Dmt D8xx Sharpener

H

Harry White

Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
136
Question for the sharpeners out there: I'm having a hard time deciding between the DMT D8XX (Extra Extra Coarse), D8X (Extra Coarse) or D8C (Coarse).

My logic is that when I sharpen freehand on an Arkansas stone or a fine Sharpmaker rod, I find it difficult to match the existing edge angles. But I think I do maintain a consistent angle. So if I used a very aggressive sharpener like the DMT D8XX to "set" my edge, then carry over to a finer stone, I'll be maintaining an angle that is comfortable for me.

Also, I have some knives that are DULL. Reprofiling using the Medium rods of the Sharpmaker takes forever, for me.

Any advice/comments on the DMT D8XX vs. D8X vs D8C?

Many thanks for all your thoughts.

Actually, I just saw they don't make the DX (the middle of the coarse grits) in the 8" size, but it is available as part of a double-sided 6" version (Extra-Coarse/Coarse).

I'm not good at sharpening yet, it that helps in the decision.:o
 
For reprofile jobs, or setting your own bevel, the D8XX is really fast. Really fast. It also leaves a ragged edge. The D8X (if this is the black dot one) is about as fast as any of my coarse stones, and I think as fast as my 200 waterstone, but I don't bear down on the waterstone as much as others do. It also leaves a pretty ragged edge. The D8C (blue dot or just blue) is what I usually use when the knife gets pretty dull. I can get it sharp quickly with this, and finish it with the red or green, or ceramic. I wouldn't want to reprofile with this, too slow.

The D8XX is different from the other 2 as the diamonds appear to be bonded directly to a slab of metal, no "holes", no plastic. It's about 5/8 of an inch thick, and very heavy.

I hope that helps.
 
thank you sodak. that's very good info. as the extra coarse (black) only comes in the 6" size -- do you feel that gives you enough room (4" knives)?

(and thank you to all of you who commented on this issue in a similar thread on the SF web site!:)
 
For a 4", it would be ok, but I like more room. I have the black, blue, red, and green in 10" dual sided stones black/blue and red/green, though, not 6 inch. The D8XX only comes in 8", I would have bought a 10" if they would have sold it.
 
Here's a picture so you can see the relative sizes. The top stone is the D8XX, the middle is the D8EE, the bottom is a 10" hone from Hand American. My 10" DMT's were in the garage, and I got too lazy to get them, but this is the same size. The HA setup is wonderful, corian base, magnetic, you can attach leather hones (that have a magnetic backing), but this is a glass plate with some Lee Valley sub-micron paper on it.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q203/sodak_photos/dmt1.jpg
 
The D8XX is my favorite benchstone bar none! It repairs most chipped tips, it thins out edges faster than a 1"x30" belt sander with a comparable grit belt, it flattens non-diamond stones (water, ceramic, Crystolon, India, Arkansas), and it's just a blast. Expensive, though.

If you decide the D6X is what suits your needs and budget better, I don't see any problem using it instead of a longer stone.
 
The D8XX is also my favorite stone, as my mind has been corrupted to where I severely reprofile almost every knife I own. Thom's words (amongst others) brought it to my attention, and I much prefer it to my DMT X Coarse for reprofiling. It is MUCH faster, but I would recommend stopping just short of the edge on reprofiling as it will leave the edge pretty ragged, and it would take a while to refine it. Just go to the next grit to get that last tiny bit of the edge reprofiled and you will be extremely happy with the results. The D8XX is so well liked around here there has been talk of building a shrine to it (see Thom's Book of Edgeclesiastes thread). If you are only restoring an edge without reprofiling a DMT X coarse or coarse would probably be a better choice, but for reprofiling the D8XX is hard to beat, as you can really bear down on it and it just shreds any steel you put in front of it, including ZDP 189 and S30V.
 
thanks everyone!

i ordered the DMT D8XX. i figured i can always go "up" to coarse or fine to refine the edge.

what would you recommend as an intermediate step from:

step 1. reprofiling with the D8XX to
step 2. ???
step 3. the Sharpmaker medium & fine rods to
step 4. leather hone with CRO2.

what would be good for step 2? i don't want to add any more steps between 1 & 3 if possible.
 
For step 2 you could easily get away with useing a 600 DMT, or anything around that size. If you really wanted to you could go right to the Med Spyderco ceramic you will just need to take a little more time with it though.
 
What db said. :D

I've really been gravitating towards DMT and ceramics lately. Nothing against the others, but the quickness of these and ease of cleaning - not to mention lack of smelliness - is really nice. I find that for most of my needs, a DMT duosharp red/blue handles most of my needs with ease. It's only when I'm trying to put a "bragging" edge on things that I haul out the Edgepro and waterstones. Fun, but not necessary.
 
Another :thumbup: for D8XX. It takes the frustration out of reprofiling. It's the most satisfying knife related purchase that I've made in awhile.
 
Harry White said:
thanks everyone!

i ordered the DMT D8XX. i figured i can always go "up" to coarse or fine to refine the edge.

what would you recommend as an intermediate step from:

step 1. reprofiling with the D8XX to
step 2. ???
step 3. the Sharpmaker medium & fine rods to
step 4. leather hone with CRO2.

what would be good for step 2? i don't want to add any more steps between 1 & 3 if possible.
Click to expand...

I use a DMT 600, or a fine silicon carbide stone (400) between the D8XX and the Spyderco brown
 
I just picked up an 8" double sided sharpening stone from Ace Hardware for about $13. One side is coarse, the other fine.

Nowhere on the box does it state what type of stone this is. I searched the internet, and it appears to by made by Ali Industries, but some sites claim it is Silicon Carbide, while others claim Aluminum Oxide.

Anyone familiar with these stones, or similar stones? What do you think it's made of? And would this be a good stone for the step between the DMT D8XX and the Spyderco Medium rods?

Thank you so much!
 
Is it black? If so yes it is most likely silica carbide and will work just fine as your step 2. In fact that is the stone i used for my step one for a very long time before I got my D8xx.
 
yeah, if it's black it outta be silicon carbide. Just like sandpaper, the brown/tan are aluminum oxide, the gray/black silicon. I got a Norton combo stone for $6 at Home depot, and a Craftsman one cost me $8, $13 is just a little bit high-but that's Ace Hardware for ya.
 
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