DMT 8k vs Norton 4k/8k

[sproosemoose]

Hi

I read the interactive shaving guide and Joel says it's better to get the DMT 8k and you don't even need the 4k/8k anymore.

So I am thinking of getting the DMT 8k, Chinese 12k and a Tony Miller strop and a diamond plate. Does that sound reasonable?

Thanks

BTW where can I buy these things?

 

[SliceOfLife]

Really? It's good to know he thinks so highly of the EE. I haven't used mine for very long, but I like it. Can't beat it for convenience, and it does fill the role of the 4/8k (works from ~1k just fine).

I just google shoppered mine and picked the cheapest seller. I know one of the vendors on B&B stocks them, but I can't recall which one. Hopefully they'll post.

I believe TM isn't making strops right now, but he still had some listed on his site last I was there. Be sure to get a practice strop added if you are learning to strop.

Chinese 12k best source is eBay seller Open Razor (open_Razor I think) or Woodcraft.com. Can't help you on the diamond plate

 

[sproosemoose]

Really? It's good to know he thinks so highly of the EE. I haven't used mine for very long, but I like it. Can't beat it for convenience, and it does fill the role of the 4/8k (works from ~1k just fine).

I just google shoppered mine and picked the cheapest seller. I know one of the vendors on B&B stocks them, but I can't recall which one. Hopefully they'll post.

I believe TM isn't making strops right now, but he still had some listed on his site last I was there. Be sure to get a practice strop added if you are learning to strop.

Chinese 12k best source is eBay seller Open Razor (open_Razor I think) or Woodcraft.com. Can't help you on the diamond plate

I believe this is what Joel said, but I may have misunderstood since I am unfamiliar with all the terms.

Is a DMT 8k different from a diamond plate?
Also what is EE?

 

[SliceOfLife]

Ah, I see what you meant. DMT is a brand of Diamond plates (probably the best). When you said diamond plate I assumed you meant some kind of plate for applying diamond paste to in addition to the DMT.

EE refers to DMT8EE
Which is the 8x3" 8000grit DMT plate.
EE is short for Extra Extra Fine

 

[sproosemoose]

Oh I see, I am referring to the diamond plate as the block for lapping the hones.
Maybe Joel was saying you can just use the diamond plate 8k and you don't need to lap it and you also won't need a norton 4k/8k.

Not sure though.

 

[holli4pirating]

I'm not a fan of DMT's myself. I think it's largely personal preference, though.

 

[DE Shaver]

Bear in mind that you'll probably have to lap your Chinese 12K stone to get it flat. If you are not up to the task then you may want to reconsider as it can be backbreaking work. As a question, do you already have the Norton 4K/8K? If so, what do you hope to gain?

 

[charismata]

Haven't had my 8K very long, but I think it is one of the best investments that I have ever made. It puts a nice edge on and it does it very very quickly. I have no problems jumping from the 1200 to the 8000. The diamonds cut so quickly that I am now doing complete honing, from blunt and dull to very fine razor sharp in only a couple minutes. Before the diamond hones, I wasted a lot of time sharpening razors.

I also finish on the C12K and that takes longer than all the other progressions combined.

IMO, the DMT's are a great investment and time saver.

 

[sproosemoose]

Bear in mind that you'll probably have to lap your Chinese 12K stone to get it flat. If you are not up to the task then you may want to reconsider as it can be backbreaking work. As a question, do you already have the Norton 4K/8K? If so, what do you hope to gain?

I don't have any hones at the moment. Do I just need one lapping stone? So I can lap the DMT 8K and the Chinese 12K with one diamond plate?

 

[SliceOfLife]

Don't use the 8k DMT to lap. It will rip the diamonds off it.

DMT says not to lap on anything other than the XX, XC and C plates (That's 120,220,and 300 grits).


From what you're looking at, a DMT8EE, a lapped and chamfered China stone with slurry from Open_Razor, and the strop sounds like a good starting point to me. It will be a long time before you'd have to consider relapping the China, so I wouldn't worry about the lapping plate.

