About Diamond Laps Again

ddavelarsen

ddavelarsen

Joined
Dec 7, 2000
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I was looking through Travers' catalog for an end mill to cut the small slot in my mini guard and since they have a $25 minimum started looking for more stuff to buy. :rolleyes:

Remembered a previous thread about diamond laps for hand finishing and found a set of diamond whetstones for $90. The four grits are:

Extra course 220 mesh/60 micron
Course 325 mesh/45 micron
Fine 600 mesh/25 micron
Extra Fine 1200 mesh/9 micron

1. How do these grits compare to the regular ole grits I think in?
2. Would this sequence be sufficient to produce a decent sellable finish?
3. Or am I just looking for an easy/cheap way out and should quit wasting all our time?

Thanks for your input,
 
Well, I'm not gonna be much help on the grit size, but I think they should be the standards we're used to on sandpaper. I think it's usually only Japanese stones that use the different classification. But I could be wrong.

I did want to offer that I've tried using diamond stones and have not had good success with them. They are aggressive enough, but especially on the finer grits, (I've used them from between 400 and 2500 grit) they easily clog up with metal shavings, which will gall a nasty scratch across the surface. I was only able to make one or two passes, then clean it off. Then sooner or later I wouldn't get the surface clean enough, and I'd make a deep scratch that just ruined what I'd accomplished. This happened with both stainless and carbon steels. If you do try this, and get it to work, I'd like to know what methods you're using.

By the way, did you mean you're making a miniature knife? Or just small? Are you gonna be making a lot of knives this size that you want the end mill? 'Cause I'd think for one knife it may be just as easy to do by hand.
 
Possum thanks for the warning. Do you suppose that using cutting fluid might reduce the buildup? I'm not convinced I'm going to do this, the idea just won't go away for good.

The knife I'm making is a half scale version of an earlier knife. I do this quite a bit, some collectors seem to like it. I think using the mill will just make this small slot easier but I'm probably all wet. It'll get plent of use though.
 
ddavelarsen said:
Possum thanks for the warning. Do you suppose that using cutting fluid might reduce the buildup?
Click to expand...

I don't know. Never tried anything but running water. If it works, let us know. Seems like it would be a messy hassle, though.

Half scale eh? Sounds kinda neat.
 
been using the micron gauge in cabinet shop for years, the mesh no. is the standard grit no. or very close to it.
 
I like diamond stones for rough shaping and defining the edge.The 1200 does tend to clog,especially if you bear down on it.However it only takes a few strokes to finish the finer grits.I use the grits you mentioned,3X10" laps.I then go back to a 600 grit water stone,then 1200,3000,8000.The final edge is perfectly polished.This takes time,and I don't do it on every edge.On most user knives the 1200 grit diamond,followed by a good leather stropping is a fine selling edge.
SA
 
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