[ProfessorShak]

I got my DMT D8C and got to work on flattening my hones. The norton 4/8k flattened fine, but when I got to the Chinese 12k, besides taking FOREVER I noticed scratches
Take a look at the pic and please tell me if this is normal.

I kept both stones under running water and frequently pulled them apart to remove the slury forming underneath. My motions were consistently up and down 2 minutes, rotate, 2 minutes, rotate, etc..

I have long ways before I get to using the stone but I want to make sure that I won't need to reflatten the thing.

The two LONG streaks aren't the scratches. They came with the stone. The swirls are what came out of the lapping.

[Aquanin]

my DMT does the same thing on that stone. I have used it and it dosnt make a difference. I cannot feel the scratches. But I am pretty new to this so more expet people might need to chime in.

[kelbro]

That's odd. I have lapped my CH12K with my DMT8C and it looks great.

Did you guys do any sort of break in on your DMTs beforehand?

[xChris]

Yeah, I've seen this too. I think either you're using too much pressure in lapping, or you've got a "high spot" on the DMT8C. Like already mentioned, it probably won't be a real problem for honing. Try to use a scrap piece to "break in" the hone some more.

[ProfessorShak]

Originally Posted by xChris

Yeah, I've seen this too. I think either you're using too much pressure in lapping, or you've got a "high spot" on the DMT8C. Like already mentioned, it probably won't be a real problem for honing. Try to use a scrap piece to "break in" the hone some more.

I use the stones weight and hold it from the sides just letting it slide. I broke in the dmt with the norton 4/8k, which turned out ok.

[xChris]

Maybe the composition of the natural stone makes it more prone to the scratching than the material used in the Norton?

You could try getting some wet/dry sandpaper (400 - 1000 grit) to remove the scratches. I suppose you could wrap the sandpaper around the DTM8C for a flat surface (if you don't have something else).

[Russel Baldridge]

The scratches won't harm you blades in any way.

It ought to go away once the DMT is a little more broken in, one or two lappings doesn't really do it.

[sebell]

I experienced this when lapping my Belgian stones with the DMT8C. The DMT can
take a while to break in, and lapping natural stones is probably not going to do it.
You could use a chisel or old razor on the DMT (light tough, don't dig in!), or lap
something harder like a ceramic or barber hone.

It can be frustrating to see these kinds of results initially...

- Scott