Trend diamond stones

[fmendez]

Recently, i had been looking at more information on Trend diamond stones from the UK available in the USA. They are pricey but supposedly very good and consistent. They should be used with their own lapping fluid as not to avoid their warranty.
Does anybody have any experience or know about them?
Thanks

 

[parbajtor]

Most of the "sharpening gurus" over here tend to use DMT. And then starkie blue on their strops.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

These may be good hones, but I'd be somewhat skeptical about a diamond hone that needs it's own specialized lapping fluid, for the sake of the warranty. If other fluids are prone to damaging it, that doesn't speak well for durability, it seems to me. I'd think any decent diamond hone should perform well with water or oil, or water & dish soap, or even dry. DMT doesn't have any issues with any of these (they suggest using water, but won't void the warranty over oil being used), nor do Eze-Lap or Lansky at least.

I hastily wrote the above commentary, then decided to go look for Trend's own site, and hopefully some clarification regarding the lubricant for the hones. I found this statement in the 4th paragraph of the page linked below, which appears to suggest no need for specialized lapping fluid:

(from site: http://www.trend-uk.com/en/US/trend/content/content_detail.php?record_type=Knowledge&id=15894 )

"Diamond sharpening stones will produce lasting performance with normal use and need only to be lubricated with water."

So, beyond that, I don't know if these are any better or worse than DMT or Eze-Lap, or any others. I use DMT mainly, and like them.

 

[BluntCut MetalWorks]

According to company specs

Flatness of all DMT benchstones +- 25.4micron (0.001"), only dia-flat (lapping plate) is +- 12.7micron.
Flatness of all Trend benchstones is +- 12.7micron.

I guess, high flatness precision translate to higher price.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

The tighter flatness is more worthwhile for those sharpening woodworking tools with dead-straight edges, like chisels & plane blades. That seems to make sense with Trend, since they seem to be oriented to woodworkers' tools. It's also helpful if the hones are used for lapping (flattening) other stones, like oil- or waterstones.

On a more typically-curved knife edge, the super-tight flatness spec isn't as necessary. So, I suppose it comes down to what you might use it for, as to whether the higher price is worth paying.