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I have 3 of the eze-lap diamond hones allpurpose. Had the black (Coarse) and red (Fine) for about 3 years and a blue (Super fine) for a few months. Just wanted to know how long others have got out of them? The black and red seem to hardly do anything these days but I do use them primarily on woodturning tools which are HSS. The blue one does very little, it's only supposed to polish an already fine edge but I get a much quicker response from stropping. Am I expecting too much from these tools?
Doesn't anyone use these?
Your question is a good one
I have been wondering the same thing
When using them it doesn't seem to do much
Had the red one for around 20 years, can't really remember, do not use it much because I'm not a patient person and it is indeed slow, but it still seems to do what it was doing before.
Have to agree that the red one is slow, the diamond particles must have a limited life-time, just hard to know how long before you throw it out and get another one.
Hi Tiger,
Yes I have a few. Black, Red, Purple, then I have a Bank Card Size, $10, at the TWWW Show, Melb. last year. I also have 2 - 6in. x 2in. /150mm. x 50mm. 1 with the holes & the really good 1 Flat Plate, bought in '96 for $53.
The holey 1 was a cheapy at $10.
They all work pretty well.
I'm not very good with them unfortunately, as if I use the Red 1 on a Skew, it seems to be worse off, than had I left it straight off the 120G wheel.
Regards,
issatree.
FWIW, at 30x magnification the surface of mine looks pretty much intact after 20 years. Can't really tell whether it is substantially duller than it was when new but, as I said, still does its work at what seems to me the same slow speed. The real proof would come from buying a new one and comparing the time they need to do the same job.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiger
We've got a red and a blue one here that I've been using for about 15 years, they can get clogged up, the best way to clean them is with an old thooth brush and some turps, makes them like new.
GPW, that's good advice, thanks for that. What do you use your laps on?
Skews, bowl gouges, spindle gouges, knives and scissors .
You're brave trying to hone spindle gouges especially the fingernail grind. I find that hard to hone because the bevel changes from the front to the sides and adjusting the hone to compensate and not round the edge over is a challenge.
I have been using an EzeLap Superfine 1200 8" x 3" stone for about 8 to 10 years. I have recently bought 3 more, Coarse 250, medium 400 and fine 600, all in 8 x3" size. I also bought a 6000 g Ceramic stone off ebay in Poland, it is great. I had to return the coarse stone after 5 minutes of use. The diamonds fell off in use. The distributor checked it and the remaining few diamonds left in the corner fell off. A new stone is in the post.
The paddle-style ones don't have that much abrasive area on them so no surprise if they wear out with regular use.
For turning tools I find that they're really only good for a quick refresh of an edge, and that result won't last long in use.
FWIW with fingernail grinds, I stick the shaft in a vice at 45* and register the paddle flat at the top of the bevel (the broadest face) and work from that down both sides. You'll quickly see if the cutting edge on the bevel side is being honed.
Ideally you also hone the flute at the same time with a fine abrasive rod.
HTH