a good explanation of diamond wheel break in

[Ken S]

https://youtu.be/Hjq-iI1ZuQI

Ken

[Per_DK]

Is it possible to ask a question about diamond stones here? Im rather new in this forum

[Ken S]

Welcome to the forum, Per. As our German friend, Wolfgang Hess, might say, this is "absolute" the best place to ask questions about the Tormek diamond wheels. (Wolfgang, "the sharpening doctor" is a Tormek presenter and country sales manager.)

The new Tormek online classes are an excellent study aid. The  latest class, diamond wheels for the T4, is especially informative. The information applies equally to the larger diamond wheels for the T8. Here is a link:

https://youtu.be/2tTm_iwFEK8

Keep us posted!

Ken

[RickKrung]

Ah, but is the OP asking about diamond "wheels" running on Tormek machines, or diamond "stones", as in flat stones (plates) used in the more traditional manners?

Rick

[Ken S]

Let's find out. Many of us have experience with both.Ask your questions, Per.

Ken

[Per_DK]

Oh i get your point Rick- :-) i was thinking about diamond wheels, im from Denmark and ill try to do my best in english :-)
I was thinking about if the Tormek diamond wheels are the polycrystalline or monocrystalline type? I have a t4 and a an older Tormek 2000 and havent tried working with diamond wheels yet.

[Ken S]

Per,
I don't know the answer; however, I just sent support a screen shot of your reply. Support works Monday through Friday. We should have an answer this coming week. I, too, am curious to learn the answer.
Ken

[Per_DK]

Ken,
Btw. Thank you for welcoming me to this great group of Tormek knowledge :-)  I have been here for a while now and only been reading some of all the knowledge that is here.

I have also watched all of the "sharpening class videos"  I have no experience with diamonds thats the reason why i ask about it. The only knowledge i have about diamonds comes from reading

in some of the books i have about sharpening in general.  ( Steve Bottorff)  ( Leonard Lee)

[cbwx34]

Per,
I don't know the answer; however, I just sent support a screen shot of your reply. Support works Monday through Friday. We should have an answer this coming week. I, too, am curious to learn the answer.
Ken

Last time this came up, Tormek wouldn't say....

[Ken S]

CB,

Good point. However, in fairness, Marie did answer three of the five questions. (The wheels are steel; the diamonds are electroplated with nickel; and, the diamond wheels are covered by the standard two year warranty.) The reply was also from 2018. The recent online classes have been the first time that Tormek has shared much about any of their grinding wheels, excepting the SG SuperGrind. Keep in mind that Tormek introduced the SB and SJ in 2008.

During the online class about diamond wheels, Tormek CEO and career superabrasive expert, Håkan Persson, stated that the diamonds are only one layer thick. The wheels are precision machined steel, steel being chosen because of its material strength and minimal chemical requirements. I consider that a good answer to the fourth question.

Mono or polycrystalline? That is still unanswered. Let's see what support says.

Ken

[tgbto]

We'll see if we get an answer but I'll take a wild guess: if it was polycristalline they would probably want to claim bragging rights.

That being said, let's just extract a crystal from the DC wheel, stick it onto a rod, X-Ray it with a long aperture time while rotating the rod, and measure the average ring spacing on the reflected image. Easy enough

[Ken S]

Support just emailed me. The diamond wheels are monocrystalline.

Ken

[Per_DK]

Ken,
Thank you for the answer.

[Ken S]

You are welcome, Per.
Ken

[Edge-Master]

Monocrystalline is superior to poly. Monos retain their cutting effectiveness far longer than poly. It is why I stick with DMT brand plates/stones and other diamond tools. I would suggest that with the price of the diamond wheel, Tormek has taken care of us well.

My wheel settled in with just a major knife restoration. It was a knife in the lower Rockwell C scale, but when I started, the wheel was so rough I was startled. Since this was my first use of the diamond wheel, I intentionally chose an inexpensive Chicago Cutlery chef's knife. I worked it over for a friend who liked his hardware store knife.
Based on my experience, I suggest a grinding project on a tool in the 50's on the "C" scale.

Even broken in, it is aggressive and I would never use it for a good Japanese gyuto. I am saving up for the Japanese waterstone wheel. The extra fine diamond wheel will still be too coarse for sharpening high dollar knives. For those knives I would only use the diamond wheel for correcting severely damaged knives.