You can use 400, 600, 800, and 1000...Wrap a piece tightly around your DMT to make a flat surface, use it under running water, and this will give your hones a smooth surface, if you so desire. Nani's shouldn't be too bad, You should see a Swaty after lapping with a DMT, it looks terrible, you have to progressively sand it to get them out, once done, it looks brand new.....

Rich

Yes, it is normal. It will go away with time. The plate is a field of thousands of diamonds whose high points are all about the same. If they were all EXACTLY the same, there would be no scratches. Because a few diamonds are sticking up a little higher, they are causing the scratches, but because they are sticking up, they are having more force exerted upon them by the moving hone. This increased pressure on them will quickly cause them to either wear down or be released from the plate, with the result being that soon all of the diamonds will be of the same height and your scratches will no longer happen.

Like they all said, it's cool, don't worry about it. The scratches aren't going to catch razor's blade or anything.

I spray a little water on the counter top and lay wet/dry paper on it and lap my hones that way when the Lady of the house isn't home. They come out nice on 600 and the counter cleans up nicely with some 409.

If you wanted and used a progression of grits you could put a mirror finish on a hone. The question though is why would you want to do that?

My DMT 325 leaves a very, very smooth surface. Incredibly smooth for 325!
Yet there can be some minor scratches. Those are random and used to be deep.
I figured there was a high spot on the edges of the DMT that I had to knock down (with a hard tool like a screwdriver and very little sandpaper).

After that my DMT 325 hardly ever leaves a scratch.
Not that a tiny scratch would diminish the performance of a stone,
I just like these things neat and tidy

So nevermind the scratches, but if you want try to knock down the edges,
and work in the DMT with a hard tool a bit more and you´ll be fine

My DMT 325 used to do that, but as Ron says once they break in you dont get the scratches any more.

Repairing a few eBay wedges and lapping my CF broke mine in pretty good and now its a really great stone!