What to use to flatten a 220 Shapton?

[James K Peterson]

I have a 220 Shapton glass stone that I need to flatten and I saw that the diamond plate is only used on the 500 and up stones. What could I use for the 220? some 100 wet/dry on glass? or a lower grit diamond plate?

James

[George Beck]

I use the DMT Duo Sharp Corse/Xtra Corse Diamond plate on corse stones (800 and less). I have also used an 80 grit belt sander belt glued to a flat glass plate but I find the mesh on the DMT clears a little better.

George

[David Weaver]

I have a 220 Shapton glass stone that I need to flatten and I saw that the diamond plate is only used on the 500 and up stones. What could I use for the 220? some 100 wet/dry on glass? or a lower grit diamond plate?

James

Wet and dry - something like 60 grit or 80 grit. There are better ways to accomplish what that stone does, though, and though I have one of the same ones you mentioned, I've only used it a couple of times.

At least it's better than the norton 220, I guess, but it still loads fast and doesn't stay flat long.

[Tri Hoang]

DMT extra-coarse (10") is probably more convenience/faster...Wet/dry 220 sandpaper would also do. I used Veritas tempered glass & their 90 lapping grit for a while with the plastic PSA sheet.

[Steve Bishop]

I just received a 9" X 12" Granite surface plate from Grizzly, $27.65 delivered.
The plan is to use a sheet of 220 wet/dry sandpaper to flatten the Shapton Pro 220, then use 400 wet/dry sandpaper for the rest. Haven't been able to use it yet so I don't know how this will work out.

Note on the surface plate. I ordered the 3" thick one, it weighs a ton, OK only about 40 pounds. You might want to consider the 2" thick one.

Steve

[David Weaver]

400 will be good for the rest, but you'll want wet and dry more coarse than 220 to work on the shapton 220 stone. I think the max I would use is 100, and more coarse than that is nice.

One thing is for sure - ceramic stones and norton's flattening stone don't get along.

Diamond hones are nice to use, but I'd hate to buy one just for that stone. I think as soon as one gets a hold of loose diamonds on a mild steel plate, the days of using a 220 stone are numbered - especially for things where flatness really counts.

[Steve Bishop]

David, thanks for the advise, just ordered some 80 grit wet/dry sandpaper.

Steve

[Derek Cohen]

I have a 220 Shapton glass stone that I need to flatten and I saw that the diamond plate is only used on the 500 and up stones. What could I use for the 220? some 100 wet/dry on glass? or a lower grit diamond plate?

James

Hi James

Seriously, I would not bother. This stone is likely to give you more grief than pleasure. 220 grit stones are soft and do not stay flat long (you would need to check it every 15-30 seconds) - and therefore are unreliable. You are far better off using 220 sandpaper glued to glass for grinding.

Regards from Perth

Derek