DMT extra-extra fine grit continuous stone???

J

jackknifeh

Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Messages
108
I have used the DMT EE fine grit corrigated 4.25" stone and I NEVER could get it break in so it acted like a finer grit than the extra fine grit stone. Right now I have the fine and extra-fine grit DMT continuos bench stones. I've been very happy with several of DMT's products except the one EE fine grit stone (I tried 3 of them). I decided never to get any more DMT extra-extra fine grit stones. Now I've had the extra-extra fine grit stone (continuous) recommended ty someone I trust but I can't try it for myself. I want to get either the DMT EE fine grit, Spyderco UF, or a Shapton Glass 8k bench stone. I have used the Spyderco and Shapton Glass stones and know how they perform. So, does anyone have any recommendation on if the EE fine grit DMT performs? Will the surface of the bevel be smoother than the extra fine grit leaves after it is broken in? How long does it take to break in an extra-extra fine grit DMT stone. I break them in by using a water stone as if I were wanting to flatten the water stone. This way it covers the entire surface of the diamond stone. The only reason to NOT get the 8k Shapton Glass is because I need to use water which is messier. This is a concern about this decision but not a huge concern. Has anyone used the Spyderco UF stone AND the Shapton Glass 8k, stone and actually compared the finish they leave? How do the results compare between the two as far as a mirror finish? I have used both but don't have both now and I never did a comparison on the finish they leave. I will not get the 16 or 30k Shapton glass stones because they cost more than I'm willing to pay given the fact that the 8k does FAR more than I need. Well, maybe when I win the lottery I'll get the other Shapton Glass stones. :) Any help is appreciated. I do want a finer grit stone than the Spyderco fine (I have it) and the DMT extra fine (I have it) stones but I can get the mirror finish with strops I have so it's not that I can't get the finish I want, I just want a stone also.

Maybe anyone could list the stones in order starting with the finest, smoothest finish they leave to the least smooth.
EXAMPLE:
Smoothest: Shapton Glass 8k
Middle: Spyderco UF
Least smooth: DMT EE

My least concern is the cost between the three stones. But if two stones leave almost the same finish I'd get the least expensive.

So here's what I need everyone to do. Drop everything else in your lives and start testing and evaluating your finest grit stones and give me the results. I'm sure no one has anything more important to think about than my decision on which stone to get. :) Seriously, thanks for anyone's help. AND if anyone wants to suggest getting all three and evaluating them myself, I've already thought about that and wife says no. :D


Jack
 
I have EF only, but won't go EEF. If I hv the $ to spend, I'll try Spyderco UF as next step, with probability of having to work at it longer to address the grit jump.

Limited budget is compensated by time spent on stones :p
 
Chris "Anagarika";12319897 said:
I have EF only, but won't go EEF. If I hv the $ to spend, I'll try Spyderco UF as next step, with probability of having to work at it longer to address the grit jump.

Limited budget is compensated by time spent on stones :p
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I think I've eliminated the DMT EE stone also. Based on what someone told me and the fact that the EEF DMT is foreign to me I'll stick with the Spyderco UF or Shapton Glass 8k. This leaves me with the question of will a Spyderco UF stone produce a mirror finish? The Shapton Glass 8k will produce a mirror finish and when a stone can do that it will also put a VERY smooth (not toothy) edge on the knife. I used my EF DMT today and then went to the Shapton Glass 8k. It is a reasonable jump in grit if you don't have something between the two stones. I have a set of Shapton Glass for the EP and I'm thinking after the DMT EF stone the Shapton 2k then the 8k is a good progression. But the 6"x1" stones are just too small to live with as bench stones unless I have to. So if I can expect the Spyderco UF to put a mirror finish on a bevel I will go with that one instead of the Shapton. OTOH, knowing I'll get what I want with the Shapton glass stone leaves me with a confident feeling when I purchase. No hurry though. Thanks for your input.

Jack
 
I recently got several 8X3 Dia-Sharp stones and the EE Fine had a note in it saying "Your new 3 Micron DMT Diamond Whetstone has been 'broken in' at the factory during the manufacturing process to impart a polished edge with use..."

The EE stone was the only one that had the notice of having been "broken in" at the factory. It definitely does feel smoother than the other DMT stones but I don't have enough experience yet to give you a good evaluation of how it compares performance wise to other natural or ceramic stones.

I don't know how long DMT has been "breaking in" the EEF stones or if all dealers have "broken in" stones in stock right now. I got this stone from Chef Knives to Go so I presume that the EEF stones that they are selling now will be broken in if you are interested in getting one.

Ed
 
Depend on what steels you try to sharpen at high grit level. DMT EE is over kill for simple carbon & soft alloy steels. EE is specifically great for high wear resistant steels, where VC & WC is more than 2% (except D2 & similar would also greatly benefit from diamond). Steels such as: s30v, m390, cpm-m4, so on.

I've 8EE but more often use EE side of E/EE diafold. I don't use my 306UF nor 8K Kitayama waterstone much nowaday. I like deterministic sharpen characteristic of diamond over other abrasives because others involve too much in guessing on burnish & excess soft matrix abrading.
 
Chris "Anagarika";12321036 said:
Crimsontideshooter (jdavis882 on YT if I recall correctly) used Spyderco UF on one of his demo and it's quite a mirror IMO.
Click to expand...

Yea jdavis is right, I think his progression of grits was DMT coarse, DMT EF, Spyderco UF, then green compound strop and he got a very nice mirror finish. When I get the extra money saved up that's what I'll be buying, the extra find and the ultrafine spyderco. Then the coarse later on because my knives rarely go dull enough to start at a coarse grit. The diamond will be aggressive enough to bring an edge back from half decent to wonderful.
 
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