What's the deal with holes in interrupted diamond hones?

K

KennyB

Joined
Jan 19, 2010
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Why would manufactuer's of diamond hones cut holes into the steel plate rather than just apply the diamonds in a pattern? As far as I knew, the diamonds are dropped on to the plate, and fall out from the holes and are collected for reuse. Wouldn't it make more sense to drop the diamonds through a screen that applied them in a pattern? That way the diamonds could still be re-used, the interrupted surface wouldn't have the little holes that the user's knife tip could get caught in them, and it would be beneficial to the manufacturer since they wouldn't have to cut holes out of the steel.

Then again I know that DMT has been making them like that for a while, so there's got to be some kind of reasoning behind it.
 
Some like this because when using water the water will not run off the stone as much (it collects in the holes which serve as "wells"). Some enjoy the holes because if a portion of the stone is getting dry, they can quickly run a finger across the stone and it spreads the water around....flat stones will dry quicker and you need to constantly wipe/spray/dip them if you want to use water.

The stated reason for them is to give the removed material a place to collect instead of having metal shavings/filings rolling around between the abrasive and the work you are polishing.

I dislike holes because I can not sharpen/polish really small things on them (because they drop or snag in the holes).
 
unit said:
Some like this because when using water the water will not run off the stone as much (it collects in the holes which serve as "wells"). Some enjoy the holes because if a portion of the stone is getting dry, they can quickly run a finger across the stone and it spreads the water around....flat stones will dry quicker and you need to constantly wipe/spray/dip them if you want to use water.

The stated reason for them is to give the removed material a place to collect instead of having metal shavings/filings rolling around between the abrasive and the work you are polishing.

I dislike holes because I can not sharpen/polish really small things on them (because they drop or snag in the holes).
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Yeah, I've heard the idea that they're to collect the swarf, but that always seemed like a statement made of common sense deliberation rather than actual first-hand knowledge. One of the reasons I suspect so is because DMT diamond stones come in a continuous pattern.

I don't like the holes for the same reason and have seen many people with the same sentiment, which made me wonder why they still do it like that. I suppose it does make sense that it gives places for water to collect, but that seems more like an coincidental feature rather than a design choice.
 
With holes = good for hogging away material
Without = good for higher grits and finishes imo.

for everything under 800-1000 grit i guess its a good idea with holes, for everything else, not so good.

And the risk of damaging the tip my oh my. Even though its easily fixed once you have diamonds..
 
cbwx34 said:
http://www.dmtsharp.com/dmtdiff/faqsfeedback.php#What is the difference


cbw
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Oh, okay... So the cost-savings in using less diamonds is the coincidence and the holes to catch swarf is the design choice instead of the other way around, and the continuous stones are the answer to the tip issue. Got it.

I had just always assumed that the interruptions were to be able to offer a lower priced product to the consumer.
 
KennyB said:
Yeah, I've heard the idea that they're to collect the swarf, but that always seemed like a statement made of common sense deliberation rather than actual first-hand knowledge. One of the reasons I suspect so is because DMT diamond stones come in a continuous pattern.

I don't like the holes for the same reason and have seen many people with the same sentiment, which made me wonder why they still do it like that. I suppose it does make sense that it gives places for water to collect, but that seems more like an coincidental feature rather than a design choice.
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Well, coincidence could be the reason...many times the story behind how things got the way they are and why manufactures say they are that way is not the same...

Regardless, there are some people that enjoy these things for whatever reason (I can think of one other reason I have not yet mentioned...WEIGHT, the non-continuous stones weigh almost nothing compared to the thick steel plates I use and I notice just how heavy my stone set is when I travel!)

I suspect that the people on this (and other knife) forums make up a fairly small portion of the buyers of these products...and further, there are people buying and using these things that are not even sharpening knifes with them. I could imagine sharpening a mild steel hatchet or axe would result in a lot more swarf and perhaps therein lies the value of this design?

