DMT sharpeners?

I have used a variety of DMT products with excellent results. The X-course stones take metal off very, very fast and the fine stones leave a nice fine toothed edge. It will shave hair but is still quite aggressive.
Today I used a DMT lansky type set up to reprofile the edges on three knives (stropping and steeling would no longer bring back the edge and they required new edges to be set. All the edges had become distorted from use on a cutting board.)
The first was a Spydie Military in 440V, even this wear resistant steel was easy to sharpen.
A BG42 Rinaldi TTKK was screaming sharp in less than five minutes. I raised a small burr with the course stone, switched to the fine to remove the burr. Then used an Ultra fine Diafold to remove to last remains of the burr and begin polishing the edge. (this was all at a 15 degree per side or 30 degree included angle)I finished off on a strop loaded with jewelers rouge and tested on arm hair. The hair popped off with no resistance, I couldn't even feel the edge shaving the hairs off.
The last knife was the main blade of a Fireman SAK. In minutes it was scalpel sharp.
The main advantage that I see for diamonds over ceramics is the speed at which diamonds remove material, for me I can maintain a very constant angle for a short period of time, but as the length of the sharpening session increases so does the varience in angle. the more consitent the angle the sharper the edge.
I also seem to get an edge that slices better when using diamonds, particularly if I don't strop the edge after honing.
Stay sharp,
Chad
BTW I ahve had equally good results using ezelap products.

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Wicked Knife Co.
Hoods Woods
chad234@email.com
 
I have had very good results with DMT products. The fine grit gives an excellent working edge.

Paul
 
If you plan on buying a benchstone then without a doubt you should buy DMT.

They work excellent and wont rut-out after prolonged useage like real stones will.

I recommend using flat stones vs say the spyderco sharpmaker because if your ever in need of sharpening in the wilderness and you have no sharpening system you should still be capeable of putting a decent edge on your knives with a natural stone.

Later, Jeff
 
I guess I'll have to break down and buy the DMT set. Also I guess it's safe to say that I'll have good results on VG-10 with the DMT as well as on my Talonite blades. I like that out of the box razor edge so I guess I should buy the course, fine, and extra fine bench stones...heck I may even go ahead and buy the Dellux Aligner kit. I hate to say it but I may be abusing some of my blades by "not" keeping them as sharp as I should.
This Forum is great, ask and ye shall receive, thanks for all the info.
 
I do not like diamond stones of any sort, and that includes DMT. I spoke back and forth via e-mail with the owner of Edgepro and he says that the diamonds are torn off when they sink into the soft steel, they are ripped off the nickel plate. I believe this, as my DMT course stone is useless, as well as my Lansky Diamond system. The diamonds no longer are on the stone. Take it for what it's worth.
 
DMT stones hold up. That has been my experience. They are more coarse than the charts I have seen would have us believe. Their very fine green stone is more coarse than a 1200 grit Japanese waterstone, quite a bit coarser. If you use their very coarse stone for fast removal. It will be fast. However you will need there medium to get out the deep scratches and etc. I like them for their speed and that they are used dry and clean up easy. For fine edges I use ceramic or Japanese waterstones. DMT's fine are not so fine. You will see scratches and not a mirror finish. If a coarse edge works for you they are the way to go. The only gripe I have is that some times the points of knives can get caught in the "checkerboard" substrate.

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Roger Blake
 
Monster, I just noticed you are in Stockton
I live just down the street in Tracy.

If you would like to try out my DMT's before you buy I would be more than willing.

You shouldn't need all of those stones. A coarse and a fine should be all you need.

You can get a knife shaving sharp with the coarse and hair splitting sharp with the fine stone.

I would look into the new 8"x2" DMT double sided stones they are yellow on both side but you can get them in the fine/coarse combo.

Shoot me an E-mail if you want to try out the stones and talk knives.
sevenedges@hotmail.com
Later, Jeff



[This message has been edited by salamander (edited 06-14-2001).]
 
The DMT hones will wear out, but in my opinion, the speed with which they work makes them worth having to replace every so often. This is especially true with some of the harder alloys such as the CPM steels.
 
I've got a little EZE-lap pocket sharpener from a few years back - I would note, even though it now feels smooth, it still cuts into steel very quickly... Just because it feels smooth, doesn't mean it is...

James

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[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 06-15-2001).]
 
Carl:

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I spoke back and forth via e-mail with the owner of Edgepro and he says that the diamonds are torn off when they sink into the soft steel, they are ripped off the nickel plate. </font>
Click to expand...

That is because of the way they are used in the Edgepro. Using light force they are *guaranteed* by DMT not to wear out.

Besides the advantages in terms of speed and maintenance, diamond abrasives are necessary to cut some of the current high carbon, high alloy, especially high vanadium steels and put an optimum finish on them.

-Cliff
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Coonskinner:
The DMT hones will wear out, but in my opinion, the speed with which they work makes them worth having to replace every so often. This is especially true with some of the harder alloys such as the CPM steels. </font>
Click to expand...

This mirrors my experience and opinion also.

I made the mistake of doing too much reprofiling with a Medium Lansky before buying a coarse & X-coarse. These coarse stones really take off some metal in a hurry, even the D2 and CPM420V type stuff! And without heavy pressure. I wore out my original Lansky stones (on a BUNCH of knives, mind you, 80+ probably with multiple sharpenings) and now am using the right stone with less pressure. Should help. Jury is still out on life expectancy.

I value my time spent sharpening more than having stones that last forever, YMMV.
 
Yup the DMT's work great, but I think the Sears double sided black silica carbid hons work just as well. And they cost a heck of alot less. Under $10 for a 7x4x1 caurs/med.
 
One of the TK writers, can't remember which now, but he's retired SF, wrote not too long ago about his EZLap sharpener. I think it was a rod -- just not enough memory cells activated any more. Anyhoo, he's been using it for 30 years, and it works as well as new, he said.

I know everything I've read about using diamonds is to let the diamonds do the cutting. There is no need for much pressure at all. I'd guess it is excessive pressure that may be ruining some folks stones.

Being Scottish, as well as forgetful, I may have to try the tungsten carbide stone(s). Do have to admit, tho, that in reading Ed Fowler's book and watching his video, that I think I should be able to use India stones. He makes it look so easy its unbelievable.

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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
Cliff, I noticed my CPM 440V blades get a better edge after a while by using my fine DMT stone first. I think the Vanadium is so hard the ceramic has a hard time cutting it.

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Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
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If you use the DMT's right they last a long time. Dad got a duo-stone DMT "lansky" style setback when the first came out. Should be about 15-20 years old now. I have them and if I have to do a quick edge re-profile they are what I use. I also have the LARGE duo-side bench stone and use it for free hand sharpening.

The secret is to glide the blade over the stone with VEEERY litle pressure. The harder you push down the easier it is to break off the diamond edges.

The stones will do the work but it seams "wrong" to use so little pressure on the diamonds. Especially if you have learned to sharpen using naural or man-made stones.



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Dwight

It's a fine line between "a hobby" and "mental illness".
 
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