Building a Lap Machine

LesleyNolan · Post by **LesleyNolan** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 11:41 am

I am interested in building a machine, or should I say having my husband build one. I have seen the plans on HisGlassWorks and would probably use them. I would love to hear from those who have already done this. Any comments, suggestions, etc.
Thanks
Lesley

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 12:03 pm

We build custom lap machines at wholesale prices for artists. We also fabricate all the parts needed for those who want to build their own machines. For information call John at Water Jet Design, Hillsboro OR
503-615-0144 Harry

Ron Coleman · Post by **Ron Coleman** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 6:23 pm

You can find some pictures and plans at the link below, This is one I built about 2 years ago. It's designed for loose silicon carbide grit and dripping water.

http://mrcol.freeyellow.com/grinder/fla ... rinder.htm

I use it all the time for grinding bowl bottoms. It would be nice if I had diamond pads, but just one pad costs more than my whole grinder.

I just put this page up so if it doesn't work right, let me know.

Ron

LesleyNolan · Post by **LesleyNolan** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 10:07 pm

Ron
Thanks very much for your help! This really helps to encourage my husband and I to give this a try. Actually, he is the one who will build it. He is very good at mechanical and electrical stuff!

Thanks for sharing!
Lesley

lauren · Post by **lauren** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 11:50 pm

ballpark figure how much this would cost? is the wheel the biggest expense?

do you just use the same grit size on it, or do you clean it after every use?

interesting...wish i was the least bit mechanically inclined, but i'm willing to try one day..

thanks for the info

peace
- l

Ron Coleman · Post by **Ron Coleman** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 12:11 am

lauren wrote:ballpark figure how much this would cost? is the wheel the biggest expense?

do you just use the same grit size on it, or do you clean it after every use?

interesting...wish i was the least bit mechanically inclined, but i'm willing to try one day..

thanks for the info

peace
- l

I spent about $200 on mine. My disk was free and I had the motor.

A new disk might be as low as $150. Bearings cost about $25 each for 1 inch bores and the arbor I used for the jack shaft was about $40 including the bearings, shaft and pulley. Other parts came from the hardware store, belts, nuts and bolts.

Ron

lauren · Post by **lauren** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 1:32 am

i am intrigued. thanks again.

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 10:07 am

Lauren- if you're going to use grit, you'll need a separate machine for each size of grit- you can't just clean the machine and change the grit. That's one advantage of using diamond pads. Marty

Jack Bowman · Post by **Jack Bowman** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 12:29 pm

Marty wrote:Lauren- if you're going to use grit, you'll need a separate machine for each size of grit- you can't just clean the machine and change the grit. That's one advantage of using diamond pads. Marty

Marty,

Do you use grit or pads? If pads what have you found to be a good source for quality pads? It's a considerable expense and I'd like to get it right the first time.

Jack

Brock · Post by **Brock** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 12:40 pm

Marty wrote:Lauren- if you're going to use grit, you'll need a separate machine for each size of grit- you can't just clean the machine and change the grit. That's one advantage of using diamond pads. Marty

Huh? Until diamond pads came along, that's what we did. Brock

Ron Coleman · Post by **Ron Coleman** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 1:40 pm

Marty wrote:Lauren- if you're going to use grit, you'll need a separate machine for each size of grit- you can't just clean the machine and change the grit. That's one advantage of using diamond pads. Marty

Really? I guess I never learned that part.

Rinse the disk, clean the work and grind with the next grit size, works for me. Now, if you happen to get a speck of the old grit on the disk, it's back to square one.

Ron

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 7:28 pm

Jack- I'm using HIS's diamond pads. Major contributions to the kid's college fund: for 24" diam. 45 grit for roughing- about $850. The finer the diamond, the "cheaper" the pad. And BE glass seems to be really rough on the diamonds.

Ron- I've used grits and multiple machines in a glassblower's shop. Rinse everything, change aprons, and don't sneeze between grits, and we still had occasional contamination. And it's very expensive, time-wise, to go back and re-do the step.

HIS is warning against recirculating the water draining off the plates- he says that diamonds can come loose and hit you just when you thought you were through with the damn polishing. I'm normally only going to 140 and then blasting with 180 so it doesn't affect me much- until I get a piece that needs polishing.....

Jack Bowman · Post by **Jack Bowman** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 11:30 pm

Thank you, Marty.

I hope to get my lap built this winter. I'm going to use fresh water with a particle trap before the drain.

Jack

Bill J. · Post by **Bill J.** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:45 pm

Hey all;
Thanks for the link to the site for home built. I am also interested in building a lap wheel for our studio.

What we did in school was use 80 grit to rough grind, then clean everything and use 120. After that we used a separate piece of float glass with each size of abrasive with a litlle dish soap.

In our studio we have an old lapidary polisher which uses 22 7/16" belts for the coark and a felt on the opposite mandrel.

Bill