Thread: Lapping a Translucent

I think all lapping to some degree involves some loose grit. Take a dmt and start lapping a norton for example. The dmt removes grit from the stone and then it starts working itself around the stone, yes you wash some of it off but for the most part there is always a layer of it between the plate and the stone being lapped. I believe this helps smooth things out. Good question though I have wondered about these things myself.

FWW
The loosened grit is the problem with a DMT as the swarf can and does eat away the Nickle Metal Plating that is used to hold the diamonds to the steel plate. The diamonds do not waer but..there is little plating left to hold them.
~Richard

Originally Posted by Razorfaust

I think all lapping to some degree involves some loose grit. Take a dmt and start lapping a norton for example. The dmt removes grit from the stone and then it starts working itself around the stone, yes you wash some of it off but for the most part there is always a layer of it between the plate and the stone being lapped. I believe this helps smooth things out. Good question though I have wondered about these things myself.

To minimize that, if not to eliminate it, I always lap under running water in the kitchen sink. The DMTs might be more prone to that. You can feel the stiction. The Shapton GDLP is grooved to avoid the buildup, and the Atoma is constructed so that somehow the stiction doesn't happen, at least not under the running tap when I do it.

I agree, DMT dont have the channels to clear the grit even under running water. Real lapping plates have this feature and are faster and more efficient. My problem is those plates are crazy expensive compared to the latter. I guess im still looking for a reasonable solution for this but still making due with DMTs for now. Anyone have a nice reasonably priced system I would be game.

Try the Chef Knives to go 400/1000 combo diamond plate $35 with diamond pattern in the diamond pattern and for heavy use the 140 grit CKTG.

I have also been abusing my 140 for well over 2-3 years and still going strong. It has lapped a LOT of naturals. I do abuse my diamond plates, then again I have a very old DMT that is still ticking.

The 400/1k is nice plate 400 to lap, 1k to refresh a synthetic. They look and perform like an IWood plate I have been beating on for years.

yeah those are chinese diamond plates - they sold them on Ebay for 25 bucs FRee shiping . They are the same
for the arkansas stones get a piece of glass and SIC powder 80 grit as a start and 320 for finishing on glass piece
the hole thing is 1 hour hard labour

Luckily I live in an area full of rock hounds and stone cutters, so there are lapping machines close by that I can use, why not, ya know?

Meant to say, maybe get to know someone in your area who does Lapidary.

Not for lapping an ark, as alternative to DMT stiction. No diamond plate will lap an ark…