Fixed angle diamond stones - Break them in?

[Lemarque]

I just bought these Diamond Sharpening Stones and was wondering if I needed to break them in and, if so how? I've seen reference to using a flat piece of glass or even wood.

Or just use a cheap knife ?

 

[Alberta Ed]

Just use them.

 

[Lemarque]

Just use them.

So it is written, so it shall be. I'll give it a try.

 

[TheOne45]

I use the cheapest diamond plates available so I always break them in with a flat piece of HSS dragging across plates without a force. That way I dislodge excessive diamonds and kill some spikes.
I could also do the same with sharpening a cheap knife once or twice.
Mr. Todd Simpson from scienceofsharp is using a shank of a screwdriver.

Outdoors55 did a review on youtube.... looks like Sharpal diamond plates are quality product without low grit contaminations and diamonds bildups on the edges of the plates so I think you will be just fine by using them.
Use them with a feeling, don't apply excessive force when sharpening and let those diamonds do the work.

 

[Lemarque]

I use the cheapest diamond plates available so I always break them in with a flat piece of HSS dragging across plates without a force. That way I dislodge excessive diamonds and kill some spikes.
I could also do the same with sharpening a cheap knife once or twice.
Mr. Todd Simpson from scienceofsharp is using a shank of a screwdriver.

Outdoors55 did a review on youtube.... looks like Sharpal diamond plates are quality product without low grit contaminations and diamonds bildups on the edges of the plates so I think you will be just fine by using them.
Use them with a feeling, don't apply excessive force when sharpening and let those diamonds do the work.

Thanks -

I'll give the cheap knife option a go. I don't have anything HSS.

BTW - do you use the stones with water or dry? I do have some Bori-Lube but I'm not certain it's sympatico with diamonds.

 

[TheOne45]

BTW - do you use the stones with water or dry?

I use them dry and clean them with a small brush.
Occasionally I clean them with pencil eraser.

 

[777 Edge]

Thanks -

I'll give the cheap knife option a go. I don't have anything HSS.

BTW - do you use the stones with water or dry? I do have some Bori-Lube but I'm not certain it's sympatico with diamonds.

They work just fine dry, but they will last longer if you use soapy water as a lubricant when sharpening.

To clean, simply use a nylon brush, dish soap and water. Make sure you let them dry before storing them, they can corrode if they stay wet for a long time.

 

[Lemarque]

They work just fine dry, but they will last longer if you use soapy water as a lubricant when sharpening.

To clean, simply use a nylon brush, dish soap and water. Make sure you let them dry before storing them, they can corrode if they stay wet for a long time.

I've been using Krud Kutter, diluted, on the stones that came with the Tooh3. Would that be OK or stick with dish soap?

 

[777 Edge]

I've been using Krud Kutter, diluted, on the stones that came with the Tooh3. Would that be OK or stick with dish soap?

I haven't tried Krud Kutter but I assume it will be just fine as long as you rinse and dry the stones after.

 

[cudgee]

Would that be OK or stick with dish soap?

Stick with dish soap and a toothbrush. That is all you need, humans have an amazing obsession with over complicating things. Water, Dish Soap and a Toothbrush, cheap and you're good to go.

 

[Lemarque]

Stick with dish soap and a toothbrush. That is all you need, humans have an amazing obsession with over complicating things. Water, Dish Soap and a Toothbrush, cheap and you're good to go.

Dish soap? You mean you actually wash your dishes? I just have my dog lick the plates clean and then put them back in the cupboard.
And tooth brush? Hmm .. guess I shouldn't have skipped that high school hygiene class.

 

[TheOne45]

For the sake of convenience I don't mess with water stones you need to sink in water or with those 'splash and go' stones you need wet the surface before sharpening. It's all wet around and messy without even mentioning the slurry. I'm also not comfortable wetting my EDC knives .... can't imagine to get some water inside the pivot area or anywhere else inside my knives. After sharpening you need to clean and dry everything.
That's why I settled using only diamond stones because you can use them dry.
Do diamonds last longer if you wet them? I wouldn't know. As I see there is a split opinion about wetting electroplated diamond plates. Some sharpeners wet them, other sharpeners don't.

 

[Lemarque]

For the sake of convenience I don't mess with water stones you need to sink in water or with those 'splash and go' stones you need wet the surface before sharpening. It's all wet around and messy without even mentioning the slurry. I'm also not comfortable wetting my EDC knives .... can't imagine to get some water inside the pivot area or anywhere else inside my knives. After sharpening you need to clean and dry everything.
That's why I settled using only diamond stones because you can use them dry.
Do diamonds last longer if you wet them? I wouldn't know. As I see there is a split opinion about wetting electroplated diamond plates. Some sharpeners wet them, other sharpeners don't.

Valid points that I tend to agree with. When I first got the Toohr3 <ducking> I used the included stones wet and it did result in a mess. It does seem tho that many diamond stone brands suggest using with water; saying that dry wear quicker and tend to load up.

Still pondering.

 

[TheOne45]

It does seem tho that many diamond stone brands suggest using with water; saying that dry wear quicker and tend to load up.
Still pondering.

I couldn't find any serious tests how faster they wear out if used dry. I'm using cheap electroplated diamond plates and after almost 4 years I can't find much wear. I also never had issues with load up. I also couldn't find any tests regarding buildups. It looks to me more like one of those ''common internet wisdoms''....you know....some influencer come out with something and all the others just repeat after him.
I wonder .... if those diamond stones makers suggest to use water....why they don't provide some dry/wet wear test results?
If they really wear faster I would like to know by how much.
Anyhow; wear or not; I won't make a mess with any water or soap water and I sure won't wet my knives.

 

[BJE]

Barkeepers friend works great for cleaning stones when needed, but on diamond so does dish soap and water. Any household surfactant will work, just don’t soak them or let the cleaner sit for ages.