Thread: Question on lapping

I just received my Norton 220/1000 and 4000/8000 the other day and wanted to ask a few questions.

First: I couldn't find any glass at Home Depot to put my sandpaper on so I bought a 12" x 12" smooth marble tile. Is that OK? I have seen recommendations of using a "granite tile" but I did not see any there.

Second: I know the 4000 and 8000 have to be lapped but should I lap the 220 side as well as the 1000 on the other stone?

I bought a synthetic tile of some sort from Lowe's but ultimately found that it wasn't really flat. I've used a pane of glass on a flat surface, and that should work fine. I've essentially stopped using my 220 stone because it was just too rough. Lapping it isn't easy. I do lap the 1000 grit stone, but just use 220, 320, 400 and 600 grit sandpaper for that. I use the DMT 325 for the other stones. I've found some 1000, 1500 and 2000 grit sandpaper I use for finishers.

If you get the opportunity to get a DMT-325, here is a lapping video just out for you to look at;

Check your tile with a straight edge, go diagonally across it. You may be ok. You can also use your countertop as a flat surface....

i bought a granite slab from woodcraft for 25.00 its within .001 just sayin

I just lay the wet/dry sandpaper on my counter top to lap and call it good. Just my two cents

Did the 8,000 side but the 4,000 is a PITA!
I am sick of lapping it on sandpaper already. Almost wished I wouldn't have bought it to be honest.

Hang in there, take a break, ,,,what grit & type of paper are you using??/

Hirlau, I am using 3M "Sandblaster" paper 180, 220, 320 and some Norton 320.
I have probably lapped on it for 2 hours and it still feels slightly grainy and porous.
Not quite as smooth as the 1,000 Norton is after lapping

Sorry if this is a dumb question, I tried to answer this with GOOGLE; is this paper you are using a wet/dry paper? Are you lapping under water?