For the OCD sharpener in all of us

KarlMaldensNose

KarlMaldensNose

Joined
Feb 3, 2009
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Are you using that ubiquitous green honing compound bar? You know, the stuff sold practically everywhere, that you thought was chromium oxide (0.5 microns)? Well, it is and it isn't. It seems that it pays to be anal in one's research as well as one's sharpening. Read on...

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/basic-honing/28088-consumer-alert-chromium-oxide-bars-not.html

I've been looking for an excuse to shell out for some 6, 3, and 1 micron DMT Dia-Paste from Lee Valley. Now I have one.:)
 
The DMT paste sucks, get amplex or handamerican diamond spray.
 
Grrrrrr... that's not what I wanted to hear:grumpy:. But thanks for the straight dope, anyway;). The DMT Dia-Paste is all I have access to in Canada. I guess I could order the "good" stuff from the States. But I won't, due to extra shipping, duty fees, tax on the duty, brokerage fees, plus the crappy exchange rate. It's just not worth it.

Knifenut (or anyone else who agrees), what exactly is the 'problem' with the DMT?
 
The carat level of the diamond paste is what makes the difference and the dmt is very low on that scale. The higher the carat level the better the diamond paste will work. Handamerican 12 carat, amplex 4 to 6, and the DMT stuff might be 1 carat, it works really slow I think chromium oxide works faster.
 
Hmmm. That does suck. Should I assume that DMT diamond bench stones suffer from similar carat envy? Typical, since they're the only diamond benches and pastes available this side of the 49th. Kinda ironic, what with the current Canadian diamond smorgasbord and all.
 
Nope just with their paste, their stones are the best.
 
I'd say Norton stones rival or surpass DMT stones in cutting,smooth surface and available
grits.But thats just me.DM
 
From what I am seeing Norton only has 4 grits of diamond stones and DMT has 6. Norton diamond stones also seem to be twice the price.
 
Lapidary supplies carry most polishing compounds in bulk and most are better than 90% purity. I've been using 1/4 micron cerium oxide with good results. Twenty bucks will buy you enough compound for several lifetimes of sharpening.

If you want more variety in diamond grits, you can make your own emulsions and charge your laps/strops yourself. Crystallite has a huge variety of powdered diamonds and plated laps.
 
knifenut1013 said:
The carat level of the diamond paste is what makes the difference and the dmt is very low on that scale. The higher the carat level the better the diamond paste will work. Handamerican 12 carat, amplex 4 to 6, and the DMT stuff might be 1 carat, it works really slow I think chromium oxide works faster.
Click to expand...

I won't argue diamond percentages or comparative cost, but my experience shows the DMT paste will remove material a HECK of a lot faster than CrO2 alone. No comparison at all. I mix it with Handamerican gel because I like the feel it gives on the strop (mineral oil will work too). My 3 tubes have lasted around 4 years so far, and have at least 4 years of paste left. And even the 10 micron paste will give a very polished surface, and will take a DMT Xfine surface to polished in short order.

If I bought some today I would probably try the water based pastes from "tools for woodworking". They have some awesome waterstones, too.
 
Broos said:
I won't argue diamond percentages or comparative cost, but my experience shows the DMT paste will remove material a HECK of a lot faster than CrO2 alone. No comparison at all. I mix it with Handamerican gel because I like the feel it gives on the strop (mineral oil will work too). My 3 tubes have lasted around 4 years so far, and have at least 4 years of paste left. And even the 10 micron paste will give a very polished surface, and will take a DMT Xfine surface to polished in short order.

If I bought some today I would probably try the water based pastes from "tools for woodworking". They have some awesome waterstones, too.
Click to expand...


After using the handamerican diamond spray nothing else compares. Cuts faster than the 6 micron DMT and its only 0.5
 
Maybe you become an American citizen? Long term thinking. Then you could get all these sharpening materials.:D;)
 
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