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DMT continuous or interrupted.Which is better?

If you're talking about the Diaflats, I don't know, so I got one of each. Haven't worked with them yet, so can't say which I favor.

If you are comparing plates with those awful (IMO) things with blue or red plastic gaps in them, I'd vote for plates every time. Some people like the ones with the gaps, but I can't stand the feel of using them.
 
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I think the theory behind the non-continuous surface is that holes will collect the swarf and reduce random scratches. I think the reality is that they're just trying to save money on diamonds and they sharpen slower because you get less abrasive.
 
Blade Lab said:
I think the theory behind the non-continuous surface is that holes will collect the swarf and reduce random scratches. I think the reality is that they're just trying to save money on diamonds and they sharpen slower because you get less abrasive.
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Why don't you bring them into the "blade lab" and get us some conclusive results so we won't have to depend upon mere speculation.
 
If you are looking at full-sized plates, Atoma, Ultrasharp, and the dual-sided CBN plates from Spyderco are all well worth your attention as you make a decision.
 
I've had both and used both for years. The only significant difference, as I see it, is perhaps in the 'feel' or feedback you perceive when using them - the continuous-surface 'Dia-Sharp' hones might lend a somewhat smoother feel in use, and some might find that favorable. I've not noticed any difference in working speed between them. And the 'holes' in the interrupted surface hones might sort of mess with the mind, for some. Maybe some will worry about catching the tips of blades in the recesses on the surface. But if the tips are honed in tip-trailing fashion and technique is otherwise sound, that's really not an issue anyway.

The recesses might seem to collect more swarf, BTW. If the hone is lubricated, it'll tend to collect there. Otherwise, maybe not. An easy way to see that is to blot the surface with a rag or microfiber towel after some grinding has been done on a blade - the towel will pick up the swarf in a polka-dot pattern, which makes it sort of obvious where most of it was on the hone. But if one uses some lubrication on the hone, the issue of swarf buildup is minimal anyway. I do like to use mineral oil on mine, if I'm doing any significant grinding - that renders the swarf buildup essentially moot and makes cleanup easy.

DMT's 'Duo-Sharp' bench hones, with their interrupted surface, are actually spec'd and guaranteed for flatness within tight tolerance as well. So if you need an absolutely flat grinding surface, such as for chisels or plane irons & such, that can be a plus. The continuous-surface 'Dia-Sharp' hones aren't spec'd for flatness, by comparison.
 
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I have the 10" DuoSharp DMT diamond kit. I originally bought it to use with plane and chisel blades. I sometimes pick them up used on the big auction site, and the blades can be in very rough shape. I use a honing guide when sharpening them, and that's why I wanted big stones (plates, etc.). I have really abused the coarse plate when re-profiling some of those plane blades, but they have held up well. I use glass cleaner for a lubricant, and the plates do stay pretty clean. I just hose them off when I'm finished. They work with knives also, but, they do feel a little funky when sharpening a knife, so I generally grab my Spyderco ceramic stones for that job.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the results I get on my chisels and plane blades. But if knives were my main sharpening focus, I would go with the solid diamond (ceramic, or whatever) plates, instead.

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Obsessed with Edges said:
DMT's 'Duo-Sharp' bench hones, with their interrupted surface, are actually spec'd and guaranteed for flatness within tight tolerance as well. So if you need an absolutely flat grinding surface, such as for chisels or plane irons & such, that can be a plus. The continuous-surface 'Dia-Sharp' hones aren't spec'd for flatness, by comparison.
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That's interesting. Their flattening plates are continuous surface, however, and are advertised as "Precision ground flat to +/- 0.0005".
 
I have the DMT interrupted surface hones and one continuous hone(not DMT) but as of yet not seen a discernible difference.I am a newbie with diamonds though.My opinion may not be based in experience.I did buy one 25+ years ago thinking it would replace my oilstones but it wasn't coarse enough so it languished on a shelf until recently.Before being enlightened I bore down on them hard but it still sharpens well.It is no longer a coarse but more like a fine and leaves a good edge.I am enjoying using them now.Keep the input coming.THANK YOU.
 
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