Thread: Shapton Lapping Question

Wow, so I just tried it out using the 15 micron paper. It's actually very easy to use and the micro-film just gets suctioned onto the surface with water. I lapped my coticule on it (which was previously lapped with the DMT) and it went very quickly, although the pencil grid wasn't removed uniformly after a couple of passes showing that the DMT isn't quite as flat.

I'm VERY pleased with this new lapping system and it was a lot cheaper than buying a Shapton lapping plate. The only drawback is that I have to buy 3M microfilm when I run out.

Anyways, I now have a coticule that's flat to within 0.0001" mwah-ha-ha. I look forward to using it on my Shaptons. ChrisL, I will indeed use my DMT to initially lap the Shaptons as I would imagine it would take a long time on the 15 micron paper alone. But I will keep the granite plate and the 15 micron sheets handy for re-refreshing them.

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

Wow, so I just tried it out using the 15 micron paper. It's actually very easy to use and the micro-film just gets suctioned onto the surface with water. I lapped my coticule on it (which was previously lapped with the DMT) and it went very quickly, although the pencil grid wasn't removed uniformly after a couple of passes showing that the DMT isn't quite as flat.

I'm VERY pleased with this new lapping system and it was a lot cheaper than buying a Shapton lapping plate. The only drawback is that I have to buy 3M microfilm when I run out.

Anyways, I now have a coticule that's flat to within 0.0001" mwah-ha-ha. I look forward to using it on my Shaptons. ChrisL, I will indeed use my DMT to initially lap the Shaptons as I would imagine it would take a long time on the 15 micron paper alone. But I will keep the granite plate and the 15 micron sheets handy for re-refreshing them.

Good plan. Enjoy.

Chris L

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Good plan. Enjoy.

Chris L

Thanks, I will.

While I was at Lee Valley I also picked up a nice stone holder: Water Stone Holder - Lee Valley Tools. IIRC don't you use one like that, Chris? I was just going to use little rubber feet on the Shaptons, but since this holder was only about $15 I figure it was worth it. So I feel like I have a nice little lapping system and a nice holder to use with any hone that I may emcounter.....I ramble....ejoying honing people!

Yes, I purchased the same one from Woodcraft and like it very much. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

Chris L

OCD! You'll have to get a spec on the flatness of that abrasive film, and paper.

Personally I feel it is possible, through proper application, to exceed the flatness of dmt, just as it is possible to blow it with improper application.

similar to how we get .3- .5 micron edge widths (the width of the edge is form of "flatness") which is beyond the spec flatness of our stones typically.
(i did say similar)

Olivia, the granite would do the same as glass. This is a very tricky thing because the grits are rolling around, never embedding themselves as they do with cast iron lapping plates. But if you use the plate evenly it will last longer.

I really have a question to the guys who use granite as a lapping plate (never having used it myself) over the long haul do you find it effective? The reason I ask is because granite is a combination of usually 3 basic minerals and often more but basically quartz, feldspar and mica and the three are vastly different in hardness. It would seem the mica would start to degrade leaving pits in the rest.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I really have a question to the guys who use granite as a lapping plate (never having used it myself) over the long haul do you find it effective? The reason I ask is because granite is a combination of usually 3 basic minerals and often more but basically quartz, feldspar and mica and the three are vastly different in hardness. It would seem the mica would start to degrade leaving pits in the rest.

I don't know any of us that are using it as a "lapping plate" per se since we're not using lapping compounds on the surface of the actual granite plate. Instead, at least for me when I've used mine, it's simply a flat surface used for lapping film and wet/dry so I should think there would be no degradation.

Chris L

Originally Posted by kevint

OCD! You'll have to get a spec on the flatness of that abrasive film, and paper.

Yes, it is very OCD. I'm not ashamed of that. And don't bring up the flatness of the abrasive film!! Now I want to find out....

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

Yes, it is very OCD. I'm not ashamed of that. And don't bring up the flatness of the abrasive film!! Now I want to find out....

No, OCD would be saying screw it and running out and buying the coveted Shapton lapping plate....... wait, I didn't just say that, did I?