Spyderco or DMC ?

[MaverickPL]

Hello,

I am a newbie straight shaver and I just bought myself a have ready dovo turtoise straight and a strop.

At the moment I look into the near future and I see that I will need some hones soon.

What I would like is:

- something reasonable priced with a few scales of gritness for different works (I might get some vintage razor later to practice the honing)
- no need of lapping
- honing without water
- something durable which lasts me for years

Based on the criteria above I thought about getting a spyderco bench stones or the DMT damond stones. Which would you suggest and why ?

I've used spyderco tri-anngle sharpmaker for knives and I love the ceramic sharpening, on the contrary I don't have too much confidence in DMT diamond dust stones (?) when it comes into durability.

What do you think ? Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[wdwrx]

Both those types of stones you've mentioned have issues.
In my experience, Spyderco's work best for razors with water or shaving lather. And in spite of the fact that you aren't "supposed" to lap them, they are anything but dead flat, though they won't wear at all. The manufacturer only claims to have them within certain tolerances. Beyond that, they arent very rewarding to work with; they lack a certain je na se qua.

The DMT's also need to be used with water, but otherwise are durable and quite effective at rapid metal removal. I found that my DMT 1200# needed some good breaking in to remove obtrusive or oversized particles. To work with, my 8x3 is a beast. It's a chunck of 1/4" plate steel, so heaven forbid i drop it on the floor or in the sink, and it really drags to hold it for any amount of time. I've never used anything beyond the 1200, so I can't say what they are like to shave off of.

There's some mucking about and messiness dealing with honing razors, IMHO. I couldn't imagine doing it without some. My wife just loves that!

 

[jtrops]

I have a DMT 1200 with the interupted surface, and a DMT 8k continuous plate. My criteria for choosing these hones was pretty much like yours. I like that they are flat and need no lapping. I like that they don't need to be soaked prior to use.

I was also considering overall cost, and simplicity of a system. It has been said many times on the forums that the DMT 8k cuts like a 4k, finishes like an 8k. With the same reasoning I figured that the 1.2k would cut like a 600, and finish like a 1.2. So between the two hones I can get a finish of an 8k, but the bevel setting of a 600. It's almost like getting four hones in two.

Another thing you will read on the forums is that you can shave off of an 8k. That may be true, but not off of the DMT 8k. It is a sharp edge that easily passes the treetop arm hair test, but it pulls as a shaver without follow up on a finisher. I have been using my Carborundum 101a as my finisher, and it's been great. I will probably be getting a C12k, or maybe a Spyderco ultrafine to complete my kit. I still like the idea of being able to use it without lapping and soaking.

It is a good system, maybe not perfect, but good. I still like the simplicity of it, and I haven't felt the need to go to more traditional hones.

As for durability, I am not worried about wearing out these plates. Razors are so light, and require such little metal removal during the honing that it could be a very, very long time before I noticed a degradation in the performance. I could see them wearing more quickly if you were sharpening kitchen knives, or work knives.

 

[MaverickPL]

So you're both suggesting DMT's ? and no love for the spyderco ?

I can afford 1200 + 8000 DMT set but the fact that for the same price I can get a set of medium/fine/ultra is tempting.

On the other hand DMTs are 3" width instead of the 2" as the Spyderco. Does the DMT stone comes with some kind of case or is it only a stone ?

Decisions...decisions...

 

[life2short1971]

I would not get an 8000 dmt for straight razor use. Too much metal coming off too fast and no polishing ability. If you want bare bones then get a Naniwa 1k and a 3/8k combo or a Coticule. the 3/8 is more beginner friendly but the Coti is better finishing and can be used for all your needs beyond bevel setting.

 

[Wid]

If I were to have thought more about it I would have bought the 600/1200 DMT and the 4/8K Norton instead of the 220/1K Norton combo. Then top it off with the finishing stone of choice. I'm liking the Naniwa 12K for my finishing stone. Keep in mind, I am new to honing.

 

[life2short1971]

With what you have a 3/8k will fit in nicely if you have the 12k already so thats all you need. If you want a different finisher thats up to you.

 

[azmark]

Spyderco were my first stones to use. The UF is a great finisher but stinks at feedback.

 

[MaverickPL]

I'm almost convinced to get the set of spyderco stones.

Does anyone could provide me the information, what would be the grit of the medium / fine / uf stones ?

is the medium stone somewhat comparable to the norton 4000 when taking grit into consideration ?

 

[Seraphim]

I couldn't get by without my DMT 1200!

Awesome bevel setter and once broken in it leaves a pretty nice stepping off point for higher grits. You could follow up with the DMT 8000, and use chromox as the final finish with nonproblemo.

I tried a Spydy, but as mentioned, Spydy's idea of "flat" and mine are completely different, and lapping a Spyderco is like wrestling an elephant.

 

[professorchaos]

If you are set on those two brands, DMT 1.2K for the rough work, Spyderco fine and Ultra fine for the detailed work. A bottle of .5 diamond spray to use as a slurry on the UF and you have a function, if dull, set up.