DMT Dia-Sharp, 8" x 3" Bench Stone, Extra-coarse

Comments about DMT Dia-Sharp, 8" x 3" Bench Stone, Extra-coarse :

I bought this Dia-Sharp Extra-Coarse Diamond Bench Stone primarily for use as a lapping stone, to level and refresh the surfaces of my Arkansas whetstones -- a task at which it excels. But when I lucked upon two vintage Stanley bench planes at a local antique shop, this diamond stone was quickly put to the test. The plane soles were corroded and uneven, so I pushed them over the diamond stone for quick removal of old steel, following up with finer grits of sandpaper. Then I had the plane blades to contend with. The previous owner obviously wasn't big on sharpening. The blades were dull and badly chipped. I don't own a bench grinder, but I knew that with an hour and some elbow grease, I could grind a fresh edge on those blades using the Dia-Sharp stone. Sure enough, after an hour of plowing those blades against the diamond stone, I was left with two straight-edged blades, ready for sharpening. I give the Dia-Sharp line high marks for versatility and durability. If the price tag makes you think twice, just remember that you're investing in a long-lasting tool.