Thread: DMTs up to 8K

Like the others, I use my DMT's for knives mostly, and the coarser one's for lapping XX and C. If I have a very difficult bevel, I'll use a Dmt, but it's rare. I've tried the fine and extra fine, and even had the EE or 8000 mesh. The EE I sent back. I couldn't tell one side from the other. The vendor said "Use the text on the side to tell." Lately, I'm enjoying the newer stones coming out of Japan like the Suehiro and Chosera's. For most of my honing, I use the Shapton GS series.

I've never used lapping film either. I tried to get some and had a difficult time with the vendor, so I gave up. One thing I haven't found is any variance in Escher. They seem to be the only consistent natural I've ever found. YMMV. I with you on the Jnats. There needs to be a college course on them. Not only that, you need to watch out for counterfeit stones.

It's good to hear your getting nice shaves off yours.

Originally Posted by zib

Like the others, I use my DMT's for knives mostly, and the coarser one's for lapping XX and C. If I have a very difficult bevel, I'll use a Dmt, but it's rare. I've tried the fine and extra fine, and even had the EE or 8000 mesh. The EE I sent back. I couldn't tell one side from the other. The vendor said "Use the text on the side to tell." Lately, I'm enjoying the newer stones coming out of Japan like the Suehiro and Chosera's. For most of my honing, I use the Shapton GS series.

I've never used lapping film either. I tried to get some and had a difficult time with the vendor, so I gave up. One thing I haven't found is any variance in Escher. They seem to be the only consistent natural I've ever found. YMMV. I with you on the Jnats. There needs to be a college course on them. Not only that, you need to watch out for counterfeit stones.

It's good to hear your getting nice shaves off yours.

Pm me your address and I can send you a sheet of 3 micron and 1 micron. Its from thor labs and is alum oxide.

Originally Posted by unit

I cannot offer advice on Jnats but I would guess that you won't get the same feeling from them (even a great one) that you will from diamonds (just a guess though.

Yup. That would be some apples & oranges right there.

It doesn't matter that much whether you use an 8k Norton or an 8k DMT diamond. In either case you are shaving from the last hone that you used on the razor, in this case the film or .1 cbn; depending on the viewpoint.

That sounds logical. I think as long as your progression removes the scratches and microchips from the lower grits.

There is a simple reason why many find the DMT's to leave a harsh edge, the Diamonds cut deeper than Waterstone grit does, it does not release nor wear down... This means it tends toward a very rough edge, this is great for cutting tools, but not a desirable effect for a Straight Razor..

Two different types of cutting actions..

There are several tricks to get these to work more gently like the drop of soap, but at their core they are designed to cut steel deeply and quickly with no loading..

I first encountered DMTs many years ago. Unlike carbon steel knives, I could not get my stainless steel knives sharp using Arkansas stones. The service rep. at Woodcraft suggested the diamonds in the DMT as a faster cutting easier to use substitute for the Arkansas stones. The DMT followed by pasted strops finally got my stainless steel filleting and kitchen knives sharp. I still use the DMTs on knives, but based on how they work on my knives, consider them too toothy and fast cutting to risk trying them on my straight razors. However, DMTs work wonders for flattening my Japanese and Norton waterstones.that I use and that work well on my razors. I would probably try the DMTs as a first step for razors needing heavy duty steel removal during restoration. I do use diamond pastes on bench and paddle strops as well as CrOx and FeOx pastes. I especially like the diamond pasted strops on stainless steel razors.

HTH