DMT D8EE 8-Inch Dia-Sharp Continuous Diamond Extra-Extra Fine

First I own MANY DMT Products – I have been buying DMT products for 25 years, and if I guessed I own over 30 of their different products I still might be underestimating. I have a woodworking shop plus I do a lot of other sharpening around the house – including the need for sharpening yard tools, scissors, kitchen knives, etc. There are many times I like the speed and low maintenance of diamond based sharpening products, and for many applications where the most refined polished edge is not always required it is the best solution in my opinion. I also own a full regimen of waterstones and sharpening jigs or honing guides that I also use on some of my woodworking tools.

I recently added a full set of these DMT 8″ Continuous Diamond plates to my sharpening regimen, as I wanted something to sharpen my kitchen and pocket knives instead of my smaller handheld hones, and my waterstones. I purchased the Extra Coarse, Coarse, Fine, Extra Fine and this Extra Extra Fine versions of these plates. I have had experience with all the other DMT grits in other tools and plates over the years, but this marked the first time I would purchase and Extra Extra Fine grit from DMT. I read a lot of mixed reviews about this plate on the net – with hot and cold feedback regarding the flatness of the plate, the QC of the diamond distribution on the plate, and other factors. I was interested to see what I would get when I ordered it. Note I have also had experience with their Duosharp bench plates / stones also – the ones with the “interrupted” surface and circular holes of no diamonds.

Well, the first DMT8EE that I received was interesting. Not having another Extra Extra Fine plate to compare it to, I was initially a little puzzled upon inspection of the plate. My plate seemed not to have any grit distributed on the business side of the plate. The back of the plate was clearly labeled stating it was not the sharpening surface. But the side that was supposedly the sharpening surface was just as smooth as the back of the plate. When I attempted to hone a pocket knife on it, the plate was getting scratched, and I could feel a little feedback, but it just did not feel right.n This could not be the EE plate I had read about…. and having read feedback about the grit distribution being inconsistent, and even one review that claimed their plate had NO grit, I was immediately suspicious.

I called DMT, and honestly trying to figure out if this was a defective plate over the phone was a non-starter. They offered to have me ship it in and have a look, and I thanked them for the offer. Being a new plate, what I did instead was order a plate from a different source. When this one came in, it was a completely different plate with grit you could both see and feel on the business side of the plate. Realize these EE plates have a very fine coating of grit, but it should still be detectable. At that point, I judged the initial EE plate as defective and one that should not have passed QC, and returned it to Amazon.

As far as how well the new EE plate works? Well, it does seem to do a decent job at a final hone on my knives. Realize I would not buy this stone if your goal is to get a mirror / polished edge like a 10K waterstone would, but it does bring up a sharp honed edge. Most in the know realize that diamonds give a more “toothy” edge than waterstones if you progress through the finer stones, but for my purposes a toothy edge is OK for my pocket knives or kitchen knives. I sharpen or hone those knives more frequently anyway, and the convenience and speed of the diamond plates is a nice trade off in that respect.

Bottom line – I think these DMT continuous diamond plates are good. But I also have found out you have to keep an eye on the quality of the plate you get, and don’t be afraid to “try again” and replace it if you got one with an inconsistent grit distribution. I had the same experience with the DMT “Fine” plate I received – the first plate had very uneven grit distribution, and some spots on the plate we raised and the grit felt almost coarse. I realize there is a “break in” period for the plates, but this was beyond just “break in” required – it was just a poorly manufactured plate. Also, pay attention to the flatness of the plate, and check it with a straight edge. As well as a grit distribution issue, my Fine plate had a bow in it.

Whether I like these DMT continuous plates more than the DMT plates with the “holes” in them for knife sharpening – the jury is still out. For chisels and plane blade bevels, there is no question I want a continuous surface for touch ups or bevel setting. But for knives I am still in the process of judging which plate I like more. Perhaps I will update this review at a later date when I come to a determination.

Good plates, recommended – but pay attention to plate flatness and evenness of the grit distribution.

Thanks for reading.