Diamonds are forever

[mudman]

It seems to me suggestive that many of the diamond stone users who have no complaints (myself included) seem to use something other than water on them. :-k And I'd agree that a gentle touch seems to be beneficial too - diamonds aren't a girl's best friend for nuttin'.

Cheers, Alf

I'd been wondering about that. I've only used water because that's what DMT say to do but others are using oil.

Also been wondering about the gentle touch (wasn't that a TV program). If you press down hard (like wot I did), then is it possible that the diamonds are pressed down into the supporting matrix and then as you approach a sharp arris on the tool, this could literally 'pop out' the diamonds just ahead of it.

Luckily I only used the x-coarse side of mine (just in case) and my coarse side is still okay. (Although my wife might have something to say about my coarse side).

 

[Alf]

dont the diamond stone people say that if you use water you have to dry them properly becuase any rust will get under the plated bit and the diamonds will fall off?

Welcome to the forum, confused. Yes, I believe they do - could potentially explain some cases, although I don't think everyone who's had problems can have overlooked that as a possibility.

Barry, coarse side? Surely not. I thought the laurel wreath sounded terribly cultured. Far too much information, but cultured... :lol:

Cheers, Alf

 

[mudman]

Barry, coarse side? Surely not. I thought the laurel wreath sounded terribly cultured. Far too much information, but cultured... :lol:

Cheers, Alf

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Paul Chapman]

It seems to me suggestive that many of the diamond stone users who have no complaints (myself included) seem to use something other than water on them. :-k

Good point, Alf :wink: I'm one of those who has had no trouble and always used WD40 or 3in1 oil. It would be useful if those who have had trouble could say what they use on theirs.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[mudman]

Good point, Alf :wink: I'm one of those who has had no trouble and always used WD40 or 3in1 oil. It would be useful if those who have had trouble could say what they use on theirs.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

Baby oil personally, oops, sorry wrong forum. :wink:

To be serious, I think that this would be useful but we could do with capturing the sort of use they were put to as well as if they have had trouble or not.

Shall I start it off?

Had trouble: Yes
Sort of trouble: Diamonds dropped off
Type of stone: DMT Coarse
Lubricant used: Water
Usage: Heavy flattening of tool backs, heavy pressure used.

 

[JesseM]

I'm one of those that has had trouble, but use water. May switch my ways. Also the biggest problem with mine seem to be with the coarsest stone. Maybe the diamonds are bigger and more apt to be torn away from their base.

My fine/ultra fine seem as good as new and I've had them as long as the coarse/xtra coarse.

With oil how do you clean off the swarf? Just a rag or is cleaning involved.

 

[Paul Chapman]

I've only ever cleaned the oil and swarf off mine with a paper towel. Never cleaned them with anything other than more oil. Often leave the oil on the surface (with the lid on), mainly because I forget to wipe it off after a session Hasn't done them any harm. Use them for all back flattening of blades and honing and I've also flattened the soles of a few small planes on them.

I keep mine in wooden boxes. Two of them came with the box, the third I made. Gave the boxes a couple of coats of polyurethane varnish which seems impervious to oil. In fact the boxes often have quite a bit of oil in the bottom, which gets wiped out when I feel like it.

Had mine probably 10 years and they are still working well.

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Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[dunbarhamlin]

Killed an extra course DMT, water lubricant, heavy face flattening (nose to grindstone would certainly have been less tiresome )
Expect I was using too much pressure. Interestingly, since this was all but dead I've used it very roughly and pointy stuff (breaking edges and the like), and where the substrate has been damaged it does show signs of life. Elsewhere the surface will barely touch a fingernail, let alone steel.

Small coarse DMT which has had similar pressure applied over a couple of years has stood up reasonably well (as an exception this one generally used dry.) As have fine and extra fine stones (with water).

Extra extra course stone a little uneven now - makes me think the larger grit sizes may be more susceptible to damage from excess pressure.

