DMT Diamond Sharpeners

bodeeda

bodeeda

Joined
May 5, 2013
Messages
14
I'm a newbie and still trying to learn my way around the forum, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend which DMT is best for small to large blades and which would be good choices for sharpening highly curved blades like a Parang and Kukri :confused: any help would be greatly appreciated !!!
 
DMT 11.5 Inch Dia-Sharp. It's fine for sharpening small (regular) and large knives with recurve because of long curve and obtuse angle. That said, traditional SiC or AlO or Ceramic stones are better suited than diamond plates for dealing with large blades. My dmt plates took some damage from sharpen large knives - it's not that easy to keep light pressure with a 2 lbs knife.
 
An 8" or larger Duo-Sharp (double-sided, interrupted surface) bench hone in Coarse/Fine is a wonderful thing for quick re-bevelling of most any blade. More so, if you're working on very wear-resistant steels like S30V/S90V/etc. This particular grit combo is also a good stand-alone sharpener, leaving extremely sharp but toothy working edges on blades. Can be used dry, but I'm developing a fondness for using mineral oil or similar to lube the hone while working. Very smooth feedback used this way, and makes for very even & uniform grind patterns on bevels. Cleans up very easily in dish soap & water. Can also use water only, or dish soap & water to lube the hone while working.

For any other light maintenance or touch-ups, DMT's pocketable hones are great. I especially like their 'credit card' hones for quick touch-ups on traditional pocketknife-sized blades, and those hones are as portable as anything you'll ever find. Very convenient.

For highly-curved blades, I still think some wet/dry sandpaper, temporary spray adhesive, and a cylinder (pvc pipe, etc.) is the best tool for curves/recurves. Use the temporary adhesive on the back of the paper (spray it, let it sit for a few minutes to become tacky but dry to the touch), and stick the paper to the hard/firm cylinder. Use a stropping stroke (edge-trailing).


David
 
Thanks, I see they make that DMT in 4 grits ! Would you advise getting them all or something like 2 ?
 
I use the red (medium) and green (fine) DMTs 90 per cent of the time. I occasionally use a coarse DMT for reprofiling. You can also get diamond honing cones for gouges and recurved blades.
 
bodeeda said:
Thanks, I see they make that DMT in 4 grits ! Would you advise getting them all or something like 2 ?
Click to expand...

I think the Coarse/Fine combo (blue/red, or 45/25 micron) is the best and most versatile combination available. Start there, and you'll be immediately in business. Can always add to the toolbox down the road, if you decide you want to. I have other DMT hones in EF (green, 9 micron) and EEF (tan, 3 micron), and like them. But I've never used or felt any need for anything more aggressive than the Coarse.

DMT actually produces hones in six grits (XXC, XC, C, F, EF, EEF), though not all grits are available in all lines of their hones. In fact, recently they've even marketed a 7th variation; a limited-run 'medium' version of an EF grit (6 micron, between the standard EF and EEF). You can find most all of their sharpening tool options in Coarse, Fine and EF (blue, red, green), at least.


David
 
Thanks for all the info, I ordered the DMT stones today, gonna sharpen my A** off all of my blades
 
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