Lapping with Diamond Hones: Highest Grit?

[Alum of Potash]

In seeking to avoid throwaway sandpaper, and not really being all that fond of lapping all the way to 2000x, I am wondering what folks think is the highest grit with DMT diamond hones that can be reasonably used for lapping natural and artificial water-stones and barber's hones. For example, I have heard that lapping is too much for a 1200x (x-fine), since the diamonds fall off the plate. Is this true, or was too much pressure applied? I have only used a 220x/325x (x-coarse/coarse), but would like to try the higher diamond grits, if possible. Or should I just stick with sandpaper here instead?

 

[life2short1971]

I lap with a DMT D8X 220 grit followed by a the DMT D8F 600grit but you cannot use the 600 standalone unless its just for truing up a coticule regularly. The DMT D8C is the favorite for a one DMT lapping solution. I think the 220 grit DMT is too coarse for truing fine finishing stones by itself. I really like the grits I use now compared to a DMT D8C 325 grit I wore out and retired previous to these. If money was not an object I would have bought Atoma which is a much higher quality product though.

 

[Seraphim]

And here it is--finally.

"Natural" stone user's dirty little secret: They require synthetic hones to flatten out their rocks. Rubbing that preciou$ stone hone over all that diamond is sure to suck all of the mojo right out....

 

[Seraphim]

Actually, now that I think about it, lapping a "natural" hone on a DMT, or other similar synthetic flattening hone is most likely what imparts Mojo the that rock in the first place!

Synthetics are so damn effective, and oozing with good juju, that simply rubbing a rock on it imparts special powers. Sort of like if you rub a plain piece of steel on a magnet it becomes a magnet.

Synthetics are the source of all honing goodness.

Ha.

Ha Ha...

MuHa Ha.....

MUHA hA HA....

Wah HA HA ha HA.

AAAAAAAAAAH HA HA HAAAAAAAA,

WooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HA HA HA!

 

[life2short1971]

Synthetics may be highly effective at metal removal but they will never rival the smoothness of the shaving edge from a natural stone.

 

[Alum of Potash]

And here it is--finally.

"Natural" stone user's dirty little secret: They require synthetic hones to flatten out their rocks. Rubbing that preciou$ stone hone over all that diamond is sure to suck all of the mojo right out....

Actually, now that I think about it, lapping a "natural" hone on a DMT, or other similar synthetic flattening hone is most likely what imparts Mojo the that rock in the first place!

Synthetics are so damn effective, and oozing with good juju, that simply rubbing a rock on it imparts special powers. Sort of like if you rub a plain piece of steel on a magnet it becomes a magnet.

Synthetics are the source of all honing goodness.

Ha.

Ha Ha...

MuHa Ha.....

MUHA hA HA....

Wah HA HA ha HA.

AAAAAAAAAAH HA HA HAAAAAAAA,

WooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HA HA HA!

Now, now, I have yet to take a side here: I mentioned artificial water-stones and barber's hones from the start. Interesting, though, that associating "throwaway sandpaper" with lapping film might pose a threat...

 

[Marco]

I have forwarded this question to DMT directly and, according to them, finer plates should not be used for lapping any natural or synthetic hone. This because (they say) on finer plates the diamonds can come off and "attack" the stones.

I use a DMT 325 as a multi-purpose lapping plate for both my Naniwas and JNAT.

 

[Alum of Potash]

DMT's dedicated "fine" lapping plate is 160x, with the "normal" one being even coarser. Wonder why that is, when 220x regular one seems too coarse and 325x ideal.