 

[Alf]

Good idea, Barry:

Had trouble: Nope
Sort of trouble: n/a
Type of stone: DMT Duo Coarse/Fine
Lubricant used: Water initially, switched early on to paraffin oil
Usage: Extensive flattening of tool backs (but after initial work done with loose diamond paste/alternative abrasives) bevels, flattening of ceramic stone (once - arm dropped off so subsequently gave up that career...), in use nearly every time I hone. Weedy-girlie pressure used.

Cheers, Alf

 

[mudman]

Thanks Alf,

If others want to contribute, I'd be happy to pull people's experiences together into a single reporty type thing in a few days.

No need to note alignment to ley lines etc. :wink:

 

[JesseM]

Speaking of ceramic stones. I have a spyderco ultrafine that I managed to flatten successfully, and use frequently for polishing the backs. Is it okay to use oil with these? For some reason I've always used water.

 

[paulm]

Had trouble: Nope
Sort of trouble: n/a
Type of stone: DMT All grades
Lubricant used: WD40
Usage: Back flattening, plane and chisel honing, had them several years now.

Hmmm, limited feedback as yet but looks like the water aspect seems to be a common factor with those who are having trouble ?

Cheers, Paul.

 

[Jake]

Had trouble: Not much
Sort of trouble: Slight rusting on corner of one stone
Type of stone: DMT Duos Extra Coarse/Coarse/Fine/Extra Fine
Lubricant used: Water initially, switched early on a light mineral oil after the rust 'mare.
Usage: Nearly everything. Would like to think I don't abuse them pressure wise, but probably do a bit.

 

[JesseM]

Had trouble: Yes
Sort of trouble: Coarse and Extra Coarse no longer cut
Type of stone: DMT Coarse/Extra
Lubricant used: Water
Usage: Back flattening mostly, but also waterstone flattening, and ceramic stone flattening. This did not work out well. If anything I flattened the diamond stone. I have probably abused them, but I also think they should be able to take it :twisted: No troubles with the fine/extrafine DMTs.

 

[newt]

Had trouble yes
Blue coarse not much good concave across width does not cut as well as the fine.
Water used because instructions say no petroleum based products (I assume attacks plastic base)
Heavy pressure on coarse
Also have dual coarse/fine on solid steel plate, fine cuts A2 steel at least 4 times faster than coarse. Plate very flat. Suspect I ruined coarse with to much pressure.

 

[mudman]

Some good stuff everyone, keep it coming.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Water used because instructions say no petroleum based products (I assume attacks plastic base)

I could never understand why they said this in the instructions :? :? I was in correspondence with Starkie & Starkie, who import the DMT stones, many years ago and said that I used WD40 or 3in1 oil on mine. They replied that this would be OK and would not damage the stones. In fact I think that water is potentially more harmful in that it can cause rusting, which is always a potential problem in unheated workshops in the winter. I also found that using water on them was far more messy than using oil.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Handrubbed]

I'll share my experience since you are collating the facts. My several grades of DMT stones were all used as per the enclosed instructions with water as a lubricant. I sharpened cutlery and the usual assortment of woodworking edges. I found the aforementioned rapid degradation of initial abrasiveness that others have described as "breaking in". I think that is poppycock. The diamonds aren't supposed to wear. In fact they probably don't. What does happen to the diamonds,I believe, is they disappear from the matrix and leave that soft steel base behind...which ain't going to sharpen nuthin'. Never used paraffin oil, which we yanks call mineral spirits. You may be onto something though in recommending it. I've moved on and probably won't purchase diamond surface sharpening media again.

 

[Waka]

Well I seem to have started a very interesting thread here. having read through yesterday I went and checked my Trend fine stone by sharpening some blades I found it to be ok.

I am only a novice with diamond stones so time will tell. The fluid I'm using came with the stone.

 

[chippy1970]

I have had a DMT 6" diamond stone for probably ten years now its been in my toolbag on site all the time and still sharpens like it did when it was new. I have never used oil on it only water or dry sometimes.

Only complaint i would have is that the wooden case that I payed extra for fell apart within a week I should have just got the normal plastic case.