Atoma?

R

Ryansknives

Joined
Nov 9, 2019
Messages
64
So I ordered and received today 3 Atoma plates. They all appear to be in good condition and if high quality. However I’m annoyed. I ordered a 140,600,1200. Figured if would be the best three for me.

Well the order got screwed up. I received the 140 and 1200 but they sent a 400 and not a 600. I double checked my order and I definitely ordered the 600.

How much of a difference really is the 400 and 600? I’m debating on weather or not to send it back or just keep it. Also if I chose to keep it is it with it to order the 600. 🤷‍♂️

My intention was to use the 140 for flattening stones and major knife repair. The 600 as a step between the 140 and the 1200. Then to a high grit whetstone. Or strop. For normal sharpening I’ll probably just go to the 1200. I usually start with 1000g whetstones anyway.

So is their a point in having both the 400 and 600?
 
Thanks. I’m gonna just roll with it. I’ve got a few “practice” knives I dull up and use to try new stuff. Usually when I try a new belt on the sander. So I don’t screw up my good knives. I’ve never used quality diamond plates. I’ve used son knockoff ones years ago. I don’t really have a “need” for them. I think I’m gonna get the most use out of the. 1200 by far.

If it works well enough it may replace my 1000 grit whetstones. But I don’t know I really like the “feel” of the Japanese water stones.
 
Well I got home tonight. I decided to give the plates a try well holy crap. I’m impressed. I’m glad I read about how aggressively they remove metal on regular metal and you should use a light touch only I’m also glad I used a “practice” knife.

I dulled it up on a brick. Obviously I did not make the edge like a butter knife. But I about crapped when I realized how quickly the 140 raised a burr.

So I switched to the 400 grit. I did only about 30 stokes. Edge trailing very light pressure. Wow.

I did the same with the 1200 grit. Surprisingly the burr was barely noticeable. I tried to slice paper it caught a bit. So I hit it with a bare leather strop for about 30 strokes. I just used 30 strokes for no particular reason.

Wow really sharp. Well way sharper than I expected. I then used the plates to flatten my King Combo 1000/6000. It was much needed. I used the 140 on the 1000 side and the 400 on the 6000 side. The 140 is crazy aggressive.

I went ahead and ran the knife for 30 strokes across the 6000 grit side. I’m just shocked at how fast the plates worked and how they where able to provide a nice useable edge. I could easily use the 1200 grit on my “wife’s” knives then use my strop with the green compound.

I think I’m going to reserve the 140 for stone flattening and fixing broken tips or deep chips. The 400 will probably be used for edges that have been worn badly or I need to quickly get an edge back.

For now I’m going to use the Atoma 1200 as my 1k ish grit “stone.” To see how it goes.
 
I have all the atomas. I prefer dmts. But that's a story for another day. Anyway for the heck of it I sharpened a knife on the 140 atoma. And then stropped it. It cuts arm hair. So there you go. Nice toothy edge that can do some good work. And edge lasts a long time. I think you can put all your stones away at this point imo anyway.
 
I most often use these with the 400 to set the edge and the 1200 to microbevel. For a real aggressive utility edge I'll go right from the 140 to the 1200.

Have said it before, but the 140 is probably the best truly coarse diamond plate on the market.
 
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