DMT Disappointment

[Jason B.]

I purchased a smiths oval diamond rod with interrupted surface, I think it was fine grit (orange plastic) but not real sure. The feel was very rough and very spotty across the surface, as in it seemed to be lacking coverage and the abrasive size seemed wrong. It left a very bad finish and wasn't much help for the edge. It felt more like a grooved steel with sand on it.

Hopefully it was just a bad sample but I know with its poor show of quality I won't be switching anytime soon.

Heavy, good to hear DMT took care of you but what's up with that wait? did they give you any reasoning for taking that long?

 

[HeavyHanded]

I figured they're dirt cheap because it's just cheap diamond dust or powder sprinkled and glued to a base. Guess I'm wrong and I should give 'em a go? They just look so cheap, though!

Anyone else vouch for Smith's diamond?

I've got the coarse and fine stones, used them fairly hard for over 13 years now and they still cut like new. Unless they've changed their manufacturing it should still be a very good product. As I noted earlier in this thread, the steel plate that Smith's does their plating on is more substantial than the DMT and I feel it shows in the finished product. If they made an EF stone I wouldn't have bought the DMT in the first place. Now,if we're talking about DMT's continuous surface stuff, that's a different story...

I purchased a smiths oval diamond rod with interrupted surface, I think it was fine grit (orange plastic) but not real sure. The feel was very rough and very spotty across the surface, as in it seemed to be lacking coverage and the abrasive size seemed wrong. It left a very bad finish and wasn't much help for the edge. It felt more like a grooved steel with sand on it.

Hopefully it was just a bad sample but I know with its poor show of quality I won't be switching anytime soon.

Heavy, good to hear DMT took care of you but what's up with that wait? did they give you any reasoning for taking that long?

Ive got their diamond rod too - IMHO they simply took the same stampings they use for their flat stones and bent it around the oval rod. Not enough coverage for that shape and the whole concept may be flawed anyway - too aggressive for a "honing" rod. It does work well on my brush cutting tools. Rat tail file, diamond rod, large kitchen steel = ready to go. I'd never go anywhere near my kitchen or pocket knives with the thing.

No explanation for the long wait. I guess one 6" EF stone didn't qualify for expedited service.