ZDP Sharpened with Diamond Films

Sadden

Sadden

Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
795
So today I used some of kens diamond films to sharpen a ZDP-189 Endura , for a customer. My progression went like this.

140 Atoma , 220 , 1k shapton , 15u , 9u , 3u , 1u , 0.5u HD Diamond Films , Stropped with CBN on Roo , 0.5u , 0.25u , 0.125u , 0.1u
At 12DPS its nice and sharp.



The HD Diamond Films are excellent , and I highly recommend them. I have some more coming so that I can replace the entire bottom half of the progression above with Diamond Films.

These are available at jendeindustries. , or directly from Ken.
 
How much use can those films tolerate before needing replacement? Always wondered if they mightn't last indefinitely if used with light pressure.
 
I don't know of anyone who has worn them out yet. They will last a very long time , its a structured/stacked film. Think of the diamonds as being stacked up into little tiny pyramids , as you wear down your always exposing fresh abrasive. Similar to the structured ceramic belts for belt sanders.

Ken's still using his original samples....

Once you get up to the finer HD films (1 micron or so) its best to use only edge trailing strokes to avoid cutting into them. Other than that I use the lower grit ones pretty hard and they hold up great.

For the average home user who only occasionally tackles super steels having a few of these in the toolbox is a cost effective and efficient way with dealing with the tough stuff. The scratch pattern is far superior to the DMT stones.

They go as low as 165u (coarser than both the Atoma 140 and the DMT XXC)to as fine as 0.1u
 
mind sending an email on where you got those, I believe I know but I can't find them on the site.
 
I have a bunch running from 165 micron to 6 micron. The higher grits - predictably - seem to hold onto the diamonds better and wear pretty well. On the other hand, the adhesive on the 165/125/74 micron tapes is not very good. I have had 4 come off of the glass plate.

The lower micron tapes (i.e. 45 and below) have much better adhesive, though they don't wear nearly as well. I'd suggest only using edge trailing strokes, as I have a few tapes that I can see through in places where the tape has worn through to the backing.

Economically, I think that it makes more sense to get the Atoma 140 and 400 plates, then pick up Shapton plates up through 5k. The lower grit diamond tapes (below 6 micron) are reasonable since low grit stones are typically very expensive.
 
Sadden said:
I don't know of anyone who has worn them out yet. They will last a very long time , its a structured/stacked film. Think of the diamonds as being stacked up into little tiny pyramids , as you wear down your always exposing fresh abrasive. Similar to the structured ceramic belts for belt sanders.

Ken's still using his original samples....

Once you get up to the finer HD films (1 micron or so) its best to use only edge trailing strokes to avoid cutting into them. Other than that I use the lower grit ones pretty hard and they hold up great.

For the average home user who only occasionally tackles super steels having a few of these in the toolbox is a cost effective and efficient way with dealing with the tough stuff. The scratch pattern is far superior to the DMT stones.

They go as low as 165u (coarser than both the Atoma 140 and the DMT XXC)to as fine as 0.1u
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That's good news. I've been wanting to get some for my Washboard but am not thrilled at the price and am very happy with how the SiC tackles most steels. My experience with many of the AlOx lapping films, even 3M, is that they wear out a little too fast for the cost, even if care is used in preventing them from loading up. So far I haven't come across anything I really needed diamond for, but am planning on doing some work on ceramics in the near future. I'd also like to have a few sheets in 45, 15, and 1u just to play with - is good to know they should last plenty long enough to pay for themselves.

Martin

Edit to add: I almost forgot to ask what the thickness is of the substrate and if they are available without the adhesive.
 
Cynic2701 said:
I have a bunch running from 165 micron to 6 micron. The higher grits - predictably - seem to hold onto the diamonds better and wear pretty well. On the other hand, the adhesive on the 165/125/74 micron tapes is not very good. I have had 4 come off of the glass plate.

The lower micron tapes (i.e. 45 and below) have much better adhesive, though they don't wear nearly as well. I'd suggest only using edge trailing strokes, as I have a few tapes that I can see through in places where the tape has worn through to the backing.

Economically, I think that it makes more sense to get the Atoma 140 and 400 plates, then pick up Shapton plates up through 5k. The lower grit diamond tapes (below 6 micron) are reasonable since low grit stones are typically very expensive.
Click to expand...

If you have some of the older ones then the first glue wasn't as good. And theres been other improvements in the past month that are going to make them bond to the glass better.

HH , I use these with water so they don't really load up.

Allen , they are available over at JendeIndustries , or directly from Ken , shoot him an email at ksskss at earthlink dot net

FWIW on lots of knives I prefer these to my shaptons , they cut faster , and I don't have to adjust for stone thickness on the EP , just change em out and gogogo.
 
Sadden said:
If you have some of the older ones then the first glue wasn't as good. And theres been other improvements in the past month that are going to make them bond to the glass better.
Click to expand...

Are you well acquainted with Ken Schwartz? I'm curious as to what adhesive he is currently using, as I would like to re-attach the low grit tapes back to the backings with a better adhesive than Loctite Glass Glue.
 
Cynic2701 said:
Are you well acquainted with Ken Schwartz? I'm curious as to what adhesive he is currently using, as I would like to re-attach the low grit tapes back to the backings with a better adhesive than Loctite Glass Glue.
Click to expand...

Yeah man , shoot him an email with the one I provided up above , I'm sure he will be interested in helping you out. I cant remember what hes using now except that it is exceedingly expensive. The main problem was that with the glass is that's its so smooth that the glue has nothing to really grab onto. And its a wet environment. Hes doing some experimenting to fix that though :)
 
What would be the price and time frame to have a ZT560 sharpened and polished to that quality?

PM me with details
 
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If you look around on the net you can find large sheets for less than jende or Schwartz. I have no prob with edge leading down to 9mic. 6mic you have to have light touch and below that forget it at my skill level. Great on the edgepro too. Russ
 
Cynic2701 said:
Are you well acquainted with Ken Schwartz? I'm curious as to what adhesive he is currently using, as I would like to re-attach the low grit tapes back to the backings with a better adhesive than Loctite Glass Glue.
Click to expand...

3M spray glue I believe.
 
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