Decent Diamond Stones?

I don't have any experience with that set. I have the DMT coarse and extra fine 8x3 stones and love them. Fast, easy setup and last a long time. I got mine online via the big orange box store for around $50/stone.
 
Colby L. said:
I don't have any experience with that set. I have the DMT coarse and extra fine 8x3 stones and love them. Fast, easy setup and last a long time. I got mine online via the big orange box store for around $50/stone.
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I got my 8 or 10 by 2" DMT about 15 years ago. I only use them every couple months, but they are still going strong. I just sharpened a smatchet on them.
 
I appreciate the input guys, I know zip from diamond stones
 
I have DMT Diafolds, but for bench stones I eventually got a full set of four Atoma grits, mounted double-sided on a pair of their plates. Very happy.
 
I have the Atoma set and the DMT DiaSharp set. I don't think you can go wrong with those, or the EZ Lap diamond plates as well. The cheaper diamond stones like Smith's don't seem to last nearly as long, and it feels like they don't have the quantity (and quality) of diamonds either.
 
I was using DMT plates with the dots but I lost my course ones. I just bought one one if the large DMT course stones without the dots and really like it because it's easy to grind small or sharp points without catching on the dots but I don't know if it cuts any faster. It was a good value though.
 
I was passing through the big orange store yesterday and saw a smaller, fine DMT with the dots for very cheap and thought it would be good to give me a benchmark to make a final decision (it also helped me decide a size to look for). I can see the dots being an issue on smaller knives, but I would imagine there is benefit in having them also (gives the debris and water a place to sit below the contact surface?).
Looks like an either/or decision since Atoma and DMT are both highly thought of.
 
Just to add one more variable to your decision, you can buy Atoma diamond plates without the plate. It's the diamond abrasive on a piece of thin stainless with adhesive on the bottom. The idea is that when your original Atoma plate wears out you can stick another abrasive sheet on the other side. I bought my 140 grit like this so I could stick it on a piece of aluminum stock that would perfectly fit my sharpening jig (that I have been putting off finishing for more than a year now...).
 
Along the lines of what CallumRD1 mentioned about plates:
Amazon plate "whet stones".

I've got import discs in several grits for polishing gravers and they seem to be pretty well classified without stray grit of the wrong size. Longevity? Who knows. At this price, toss without regret.
 
I bought the Ultra Sharps after hearing multiple complaints of DMTs recent quality control issues. I have a few older DMT stones and they are great (30 years old). I have no complaints with the Ultra Sharps from Best
 
The only complaint I ever had with the DMT DiaSharps (I don't care for the DuoSharp...the one with the holes), is that the 1200 mesh felt like it had coarse abrasive mixed in. Apparently this was (still is??) an issue with that particular mesh. I bought a brand new 1200 plate, had that same problem, sent it back to DMT explaining the problem. They replaced the plate, but the replacement was the same. I used it to lap a Naniwa Green Brick (2000JIS) and that helped a little, but I MUCH prefer the Atoma 1200 to the DMT 1200.
 
on the DMTs they do like a bit of use to brake them in. i use then to set bevels on stright razors and they make quick work but after 1200 i go to water stones never tried the 8000 grit
 
DanF said:
I was passing through the big orange store yesterday and saw a smaller, fine DMT with the dots for very cheap and thought it would be good to give me a benchmark to make a final decision (it also helped me decide a size to look for)./QUOTE]
Yes! I also grabbed one of the diafolds to try when I noticed it was $10 less than it is anywhere else. I liked it so much, I came back to buy another just to have a spare. I also decided to buy the DMT 3 stone set in the wooden box. They are perfect for placing in a bench vise so you can get both hands on the knife.

I started out with the DMT diafold, a small pocket ceramic stick and a cheapo strop from amazon. After learning what I can do with these, I developed a method that works for me. Taking the time to do that really helped me decide what larger or more expensive tools I wanted to buy. It also kept me from buying into a gimmick type sharpening system I may have regretted later.
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Where are the "Ultrasharp" brand stones made? I've contacted multiple places but none have responded.
 
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