jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jan 11, 2017 7:07:26 GMT -5
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Post by captbob on Jan 11, 2017 9:27:10 GMT -5
Good Lord, I'm starting to think that you are trying to kill us! What's next, the wood chipper?
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Post by captbob on Jan 11, 2017 10:50:29 GMT -5
Is that the site that you would recommend my looking at for the diamond grinding thru polishing pads/discs for that flat lap thing I got off craigslist? What I'm aiming to do is turn that into a machine that I can use to put a polished finish on flat faces in a quicker manner than my vibrating laps.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jan 11, 2017 13:28:29 GMT -5
Is that the site that you would recommend my looking at for the diamond grinding thru polishing pads/discs for that flat lap thing I got off craigslist? What I'm aiming to do is turn that into a machine that I can use to put a polished finish on flat faces in a quicker manner than my vibrating laps. tims may have found some affordable large pads Bob. I may have too but can't remember where. Let me go back and look. Here is a set of 8 inch pads. Seems like someone found even bigger pads for less money. I would think you could put a shine on a 6 inch face with these 8 inch pads if you moved the rock around by hand in an orbital movement. I liked those cheaper floor finishing pads you located in Florida. I bought one to look at. You may order a 200 grit and try it. Like $20 for a 13 or 17 inch pad. But they are not tested for lapidary as far as I know. They gave the amount of square footage they would last on, it was a lot of floor sq ft.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jan 11, 2017 14:25:52 GMT -5
ANY wheel that grinds rock fast commands utmost respect. Especially with your fingers close to the wheel. Please use caution. #1 That you do not get caught in it. Emphasis on this one. Beware of pinch points. #2 That you do not remove flesh from abrasion.
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Post by captbob on Jan 11, 2017 16:27:01 GMT -5
I've got over two 55 gallon barrels of that Tampa Bay coral. I would like to be able to saw them in halves and polish the faces. Would you recommend another machine to do this with over such a lap (disc) setup? Figure cut a BUNCH and then grind/polish in a mass production. All on one wheel (disc) before moving to the next step. Swap out the wheel and repeat. How would my mad scientist/engineer friend approach this?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jan 11, 2017 16:51:50 GMT -5
That is a gold mine of Tampa Bay. Closed to collecting and hard to get.
Oh yes, mass production. Do them all one grit at a time. To avoid peeling the pad off constantly. Do you know how fast that wheel turns ? Is the motor 1725 RPM ?
It probably should not soon faster than 4/8 X 3600 RPM = 1725 RPM for an 8 inch pad.
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Post by captbob on Jan 11, 2017 18:12:02 GMT -5
Not sure on the motor other than it runs. Haven't played much with this contraption yet. Will look to see if any spec information has survived on the motor tomorrow when it's light. I'm hoping for pads/discs much larger than 8". The big base wheel is 15" across.
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Post by tims on Jan 12, 2017 14:39:55 GMT -5
The pad i bought is a 10" 60 grit, but i don't love it and it wasn't cheap (over $100). It works OK and is magnetic backed which is nice, but it doesn't have any magical powers which i'd hoped for at that price I've been looking at these on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B00BB144WW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1756I54K6QV3N&coliid=IG43J9SIOJ3S8&psc=112 grits available, at $16 each and free shipping. Good reviews. 8" discs with 1/2" arbor hole. You could pick and choose a series of 6 discs from 60 - 3000 grit for under $100. I have no idea where you'd get 15" discs. If you've got a cast-iron lap disc with that you could always go old school and just use SiC with water. Is there a drip system with that?
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jerrys
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 263
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Post by jerrys on Jan 12, 2017 18:29:57 GMT -5
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Post by captbob on Jan 12, 2017 18:50:58 GMT -5
Thank you for the information tims . jerrys - I've never played this game before and could use some schoolin'. Are these paper discs something like sandpaper? How are they held in place other than the small center plate? How long do they last? ETA: what happens if you get "heavy handed"? They wear out faster or tear or ... ? tims - No drip system, keeping an eye out for stuff I can MacGyver to do the job. Figure that part will be pretty easy.
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jerrys
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 263
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Post by jerrys on Jan 12, 2017 18:59:01 GMT -5
They are diamond electroplated flat laps. You would hold them in place with the nut in the center of your lap. "heavy handed" refers to added pressure for hard grinding wearing out the laps faster, essentially knocking the diamonds off the lap. Have a good water flush.
My laps have lasted 2 to 3 years. I used them to remove saw marks before going in the vibrating laps.
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Post by captbob on Jan 12, 2017 19:04:51 GMT -5
Thank you. Please pardon my lack of understanding, but what are they made of? Diamonds impregnated in/onto what? What grits have you used of these? Just wondering how durable they are. Seems one could go all the way from coarse to polishing if they got a full set of these things. (?)
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Post by captbob on Jan 12, 2017 19:21:55 GMT -5
Okay... going through youtube videos on these flap lap machines - never used one before. This thing could be WAY fun to play with. Think I just found a new bad habit!
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Post by captbob on Jan 12, 2017 19:33:51 GMT -5
Hey Mel Sabre52 you may enjoy the end of this video - skip to the 11 minute mark - gives ya like a minute to watch.
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 12, 2017 20:25:49 GMT -5
If he looses his grip on that rock there's going to be trouble...right here in River City!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2017 0:41:26 GMT -5
Hey Mel Sabre52 you may enjoy the end of this video - skip to the 11 minute mark - gives ya like a minute to watch. I could have done without the goldfish but the stones sure are sweet!! Thanks Bob! Old tire for a shroud solves a couple problems at once. That all by itself was worth the watch
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Post by captbob on Jan 13, 2017 1:54:26 GMT -5
Figure Mel will like seeing the Hornitos.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jan 13, 2017 4:08:04 GMT -5
My only experience polishing faces is using 4 inch rubber pads.
Requires:
1) well adjusted saw, cuts with no saw marks. It can be done, carriage very parallel to blade and saw feed set at slowest setting. 2) start with 400, then 800-1500-3000. Enough water to keep pads wet at all times.
The 4 inch pads have no center bolt, so a 3 inch rock could be face polished nicely. But did polish larger. With 8 inch pads a 6 or 7 inch rock could be face polished as long as there was no center bolt. So attached with velcro or magnetically. I have 100 and 200 grit pads, but avoided using them as it was difficult to remove their scratches with the 400 pad.
Hollow corals were easier to face polish than solid faces.
The rubber pads about never wear out on agates and corals. They wear fast working concrete though.
The center bolt in your lap would be a problem for 8 inch rubber pads. You would have to add a disc with a hole in the center to elevate over the center bolt.
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