Diamond Sharpeners

Walt2

Walt2

Joined
Mar 13, 2001
Messages
1,157
I recently had a representative of one of the popular sharpening systems on the market make the statement that "Diamond
Sharpening Systems" weren't any good because the metal of knife blades was soft enough to pull the pieces of diamond off of what they were attached to. I always thought that these diamond stones wore to where they get finer as they are used, some worse than others. Anyone know any facts about this? How about you Tom or A. G., care to comment on this?
 
Iff you do a search you can read more reports of this phenomenon. As far as I remember there can be a combination of 2 problems that cause this:

1) The construction isn't amenable to long term use, either because of faulty construction or otherwise. Polycrystaline diamond hones will wear faster than monocrystaline ones, so that is why you pay more for something from DMT than other brands. Also, if it is made bad, well... no need to explain.

2) Using too much pressure while sharpening. I have no experience with a diamond hone, but I hear that light pressure is all that is required; let the tool do the work. If you press hard as if using soem other kind of stone, the tendency for the diamonds to coem off increases.

So, if you are shelling out the $$ for a diamond hone be sure to get a monocrystaline hone and use light presure.

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"Come What May..."
 
i just got a DMT dual side hone, fine/xtra fine - and it works great - much better than an ark stone - diamond rules...
 
I have had a set of slipcovers for my sharpmaker for 12 or so years. It is my understanding that they were made by DMT and are "monocrystaline". Mine still work just as well as new and do not show signs of wear. You can't beat them for setting the bevel on a new or really dull blade!
 
I also have the DMT fine/extra fine combo and have found it to be a great sharpening tool. The extra-fine side works wonders for putting that "shaving-sharp" edge on an otherwise sharp edge.

Cleans up with a bit of water and a "Scrubby-type" sponge.

Dick
 
I disagree with the mono vs poly diamond debate. I own an eze-lap model M and it is very good. All sharpeners will wear out over time. Even stones. DMT seems to be OVERPRICED in my opinion.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Walt2:
I recently had a representative of one of the popular sharpening systems on the market make the statement that "Diamond
Sharpening Systems" weren't any good because the metal of knife blades was soft enough to pull the pieces of diamond off of what they were attached to. I always thought that these diamond stones wore to where they get finer as they are used, some worse than others. </font>
Click to expand...

The guy at EdgePro made a similar statement to me one time. He makes a neat system that I may own one day, but I didn't waste time even debating the diamond stone thing with him since my experience was polar opposite, and I figured he'd just think I was an a$$, since he's the one selling a sharpener.

My experience has been that diamond stones get smoother with age early on, but still bite into steel for a long time...

There seems to be a misconception floating around about diamond stones. I'm guessing it comes from those who have apparently looked at the older, smooth stones and not USED them in this condition for any length of time.

I have some 4 year old Lansky diamond stones, Fine, Medium, and Coarse. They are all three pretty much smooth to the touch, and if they weren't labeled, you probably couldn't tell which was which with your finger. The diamonds that were protruding above the surface of the metallic substrate when new were sheared off early on. This does NOT mean the stones don't work! To the contrary, they work great, even on CPM440V, CPM420V, BG-42, and Stellite. They feel smooth to your fingertip, but use them for filing a finger nail and they cut quickly. Deceptive. I suspect that under a microscope you'd see the diamonds sticking up out of the substrate...and they assuredly are there, as I get black powdered blade steel off, and wipe it off with wet paper towel, during my sharpening sessions. And I have no difficulty with any high end steel I own. My smooth diamond stones do not need to be replaced. Or I would.

I wouldn't be without diamond stones, since I have a bunch of high end steel on a number of knives, and the diamond is the only way to reprofile for sure, and makes touch ups quick as well. And the fine stone leaves this great lightly toothy working edge on a blade that shaves cleanly. Super stuff.

That has been my experience. That doesn't mean there aren't cheap diamond stones out there that do go dull quickly. I'd be surprised to hear you got them from Lansky, Gatco, Spyderco (sleeves), DMT, or EZE Lap.

[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 03-30-2001).]
 
I had the chance to test between DMT and EZ-Lap when I chipped my MD MirageX. The ceramic knife was so hard it rendered two of my EZ-Laps useless (fine and extra fine), and I can say so because the surfaces were smooth, no bite whatsoever. Note that at the time I didn't use my EZ-Laps for regular sharpening, but rather to grind away the chippings. This is as hard as it can get IMO. Another note is that Kevin suggested EZ-Laps to resharpen his ceramic knives, which I followed.

Having ran out of finer grit EZ-Laps, I switched to my fine DMT instead. And lo, it worked better and after the torture, the surface was still consistent. I tested my EZ-laps again using a carbon steel knife to see whether they would sharpen my knife, and they still wouldn't bite.

I don't know whether it was monocrystalline vs polycrystalline, but my hunch tells me the biggest difference lies in the way each manufacturer bond the diamond dust to the plate.
 
There is one other comment that I will add to this and that is I have a fine DMT that I bought when they first came on the market and it does have a lot finer feel to it and puts a much more polished bevel than origionally, but will take care of the final touch. I have had negative experience with EZELAP products. I have had them to wear down so slick that they wouldn't cut hardly anything. For a lot of years there weren't any Lansky's, Gatco's, Edge Pro's, Razor Edges and a couple of other ones that I have forgotten the names of, so everything was done freehand and then age caught up and started using the sharpening assists. Thanks for the input. Have a nice weekend.
 
I also have a set of diamond covers for my Sharpmaker 204. I have had these for about 5 or 6 years and have gotten great service out of them. The only problem I have had is the newer 204's have stones a bit larger and my covers will not fit over them. I wish Spyderco would bring this item back, as it is GREAT for putting a fast edge on a really dull knife.

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Art Sigmon
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Php. 4:13

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword"
Heb. 4:12
 
DMT hones win hands down.

Yes, they are high priced, but you pay for quality, and they are lifetime warranted.

I have all 4 grits of their benchstones, with the extra fine, and medium being about 5 years old, and I just bought the coarse and fine stones in October. I have not had any degradation in performance with the 5 year old stones, but they do feel less 'rough' than they did new.

I primarily use these stones on machine tolls, but also use them on knives occasionally with excellent results.

I'd buy any DMT hone again, and I would even pay double the going prices just to get their quality. They are the best.

Mike

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DISCLAIMER:

The opinions expressed here are my own, and in no way reflect the opinion of any other person, living or dead. Of course, your opinion may vary, in which case the prevailing laws of your jurisdiction shall apply.

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Just read an article in a '98, I believe, TK, written by John Larsen, I think. Could have been one of the others.

ANyhow, in a knife review, he made a point of talking about the EZ Lap diamond hone he's been using for 30 years that was doing as well when he wrote the article as when he got it.

FWIW.


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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
Theres a company called Ultimate Edge which I believe were the original makers of the oval or "cats eye" diamond rod.They do'nt get much press but I think their much better than Eze Lap or DMT.I was first told about them about 10 yrs ago by the owner of the Pen and the Sword (Steve)who used it on his personal knives.Eze Lap recently made a copy of Ultimate Edges oval rods.I'm not sure what the prices are now but I think there compairable to DMT.
 
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