 

[raccoonandbrush]

Don't use the 8k DMT to lap. It will rip the diamonds off it.

DMT says not to lap on anything other than the XX, XC and C plates (That's 120,220,and 300 grits).


From what you're looking at, a DMT8EE, a lapped and chamfered China stone with slurry from Open_Razor, and the strop sounds like a good starting point to me. It will be a long time before you'd have to consider relapping the China, so I wouldn't worry about the lapping plate.

You mentioned not using the 8k diamond stone to lap, what about the "very coarse" diamond stone? I was planning on using the "very coarse" DMT to lap the Norton 4k 8k when I get it.

 

[jkh]

You mentioned not using the 8k diamond stone to lap, what about the "very coarse" diamond stone? I was planning on using the "very coarse" DMT to lap the Norton 4k 8k when I get it.

The very (extra) coarse (XC) DMT will work. A lot of people use the coarse (C) DMT as it works almost as fast as the XC and doesn't leave scratches as deep as the XC.

 

[raccoonandbrush]

The very (extra) coarse (XC) DMT will work. A lot of people use the coarse (C) DMT as it works almost as fast as the XC and doesn't leave scratches as deep as the XC.

Check that, I just looked at the stone and it just says "Coarse" not "Extra Coarse". So I'm all set.

 

[sproosemoose]

Check that, I just looked at the stone and it just says "Coarse" not "Extra Coarse". So I'm all set.

What is your complete collection of tools? If you don't mind me asking.

 

[raccoonandbrush]

What is your complete collection of tools? If you don't mind me asking.

Right now have a set of 3 DMT Diamond hones, Coarse, Fine, Extra Fine. I am also planning on getting a Norton 4K 8K hone. I'm assuming that will be enough to keep the razor sharp. I also have a strop.

 

[sproosemoose]

Right now have a set of 3 DMT Diamond hones, Coarse, Fine, Extra Fine. I am also planning on getting a Norton 4K 8K hone. I'm assuming that will be enough to keep the razor sharp. I also have a strop.

Cool, I am wondering though what will the Norton give you that you set doesn't do yet?

 

[raccoonandbrush]

Cool, I am wondering though what will the Norton give you that you set doesn't do yet?

Um, I don't know. Why? Do you think I'm all set with just the 3 Diamond hones? I haven't tried honing yet, but I already had the 3 stones from before. Do you think the "fine" and "extra fine" stones is the equivalent to the Norton 4K 8K?

 

[sproosemoose]

I am pretty confused as well, but I think so. The different coarsness of your hones will probably be something like 4k 8k 12k, so you wouldn't need the other Norton.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28545

This link is talking about the Spyderco ones, which I think will be similiar.

Though I am hoping someone can help set us straight.

 

[raccoonandbrush]

I am pretty confused as well, but I think so. The different coarsness of your hones will probably be something like 4k 8k 12k, so you wouldn't need the other Norton.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28545

This link is talking about the Spyderco ones, which I think will be similiar.

Though I am hoping someone can help set us straight.

I just looked up if there is a "extra extra fine" stone, and there is. It says that it is equivalent to 8K grit. So I'll just get the Norton 4k 8K. Here is the link:
http://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/E...UserID=5792402&SessionID=m0KnoQlezwPQpGADY2CK

 

[jkh]

Cool, I am wondering though what will the Norton give you that you set doesn't do yet?

Um, I don't know. Why? Do you think I'm all set with just the 3 Diamond hones? I haven't tried honing yet, but I already had the 3 stones from before. Do you think the "fine" and "extra fine" stones is the equivalent to the Norton 4K 8K?

Yeah the DMT extra fine is 1.2k or 1200, which most honers use to set bevels. Unless you are honing out some serious chips or doing restorative work you should really never need anything below the DMT extra fine. Since the DMTs cut so fast you can jump from the extra fine (1.2k) to the extra extra fine (8k) without too much trouble. However, you would not want to jump from a Norton 1k (or DMT 1.2K) to a Norton 8k, you'd be honing for days on the 8k to remove the scratches from the 1k (or 1.2k).