Do Diamond Stones Wear Out?

[Bill DeShivs]

there is poly and mono diamond types, and then there is bonded and coated diamond plates.

each has different properties when using them as sharpening abrasives.

bonded diamonds are not the same as what's described in the above post.

bonded are diamonds mixed in with a resin which is applied to the stone. They work more like a traditional stone and they are less aggressive because there is less space between the diamonds.

bonded stones will be thicker as when they wear away it then wears down. where as the coated diamond stones are coated with diamonds on the top.

for coated diamond stones, you may get a 1000grit stone but it will feel more aggressive until it's worn in after some use.

Regardless, the process is the same. The diamonds are embedded in a softer matrix. The diamonds can fracture, and/or be pulled from the matrix. The matrix itself can wear.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Regardless of matrix wear, the diamonds themselves will wear over time. Polycrystalline diamond will fracture to expose fresh cutting edges in use and so keep operating at higher agression for longer, but also wear out faster. Monocrystalline is less prone to fracture and so wears out slower but will blunt over time and cut less and burnish more than poly.

 

[skyhorse]

I have a set of 8x3 's that I've used for about two years and no problems yet. I only use enough pressure to hear that feedback noise that's music to our ears.

 

[Securis]

Slowly. You can speed up the wear by pressing very hard.

I did that before, on the spyderco sharpmaker diamond rods. After awhile, i'm pretty sure i was sharpening steel with steel. Not making that mistake again.