The Atoma Diamond Sharpening Plate #1200 is where edge preparation becomes edge refinement - the final diamond plate stage before stropping or polishing.
At 13 microns it produces a finely misted surface that responds exceptionally well to technique. Fading pressure gradually to nothing at the end of each pass leaves a cutting edge that is genuinely workable straight from the plate:
- Chisels and plane irons arrive at this stage ready for the last push to sharpness
- Paring chisels benefit particularly from the consistency this plate delivers at the edge
- Smoothing planes prepared here need only a few passes on a strop to reach a deep, high polish
- A natural endpoint in any progressive diamond plate sharpening system
The surface the #1200 leaves is superbly prepared - fine enough that a leather strop loaded with compound will bring it to a keen, consistent edge with minimal effort.
The critical quality indicator to look for in a diamond sharpening stone is monocrystalline diamonds (each piece of grit is a single solid diamond) they are more expensive to produce but much more durable than polycrystalline diamonds.
The Atoma diamond sharpening plates we have inspected have all been remarkably flat.
Plate size: 210mm x 75mm (8¼" x 2⅞")
Do:
Use plenty of fluid and light pressure.
Fading the pressure out gradually as you finish will leave a finer scratch pattern and reduce the amount of strokes you need to take on the next plate.
Use light pressure, the diamonds are cutting tools and if you let them do their job they will serve you well for many years.
Expect all diamond surfaces to have a vicious bite initially and then gradually bed in over the first few uses, this is completely normal. As long as you keep them clean and cool and avoid using too much pressure they will cut like the wind for years.
Use liberal quantities of some kind of fluid on them, water with a few drops of dish soap, window cleaner, water treated with HoneRite Gold all work well.
Light contamination can be cleaned from the surface with an ordinary pencil rubber (eraser), if they get really grubby, moistening the surface with a bit of white spirit will help to lift the crud.
Don't:
Avoid using them with soft metals like brass, wrought iron or aluminium as these will gum up the surface and are impossible to remove.
Avoid using them for the bevels of laminated blades as the backing material is often soft and will gum up the surface.
Avoid using too much pressure, especially on the edges, the diamonds themselves are virtually indestructible, the electroplating that holds them to the surface will last much longer if you don't lean on it and scrub.
Avoid using oily lubricants on them, the greasy residues attract dust which will gum up the surface.