Hi, I found this site: http://www.fine-tools.com/diasharpener.html . I think about getting Replacement Diamond Sharpening Plates, Atoma Economy, and then cut them for the WE. They are reasonably priced and in case of Europe you get cheap delivery and no problems with customs. They are on 1 mm thick stainless steel, have somebody any experience with cutting such plates?
You can get sheets on copper foil also, but you need to buy bigger sheet (100 x 200 mm at least) and they are more expensive and propably not so durable.
I have bought 210 mm hap-40 gyuto from them recently, now I am waiting for upgraded arms and low angle adapter, I want to put 8° per side with 12° microbevel on this knife, that steel should hold it.
I am not sure how to cut 1 mm stainless plate. If I use shears, I am affraid that I will curve it.
`Firstly I would ask Fine Tools if they have a suggested method otherwise I would take it to an engineer I would think it needs to be guillotined somehow.
I think a Dremmel with a cutting disk (which are quite fine ) would probable do it their disks are much finer than those of a full blown angle grinder.
Another thought would be a good wide chisel .
I am thinking the Dremmel is probable the best bet unless Fine Tools have a better idea.They actually say Diamond Sharpening Plates Atoma Sheetsm –
These are very flexible, self-adhesive plates made of a copper foil coated with diamond chips. The total thickness is only 0.5 mm. They can be glued to surfaces in almost any shape, and also can be cut, with appropriate scissors to any shape you desire.
There seem to be two choices replacement plates which would need specialist cutting but are a better option so I would cut these with the Dremmel then once they are fixed into place I would grind the edges with a bastard file at 45Ëšthis should avoid accidentally lifting the edges when in use
These are made to replace the cutting surfaces of the Atoma diamond sharpening plates we sell above. But they can also be glued down to other backing plates of your choice. The backs are covered with strips of double-sided adhesive tape and glueing them down is easy and quick. The plates are made of 1 mm thick stainless steel, and with the tape the total thickness is 1.4 mm. Because the plates are so thin, you must take care when fixing them to a backing material, and the quality of the results depends a great deal on the flatness and stiffness of the backing plate you choose!
Razor Edge is using Atomas he may have some suggestions .
Keep us posted as to what you do please!
Thank you Leo. At first, I find some 1 mm thick steel plate and try to cut straight plates from it. I have some wide chisels at home, so it will be my first option.
I think a Dremmel will be the best option they do small disks similar to those used in an angle grinder which will slice through the steel very easily I would clamp the sheet down which ever way you cut it ; but if you go with wide chisels then put the plate to be cut on some softish wood like pine and use a good hefty hammer.
I think it will make little difference since either way the disk or chisel will hit the diamonds but if you are using the Dremmel the disks are pretty tough plus its pretty thin stuff to cut so I would not foresee any problems there.
Looks interesting. Is this also the stuff Oldawan (Bob) make their Atoma paddles of?
I also found the copper-backed Atoma’s in the store I buy my full-sized Atoma plates: http://www.toolsfromjapan.com . They’re even somewhat cheaper (unless you live in Europe - yes I do ).
Which type are you considering, the aluminium backed plates or the copper foil ones? I don’t quite get your remark about the coppper foil Atoma’s; they’re cheaper than the aluminium-backed and available from as small as 10 x 100mm.
The prices: WE plates are 138 x 20 mm. So I computed that from 210 x 75 mm Atoma plate for 69E (60E in case of coarser grits) you can cut 4 plates 138 x 18.75 mm, if you use chisel and don’t waste material. It is 17.25/15E for plate. 200 x 100 mm Atoma foil cost 175E, but it is maybe a mistake, other grits cost 125E. You can cut 5 plates 138 x 10 mm from it, and that is more expensive.
But I have another idea. Maybe 100 x 20 mm will be sufficient, becouse I use middle parts of the stones the most. So you can buy 100 x 50 mm foil for 39E and did two 20 x 100 sheets from it. 100 x 10 mm seems too narrow for me. It should be easy done with sharp scissors. Then made 2 plates from steel or aluminium about 2 mm thick and use it under foil with diamonds.
Toolsfromjapan.com seems very reasonably priced, shipping cost to Europe are cheap also. Did you have to pay VAT and custom charge Mark?
I managed to rip the surface on an Atoma plate 140 on an Edge Pro it was the thinner foil fortunately CKTG replaced it and the plate has the thicker foil on it now I was advised by a very knowledgable friend to chamfer the edges as you would with a bench stone this helps to protect the integrity of the foil and also protects the knife if you accidentally twist the stone this makes sense with all the stones & plates on either the WE or an EP to avoid the corners of the stones or plates going where they should not .
You can do the plates with a bastard file and stones with a lapping stone the angle should be about 45Ëš on all 4 edges.
, but I’ll react more extensively tomorrow.
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