Sharpmaker stones holding embedded grit from diamonds?

Z

ZT0566FDEBW

Joined
Oct 15, 2014
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31
Ever since I purchased the "diamond" rods for my sharpmaker, I've had sections of what I can only describe as "grit" I encounter on my medium and fine rods. This happened after I was reprofiling a blade.

I can only assume that I was probably using more force than I should have when using the diamond rods and dislodged some of the abrasive, which hitched a ride on the blade to the next sharpening steps.

And yes, I've learned from my mistakes. This happened early on in my sharpening journey, a couple of years ago.

The big question is, how to get this out, or is it possible? I've scraped the rods together, cleaned them with Barkeepers and Comet, to no avail.

Just makes me cringe every time I run a blade down them and hit those spots. A nice smooth run interrupted by the feeling you've hit a rock.

Is it simply time for new stones and call it done? They still seem to sharpen decently (I now use them almost exclusively for micro bevels).

Thanks!
 
All your're feeling is the abrasives opening up and doing their thing, and the different grind pattern on the blade left by the diamonds.

Diamond dust ain't gonna hitchhike to hang out permanently on some hard ceramic elsewhere.

I would ignore it unless it affects your sharpening. Of that's the case, I'm wrong and you have a strange defect.

But not migrating diamond dust. 😉
 
If the rods were somehow altered or damaged due to the diamond, it may take the diamond to 'fix' the issue as well. Whether it's actually embedded diamond grit (I've never actually heard of this happening with ceramics, so I'm skeptical of this as a cause), or if transferred diamond grit gouged or chipped the ceramic (I'd could see this happening sometimes), the diamond may be the only material hard enough to (carefully) take the bumps out of the ceramic, or at least smooth them out a bit.

You might use one of your diamond rods to very carefully (lightly) rub/burnish one of the bumpy areas on the ceramic, to see if it will minimize the bumps or noticeably alter how they feel or behave. That might clarify or confirm if the ceramic rods are fixable or not. If not, then it may be time to replace the damaged rods with new ones.

If you haven't done so already, it might also be worthwhile to examine the 'bumps' under very brightly lit magnification (10X or better), to see if the type or cause for the bumps becomes more obviously visible. I'd think if they're big enough to feel so easily while sharpening, they're likely big enough to be seen at 10X or higher magnification, with very good lighting. Might mark the bumpy spots you 'feel' under the blade with a Sharpie, so it'll be easier to isolate them under a magnifier.


David
 
Thanks, gents. I didn't realize we had a microscope at home - wife has one for our kids - so I think I'll investigate under magnification.

I now have down to 800 grit diamond plates with my work sharp guided sharpening system. If I "need" to do repairs, would those do the job of "fixing" the sharpmaker stones?
 
ZT0566FDEBW said:
Thanks, gents. I didn't realize we had a microscope at home - wife has one for our kids - so I think I'll investigate under magnification.

I now have down to 800 grit diamond plates with my work sharp guided sharpening system. If I "need" to do repairs, would those do the job of "fixing" the sharpmaker stones?
Click to expand...

IF they're fixable, I'd think 800 grit should be enough to reduce or (just maybe) eliminate the bumps. No guarantees though. Just go about it very lightly, and see if you can detect any difference made by rubbing with the diamond plates. Excessive scrubbing with the diamond plate is likely to be unhelpful or even damaging. If the bumps are going to be changed or removed at all, some light rubbing should produce some change pretty fast. If not, I wouldn't press it; and then consider replacing the ceramic rods, or just living with them as they are, as (you've previously indicated) they still sharpen OK.


David
 
Hi,
Try using a strong flashlight to shine on the stone,
diamonds will reflect the light very strongly , looks like little stars


Also, mark the side of the triangle thats bumpy, and try using another side
 
I have a hard to me believing diamond grit would be imbedded in ceramic. Both materials are so hard I just don't see it sticking.

The diamond would gouge or chip the ceramic but not stick. The diamond plate shouldn't be releasing grit either, if it was you would have smooth metal where diamonds once were.

Lapping ceramic with diamond stones can work but you risk damaging the diamond plate and you WILL change the surface of the ceramic making it cut differently. Also, 800 diamond is too fine for even the UF Spyderco ceramic, it would make the ceramic even finer... which could be good or bad.

Lastly, spyderco ceramics are not always flat. I tried lapping a SM rod once, I quickly stopped because I realized it would have taken me 3 months to get it flat.
 
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