Why would YOU want the holes? That is up to you...personally, I recommend most people save up for the more expensive continuous DMT boat anchors:p
 
The holes are there to use less abrasive, primarily. The diamonds are not dropped on the plate. They are suspended by agitation in an electroless nickel plating bath.
 
And they come double sided too, without a lot of weight you have a xc/c combination or an f/xf combo.
There is also a version with a small continuous area on the stone, giving you the benefit of the water collecting holes, less weight, dual sides, a base in which you can slide it and a continuous surface. I have both the continuous in xxc and xxf and the non continuous xc,c,f,xf and like the non continuous better so far. The reasons are less weight, a base to put it on, not much water needed/no rapid drying and the size of 10".
I have no problem with my tips sticking in the holes whatsoever, noprobs at all, and have sharpened pointy knives on it like sebenza, spydercos etc.
 
I have the interrupted in several grits, and the continuous in F only. It seems to me that the continuous loads up quicker with swarf, so I tend to prefer the interrupted. It could be just the particular stones I have, but that has been my experience. Also, I haven't had any issues with tip damage on the interrupted, so from my end it comes down mostly to personal preference.
 
Any Cal. said:
I have the interrupted in several grits, and the continuous in F only. It seems to me that the continuous loads up quicker with swarf, so I tend to prefer the interrupted. It could be just the particular stones I have, but that has been my experience.
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Loading was about equal in my experience. However, I do find that my interrupted, 6x2 F stone gave me much sharper edges than my continuous, 11.5 x 2.5 F stone. Break-in could be a possible factor since I haven't had my continuous stone as long as I had my interrupted.

Any Cal. said:
Also, I haven't had any issues with tip damage on the interrupted, so from my end it comes down mostly to personal preference.
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I would get snagging sometimes, but this was before I really learned how to sharpen. So I don't know if that would be a function of the polka-dots or of skill.
 
What do I know, but my guess is to make the effective area larger. If they just put the diamonds in without the holes the 1"X4" would be something like 1/2"X2".
 
THG said:
Loading was about equal in my experience. However, I do find that my interrupted, 6x2 F stone gave me much sharper edges than my continuous, 11.5 x 2.5 F stone. Break-in could be a possible factor since I haven't had my continuous stone as long as I had my interrupted.



I would get snagging sometimes, but this was before I really learned how to sharpen. So I don't know if that would be a function of the polka-dots or of skill.
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Oh, but only my experience counts. :D

It is interesting that yours are the opposite. Does that make me special? :eek::D
 
I'm pretty sure the holes in the diamond patterns are there simply for them to use less abrasive material as a cost saving measure. Any other explanation is simply marketing mumbo jumbo.
 
Danbo said:
I'm pretty sure the holes in the diamond patterns are there simply for them to use less abrasive material as a cost saving measure. Any other explanation is simply marketing mumbo jumbo.
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Then they could also just have put less abrasives on it. Would have saved them the drilling.

Thhe holes definitely work for retaining water
 
Danbo said:
I'm pretty sure the holes in the diamond patterns are there simply for them to use less abrasive material as a cost saving measure. Any other explanation is simply marketing mumbo jumbo.
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Thats pretty much my take on it also. Less diamonds for the same cost. Its always about $ in the end.

STR
 
No sir. The wife put it on hold hoping/waiting for the economy to stabilize. So, we're still Okie's for a while yet. I do still have my own U-Haul truck though!

STR
 
A lot of the continuous stones are less expensive by about 1/3 than the interrupted. The 6x2 continuous run around $25, while the interrupted are often closer to $40. The 8" continuous are $50 while the interrupted are $79. Also, the continuous are usually on steel, which could add considerable costs as well.

While the interrupted could conceivably be a marketing ploy, DMT could sell many more of them if they were less expensive. That being the case, I would assume that it is more of a case of INCREASED cost of production, rather than cost cutting measures, and there are solid reason that they started production, and still continue to carry it on, despite the increased cost.
 
Well keep in mind that the interrupted sharpeners have fancy stands and covers and rubber boots. Then there's also the drilling of the nickel plate. I'm not sure how much that could affect the price, but it is a difference that could be partially responsible.
 
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