DMT Duosharp newb question

S

starboard

Joined
Apr 28, 2007
Messages
243
I just got my first diamond whetstone -- a DuosharpPlus (with the small Diasharp-like continuous area) -- and I've been wanting to ask whether the use of water is optional.

This is a coarse/fine 8" stone and I set about reprofiling a much-abused Endura. Tried with water and without, and I think the dry approach yields better control and a better feel for me.

Is dry ok? Does water help produce a smoother edge? Is it silly to worry about scraping the surface off this thing and ending up with bald plates, lubricated or no?

I went for a very steep angle on this knife and after this last (dry) session I can see a slight "ragged" quality to the edge using just my reading glasses. It shaves, but not as smoothly as I hoped it might. (Then again, I don't have an ExtraFine DMT to try, yet).

All in all, using a diamond stone is amazingly effective. I do need to work on maintaining perfect angle while doing freehand, as my newly ground "flat" edge is a slight convex shape composed of many flat surfaces.
 
I'm no pro at this but you're on the right track.
Dry is ok, but a few drops of water may give you a smoother ride.
I always use my diamond and ceramic stones dry.
Rinse the debri with liquid hand soap periodically.
As long as you don't press to hard you won't scrape the diamonds off.

Diamond stones always leave a little bit of a coarse/jagged edge,
and take a lot of metal off the knife. Once you get your bevel set,
I like finer stones like ceramic or Arkansas to finish and maintain it.
I don't have any experience with the ExtraFine DMT..
 
I've been using the DMT Duosharps for twenty years now, and in my opinion, they work much better and produce a smoother edge if used with water. Even with a 30X loupe, my edges finished on the 9 micron DMT extra-fine look smooth, although the scratch pattern on the bevel is still visible at that magnification.

P.S. The manufacturer's instructions with mine say "use water for lubricant".
 
It is my understanding that water on the stone helps to carry the swarf away from the cutting surfaces. If so, then the stone should cut faster with water. It certainly doesn't hurt and a little bit of water doesn't make much of a mess. When I am re-profiling on my DMTs, I use a water spray bottle liberally. Works well.
 
I generally prefer to use mine dry but rinse 'em as needed in the shop sink which is nearby.
 
Thanks much for the advice, folks.

I wish I knew how much pressure is too much insofar as scraping the stone bare, but I did the reprofile and ding removal in I suspect one hour on the coarse side, perhaps longer. I hope that's a modest rate of steel removal.

And indeed, I did see the "use only water for lubrication" instruction, but I didn't know whether lubrication in itself was optional. Seems like they would have made a stronger statement if it were required (e.g. "Do not use without water, noob!"). I'll go back to water for the next iteration and see if I can smooth out the edge. (I'm sure Sal would be happy to sell me another Endura after I turn this one into an awl... or did I just invent the next Spyderco hit -- the Endurawl (tm) ?)

Oh, and what do you guys think about those DMT kitchen "steels"? Worth having around, or is a touch-up on the benchstone the way to go?
 
DMT's website and instructions that come with most of their diamond hones indicate that dry or lubricated with water are both acceptable. Once you find what you like best, that'll be the only important consideration.
 
I can't really say how much pressure is too much, but I can tell you how much is enough.

1) Set the bench hone on a firm flat surface.
2) Lay the blade of the knife to be sharpened on the hone.
3) That is enough pressure. If you don't believe it, slide the flat of the blade along the hone, then turn it over and look for scratches. I promise you will see some.

From what I have been told over the years, three to five pounds of pressure is plenty for sharpening. I had a cheap food scale that I used to see how much that was by feel. I just set up the scale, laid a blade on it like I was going to sharpen it on the platform and applied the pressure I normally did when sharpening. I still don't know how much that was, because the little scale didn't go that far. I still have to watch myself constantly to keep my pressure light a dozen years after that little experiment. :o
 
i'm totallly new at this but I spray the DMT's with water with a touch of dishwashing liquid.
 
I usually use my diamond stones dry but will occasionally use a bit of water. I can't really say that there is much of a rhyme or reason that I choose one or the other at any given time. Sometimes at work I go to touch up my knife on my little DMT pocket stone and something just doesn't feel quite right, like it doesn't quite have the bite that it usually does I'll use a few drops of water or even a little spit to help unclog the stone. Don't worry, I don't use spit often, and I do clean the stone periodically so I'm not always carrying a slimy slobbery spit covered DMT in my pocket all the time. :barf:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top