nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 928
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Post by nursetumbler on Sept 26, 2022 20:13:55 GMT -5
Hello all Lappers
Do any of you have all the diamond electroplates 60, 80, 100, 180, 260, 360, 600, 1200 and all the smoothing pads 220, 325, 600 1200 and 3000? If you truly think some are a waste of money please let me know. I tried to polish a half of an agate nodule and a slab of Chevron amethyst. I currently have the 180 diamond and the 325, 600 and 1200 smoothing with 14000 diamon paste pad. I sharpied the face of it and started grinding. The 180 took a long time and left deep scratches in them that the 325 smoothing pad wouldn't take out. Please help.
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Post by orrum on Sept 27, 2022 7:11:36 GMT -5
Can't help but watching. I have a ancient 8 in flat lap.
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Sept 27, 2022 8:48:36 GMT -5
Hi there.
All the grits have a purpose with one type of stone or another. Softer stones don't "like" some grits. Harder stones don't like to skip steps.
Also, a new 180 will always cause a little more trouble than one that's been broken in for a while. Skipping a 2xx step with a newer 180 is probably the source of the issues you mentioned.
You'll eventually want to fill in the gap between the 3000 and 14,000 for some types of stones.
Maybe this will help with your current problem. There will always be "problem stones" at some stage or other. We'll deal with those as they come up.
Lots of threads on here about this topic. All that means is that it isn't "just you"... .
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Sept 27, 2022 9:26:38 GMT -5
If you plan on doing any heavy shaping of hard agates before tumbling electroplated wheels don't last long. Something to keep in mind. Electroplated lapper wheels do fine for smaller projects like cabs. To get a lot of mileage out of a diamond wheel for hard grinding a sintered wheel lasts much longer. Lapper plates are all electroplated I believe, never have seen a sintered lapper plate. Taking a say 2" x 4" slab from a good saw cut to polish is a fairly big task for an 8 inch lapper.
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Post by Rockoonz on Sept 27, 2022 9:35:45 GMT -5
I have recieved some chinese electroplated discs, specifically from Han, that had surface issues that left scratches from a finer grit disc, like a tiny lump of grit that wasn't flat. By the time I discovered it they had been on the shelf for months so I didn't try to return. Don't know if it's your issue, but it's what I experienced.
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victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,978
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Post by victor1941 on Sept 27, 2022 9:38:17 GMT -5
Nursetumbler, I totally agree with hummingbirdstones2. My method starts on the diamond discs and finishes in a UV-18 vibe on most projects. I start on a 60 grit to basically smooth the surface and move to a 120 or 180 and then use one or two cycles of 100/220 SiC to remove any remaining scratches in the vibe. My vibe process takes about 10 days from start to finish. Remember the the vibe is great for evenly smooth and hard surfaces but does not shape like a rotary unless the material is soft and then the vibe will eat it up in the regular cycle.
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