kradz89
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2014
Posts: 114
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Post by kradz89 on Dec 22, 2014 11:23:38 GMT -5
Hey everyone, I have been absent for a long time on these boards...found a local club that I've been taking classes at and got a new job....so been busy. Anyways, I think I am ready to make the jump on to buying some of my own equipment now that I've taken a lapidary and a silver smithing class...and I have gift cards for Christmas . I stumbled across slant laps and I was wondering if anyone has experience using them for cabbing? My husband makes knives and wanted to know if I could help him out with moving onto stone handles, so the flat lap sounds good for that, but I don't want to spend the money on something that is pretty limited. We don't really have a lot of space, so I don't know if I want to put out the extra money for a 6 wheeled cabber. Slant lap sounds like it gives me the best of both worlds for a more reasonable price and space consumption. Thoughts? Opinions?
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 22, 2014 11:57:30 GMT -5
Flat cabbers in general are very handy because you can do flat surfaces or domes. Units with wheels won't do flats unless you add no hole spin on laps on end of unit. People that learn on flat laps say they are superior for this reason. I learned on wheels so find flat laps extremely awkward to get a smooth dome. Flat laps will cost much less and can be used later for flat work or as a traveling unit if you eventually add a wheel unit. Flat or slant would be a personal preference decision. Knife handles would be good use for flat laps.
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Post by parfive on Dec 22, 2014 12:20:49 GMT -5
I’ll disagree with John. Flat lap might be ok for the glue side but can’t see one doing the money side too well – inside curves and sanding flush to bolsters.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2014 16:44:24 GMT -5
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Post by rockpickerforever on Dec 23, 2014 1:15:33 GMT -5
Flat cabbers in general are very handy because you can do flat surfaces or domes. Units with wheels won't do flats unless you add no hole spin on laps on end of unit. People that learn on flat laps say they are superior for this reason. I learned on wheels so find flat laps extremely awkward to get a smooth dome. Agree with that sentiment, John. I learned to cab on a flat lap, would be clueless using wheels!
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Post by parfive on Dec 23, 2014 3:37:51 GMT -5
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Post by pghram on Dec 28, 2014 17:32:28 GMT -5
I know nothing about making knives, so I can;t help there, but I use both. I use 8 inch 80 grit diamond & 220 sic expando to shape, then I go to six inch soft laps (Ameritool flex laps) 220, 325, 600, 1200, 3K, & 14K diamond on leather to finish. I use the wheels for speed & the laps for accuracy. So get both! ;>)
Rich
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Post by Bikerrandy on Dec 28, 2014 21:04:03 GMT -5
I get a mirror finish on my cabs (both front and back) with the wheels, but I wish I had a flat cabber to do the backs. It's definitely on my list.
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 28, 2014 23:31:28 GMT -5
I have wheels and laps and both have their place. To do anything that involves an inside curve a lap won't work, and with laps there's a lot of working by feel. My flat lap, actually a Graves Mk1 faceter, is used mostly for intarsia.
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kradz89
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2014
Posts: 114
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Post by kradz89 on Dec 29, 2014 9:28:01 GMT -5
I know nothing about making knives, so I can;t help there, but I use both. I use 8 inch 80 grit diamond & 220 sic expando to shape, then I go to six inch soft laps (Ameritool flex laps) 220, 325, 600, 1200, 3K, & 14K diamond on leather to finish. I use the wheels for speed & the laps for accuracy. So get both! ;>) Rich haha, both is not an option right now. lol. Another idea I had (which is probably a bad one or I feel like I someone would have mentioned it by now...) was to get something like this: www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=46612&catID=1064Could I take the polishing pad off the side when needed and put a flat lap disc on the side? Again, probably a terrible idea, but worth asking about if it could potentially get me the best of all worlds.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 29, 2014 12:26:08 GMT -5
You can buy spin on laps but you would need to rig up a water supply with that unit. On my Genie I use a 100 grit no hole lap that spins on where the polish pad goes. Then I use a steel back plate spin on with magnetic nova laps in 280, 600, 1200, and 3000. Cab backs and small flats end up with same finish as the domes. Then both sides are polished on spin on canvas pad with diamond. They make spin on Nova Discs too but I have not tried those. The LU6 unit linked is a real basic starter unit. If it had a second grinding wheel (220) it would be much better but there isn't room. Some people replace the 2.5" drum with a 1.5" drum to make it easier to change belts but I don't think two grinding wheels would fit.
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 29, 2014 14:51:36 GMT -5
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Post by pghram on Dec 29, 2014 16:45:58 GMT -5
I agree w/ John & Lee. If I had to choose just 1, but only because that's what I learned on, I would choose a flat lap. Knowing what I know now, I would probably buy a better brand although I've never had a problem w/ my swop top in over 7 years. I have modified the set up using flexo disks. Not sure if would do knives though, definately not good for in-side curves. Rich
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