DMT confusion causing much pain!
As a superior and more durable alternative to the Norton lapping stone, DMT has been recommended. Accross the web (and probably within this forum), the two most common references that I recall seeing for that purpose have been:
DMT D8C
DMT 325
What makes my brain hurt is that when I google under DMT D8C, Amazon shows what appears to be the dimensions of a Norton waterstone. DMT D8C 8-Inch Dia-Sharp Continuous Diamond Coarse - Amazon.com It resembles a waterstone in thickness, and is billed as (and appears to be) a "continuous diamond" surface, but unlike any waterstone it can be used dry. This is not what they call the "whetstone" (DMT 325), which by comparision looks very thin, and is described (as it appears to be) as a steel plate embedded with diamond. If this is steel, then I don't know if I would ever want to get it wet, therefore the name "whetstone" sounds rather mysterious. These appear to be very different products, although both are billed for "325 mesh". Perhaps it's the fact that both have that same grit pattern which is causing people to use DMT D8C and DMT 325 interchangeably.
Anyway, which is better for lapping with - is it the DMT D8C, or the DMT 325? Also, are they both about as durable?
Thanks.
Do some lap with the D8C for these issues?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lemur
When lapping stones you do not want to use it dry, the build up of loose grit rubbed around on the DMT will eat the substrate that holds the diamonds.
All diamond hones and some ceramic too is more like "can be used dry".
It is very seldom good for them and since you get no lubrication from either water or oil, it's not so good for honing steel either.
I had some rust on my DMTs when I forgot to dry them and left them on the kitchen sink, any contact they have with a nobler metal will make them rust faster...
Is the D8C also good for lapping, and what issues should be expected with it?