shelyn72
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2023
Posts: 3
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Post by shelyn72 on Feb 3, 2023 19:37:44 GMT -5
Hello, I am making a flat lap and have everything worked out except I need to know the best way to reduce my 5/8 inch arbor to accept the 1/2” metal lap disks. Can someone point me in the right direction please
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Post by vegasjames on Feb 3, 2023 21:10:10 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 3, 2023 22:13:57 GMT -5
Welcome from Washington. Try searching for a 5/8 to 1/2 arbor adapter.
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Post by vegasjames on Feb 3, 2023 22:17:26 GMT -5
Do you have pics of all what you are trying to attach so we can see what is male and what is female fittings?
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 3, 2023 22:43:46 GMT -5
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shelyn72
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2023
Posts: 3
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Post by shelyn72 on Feb 8, 2023 20:20:40 GMT -5
Thank you for the welcome and suggestions. I was attempting to use an angle grinder with a 5/8 arbor. I made a trip into ACE hardware and spoke to a gentleman there. He is also a rock hound and had some good suggestions. He suggested I swap out the angle grinder for a drill and I got an adapter that gives the drill a 1/2” arbor. So just a few modifications to my original plan and I think I have it figured out. I received a suggestion to shape with the lap and use a vib tumbler for polishing, I have done that with cabs I have made with my dremel and they came out beautifully so that is a great suggestion, thank you!
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,497
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 9, 2023 16:02:10 GMT -5
If you're using a drill (I question how well that will work) Why not just tighten a 1/2" threaded rod in the chuck?
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brotherbill
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2018
Posts: 372
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Post by brotherbill on Feb 9, 2023 16:19:32 GMT -5
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brotherbill
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2018
Posts: 372
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Post by brotherbill on Feb 9, 2023 16:43:32 GMT -5
For my home built flap lap I needed a L/H thread.
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 10, 2023 0:46:27 GMT -5
If you're using a drill (I question how well that will work) Why not just tighten a 1/2" threaded rod in the chuck? You need a pretty big power drill to have a 1/2" chuck, most have 3/8"
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,497
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 10, 2023 9:42:22 GMT -5
If you're using a drill (I question how well that will work) Why not just tighten a 1/2" threaded rod in the chuck? You need a pretty big power drill to have a 1/2" chuck, most have 3/8" That's true, but my battery drill is 1/2". I did a quick Google search for flat laps made with a drill. There seems to be few drill press versions but not much with hand held drills.
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vwfence
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2013
Posts: 557
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Post by vwfence on Feb 16, 2023 10:14:24 GMT -5
rather than using an angle grinder , look into using a variable speed grinder . i used one from Harbor freight and it works fine but i wouldnt get the digital one again as you have to rest the speed every time you start it
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Post by MsAli on Feb 16, 2023 10:21:55 GMT -5
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 16, 2023 13:03:13 GMT -5
I believe jamesp originally used an angle grinder set up. I agree with vwfence a variable speed would be nice because angle grinders spin really fast, much more than needed for lapidary. Check on the DIY section, several home made flat laps. They're quite easy to put together if you've got a little mechanical aptitude. I built mine with the adapter like brotherbill & Rockoonz posted the link for. In fact I built a 2nd unit to use for polishing with diamond paste. Never had any vibration issues that I recall.
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vwfence
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2013
Posts: 557
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Post by vwfence on Feb 17, 2023 11:36:58 GMT -5
i wrote the wrong word in my post . i did not use a grinder , i used a buffer and than the interchangeable 7 inch diamond pads
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shelyn72
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2023
Posts: 3
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Post by shelyn72 on Apr 21, 2023 18:24:20 GMT -5
I ended up using a corded drill. I’m not sure how to attach a photo. But I found a 1/2 arbor that goes on a drill. I wish I could attach a photo, maybe someone can give me instructions on that and it will show what I did.
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neural
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2019
Posts: 114
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Post by neural on Apr 29, 2023 17:34:39 GMT -5
I ended up using a corded drill. I’m not sure how to attach a photo. But I found a 1/2 arbor that goes on a drill. I wish I could attach a photo, maybe someone can give me instructions on that and it will show what I did. I use a site called imgur.com It allows you to upload images, and then you copy the link and paste it here using the little "insert image" icon at the top of the area where you write your message. Alternatively, you can use a snapshot site like gyazo or similar, which also gives you a URL that you can paste into your image: gyazo.com/0f9f1995f763eec4fdb48e82a5727c3d <-- note however that unlike using imgur.com, you can't use the "insert image" button, you need to use the "insert link" button (the image above shows the buttons that I'm talking about. If you hold your mouse over them, a little text thing should pop up to tell you what the button does. ----------------- All that out of the way, I am glad to hear you went with the corded drill. An angle grinder is, in my opinion, dangerous to use for lapidary work unless you're polishing Jade, Nephrite, or other absurdly hard stones. Most angle grinders have a rotation speed of 11,000 rpm, and that's fast enough to injure you if you touch your abrasive in the wrong spot (edge of the disc, etc) Not sure what the ideal RPM is for a machine, but if you used something around 3500 to 4000 RPM that's a bit more realistic. I applaud you for working with what you have though. It can be really frustrating, especially if you're new to a hobby and aren't familiar with terminology etc. I built my first cabbing machine using cut and glued piece of Acrylic sheet for a water guard and those flat circular polishing pads as the abrasives. Old motor and an arbor with a stone grinding wheel on it as a flywheel (not that it was needed really). You do what ever works Just remember that once you start cutting cabochons it's natural, if you're really enjoying it, to want to improve your machine, but it doesn't necessarily mean you *have* to. So long as your abrasive surface isn't really wobbly or having similar issues, you can still cut good cabochons on a somewhat inferior machine. (it wasn't pretty, but it worked. )
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Post by Pat on Apr 29, 2023 17:54:41 GMT -5
Welcome from California.
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