Diamond stones/lube or not?

[Mike Wilkins]

Just got a couple of DMT diamond stones, and wondering if I need to use some type of lube, such as oil or soapy water. These stones have a nickel plating so rust should not be a concern. First time user so I could use some advice. Thanks in advance.

[Chet R Parks]

I use about a teaspoon of dish soap (maybe a little less) in a 1 pint approx. spray bottle of water. For the same DMT stones.

[chris carter]

You have to use something to carry away the metal. I use Windex.

[Frederick Skelly]

I use about a teaspoon of dish soap (maybe a little less) in a 1 pint approx. spray bottle of water. For the same DMT stones.

I do the same.

[Phil Mueller]

I use watered down windex.

[Brian Hale]

I've used many different liquids.... Mineral Spirits, Soapy water, water, mineral oil but my latest most liked is Simple Green, diluted with twice the suggested water. For the stones coarser than 1200 i often use them dry for brief periods and give them a quick vacuum with the shop vac. The finer 1200 and 8000 stones get water or simple green and i wipe them dry when i'm done. It helps to use a sanding belt eraser to clean them from time to time or a scrub with Ajax and a stiff brush.

Brian :)

[lowell holmes]

Maybe I don't know what is proper, but I use my diamond hone dry.

[glenn bradley]

For quick touch ups, I don't wet them. For a regular sharpening session I prefer a bit of liquid to carry off the spoil. I use whatever is handy. I have a spray bottle of mineral spirits and also a soap dispenser at the sink where I sharpen. The MS is less messy but, the soapy water has no fumes.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

I thought that DMT had a product that contained something that also prevented rust.... that was kind of expensive to use. I do not see it in their list so perhaps they discontinued it. In their FAQ, they recommend water, which is almost a guarantee that either they dropped the product, or, it was offered by another company.

https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/DMT-and-Diamond-Stone-FAQ-W54.aspx

Yep, my mistake, it is manufactured by Trend, they have a "Diamond Abrasive Lapping Fluid". The literature (propaganda) states:


Trend Lapping Fluid is better than plain water for lubricating the surface of the stone to prevent the stone from loading and to reduce the threat of rust by up to 95%. It actually improves the performance of any diamond abrasive, making sharpening even easier and faster than ever before. Comes in 100ml plastic bottle.

I have only heard good things about it from people who use it, which means two or three people that I have met.

[Jason Dean]

Just got a couple of DMT diamond stones, and wondering if I need to use some type of lube, such as oil or soapy water. These stones have a nickel plating so rust should not be a concern. First time user so I could use some advice. Thanks in advance.

I use water with a few drops of dishwasher rinse aid.

[Ted Phillips]

I thought that DMT had a product that contained something that also prevented rust.... that was kind of expensive to use. I do not see it in their list so perhaps they discontinued it. In their FAQ, they recommend water, which is almost a guarantee that either they dropped the product, or, it was offered by another company.

https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/DMT-and-Diamond-Stone-FAQ-W54.aspx

Yep, my mistake, it is manufactured by Trend, they have a "Diamond Abrasive Lapping Fluid". The literature (propaganda) states:


I have only heard good things about it from people who use it, which means two or three people that I have met.


I used this lapping fluid for a while on my diamond plates. Too expensive, though - kerosene works very well.

TedP

[Vincent Tai]

Water. I did use soap a couple times here and there on my DMTs. really Doesn't matter too much. I didn't care if there was soap or not. I've used diamond plates dry plenty too.

I would rather be touching just water and steel then anything else. Even soap.

[Luke Dupont]

I've tried soap, windex, water, oil, and just about everything else you can imagine on diamond stones, and most of the time, I wind up just using them dry and periodically washing them off. Unlike most stones, for some reason, I don't like how they "feel" with most lubricants. It does help to carry the swarf away, but isn't really necessary unless you're removing a lot of metal.

[Mike Baker 2]

At the cost of some of these plates, in my mind it just makes sense to add a lubricant of some kind between the chisel or plane and the plate. But they can be used dry, and I think I even read in the instructions that came with mine that with or without is fine.

[Joe Tilson]

I use a large Dawn dish detergent bottle which has been emptied of soap then refilled with water. Have the cleanest Atoma's in town.:rolleyes:

[Brandon Speaks]

I used to always use dry for knives. Experimented with water and windex for awhile with chisels and Irons. I think ultimately I like them dry. If sharpening on sand paper I use windex. In the end it all works with diamond.

[Noah Magnuson]

I keep a French's mustard bottle (great container BTW), of mineral spirits and just give a squirt before sharpening . I try and wipe off anything left with a cloth when I am done. I may have to try Simple Green seeing as it is so good at other stuff.