Which Lapping Plate to Buy

[wailingmilk]

Morning. I am very new to knife sharpening and the different tools you need to do it. I have a good buddy who is showing me the ropes. However, I am perplexed about which lapping plate to buy. I currently own the Shapton Pro 320, 1000 and 5000 whetstones.
Could you guys recommend a nice, reasonably priced lapping plate? The Shapton plate is just out of my price range. Wish I could buy it. Is the DMT Dia-Flat 95 my best option? I read some positive website reviews, but then came across some negative ones at Amazon.
Or is the Atoma 400 a better choice (and if I own a 320 grit whetstone, does that even work???).
Any other options you could recommend would be great.
I was a little taken aback at the price of the lapping plates.
But I know I have to have it.
Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Thanks,
Will

[Drewski]

I use the 140 grit CKTG diamond flattening plate. Very reasonably priced and works well. I don't used Shapton stones, so I don't know how it works on those but I can't imagine a problem.
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/140grdistflp.html

[wailingmilk]

Thanks! Checking that out now.

[lsboogy]

Or you could use your front steps like a lot of old Japanese folk do

[jacko9]

Atoma 140 - great plate for all of my stones

[Seattle_Ben]

I've happily used the cktg plate on my Shapton 320. It's good and cheap.

[snipes]

I have the DMT 120. Works just fine, never had an issue with it. If was to ever purchase another one, I'd almost certainly go for the cktg branded one with the same grit. I'm sure it would be just fine for my purposes at 1/3 price.

[Ourorboros]

DMT works fine, you get some sticktion.
I use the double sided CKTG plate to finish finer stones.

[Mike9]

Great advice above and when you sharpen use the whole stone - the edges, corners, center, etc. No sense in wasting good stone by dishing and flattening, dishing and flattening, etc. Scribble on it with a pencil and flatten till the pencil lead is gone.