Ive tried the SC Sandpaper on glass method, but looking for something easier and faster. Can you recomend a diamond plate? Thanks!
Ive tried the SC Sandpaper on glass method, but looking for something easier and faster. Can you recomend a diamond plate? Thanks!
Yes, a diamond plate would be an improvement
Personally, I'd recommend an Atoma #400 from Stu at Tools from Japan:
http://www.toolsfromjapan.com/store/...oducts_id=1194
PHM
Being pathologically thrifty, I haven't spent the $$ on a diamond plate (yet). My poor man's solution is using a $10 or free piece of 1/4 float glass with some water and 90x silicon carbide lapping grit from Lee Valley. I purchased the glass from a glass shop and they polished the edges so I won't cut myself handling it. Sprinkle on some water and grit and lap for 10-15 seconds and your stone will be as flat as the glass. I think it was 5 or 6 bucks for the lapping grit, so all in you're looking at $16.00. I think the lapping grit comes in higher grits, I'm not necessarily recommending 90x lapping grit but it was what I had on hand when I started doing this. It does cut very fast indeed.
By the way, in lieu of float glass, a granite countertop offcut would work well also. If you stop by a countertop fabricator shop, they'll probably give you all the small pieces of granite you can carry.
I am flattening Shapton traditional (not glass) stones. I think they would be similar in nature to the Norton water stones for flattening purposes. Hope this is helpful,
How do you keep the silicon carbide grit particles from embedding in the surface of the water stones?
I've never noticed that happening. It always seems to me that the grit rinses off under the faucet when I'm done. I've been doing it this way for years. You raise a good question though so I'll take a closer look. I haven't noticed larger scratches in the pattern when sharpening after lapping either.
I believe this works. However, a extra coarse diamond stone is just so much more convenient - less to store and easier to use. I bought a Extra Coarse DMT about 15 years ago and used it for about 6 or 7 years before switching to a Shapton diamond stone. The DMT was then used for steel, but it still works decently, so it has proved durable and offered good longevity.
Regards from Perth
Derek
I have water stones that I don't use since diamond plates came on the scene.
However, the set of water stones I have includes a flattening stone.
I keep a fine diamond stone out on the bench. If an edge needs touching up,
I stop what I am doing and touch the edge up. A minute or so and I'm back to
making shavings. There is a small board with stropping leather glued on. Stropping
the edges is part of the sequence.
I learned to sharpen in a Paul Sellers class 15 years ago. The method I just described
is what he taught us. It works.
Last edited by lowell holmes; 02-10-2017 at 11:18 PM.
I used the loose grit on glass for a few years, then broke down and bought a coarse diamond plate (DiaSharp). The grit will wear away at the glass and render it useless for flattening stones so it needs to be changed periodically. Never had a problem with grit embedding in the stone.
The 10 x 4 double-sided course/extra course DMT diamond stone is what I have used for years. I find it convenient to use it under running water if that's available.
Thanks. If i get the 400 atoma, can i use it to reestablish primary bevels, or should i reserve it strictly for flatening stones?
I believe it has been recommended to use it only to flatten stones and that using it to work on your tools will wear it down excessively. Others may chime in to refute this and I may have not come across later info on the Atoma 400.
David