lapidary1234
spending too much on rocks
"If you like rocks you can't be all bad!!" ~ old timer quote
Member since October 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by lapidary1234 on Jun 5, 2024 22:42:33 GMT -5
A simple question...
How long does a nova wheel last and how often do you use them?
Bonus question, im thinking about getting an 80 grit (metal) flat lap. How long can I expect it to last? They only cost around $13 from mo han (china).
The reason I bring this up is I recently bought some magnetic nova discs, they cost about 1/3 the price of a nova wheel so I'm expecting they will last over a year (at least) cutting approx 10 hours a week!
Lmk your thoughts, thx in advance!
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Post by jasoninsd on Jun 8, 2024 23:40:06 GMT -5
Tough question really. Each user might experience things differently. I'm pretty "heavy handed" with my cabbing...meaning I apply more pressure on the wheels than others likely do. When I was cabbing at my "peak", I was cabbing a crap-ton of cabs each week. I went through my first set of Nova wheels in just over a year (I think it was). I think they still had life in them...but I "abused" them and had to replace them sooner rather than later.
I know a LOT of people on here who have had their Nova wheels for YEARS...and they still have life left in them...
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 9, 2024 7:32:24 GMT -5
As Jason said, I think everyone is different. Most people, esp newbies, burn through the 600 pretty quickly. My 1200, 3000 and 14000 lasted a very long time- years. You learn as you go to work across the wheels. You don't want to wear it so there is a bald spot in the middle.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 9, 2024 19:42:31 GMT -5
The Nova that wears out fasted is the 220/280 Nova because they are overused. My other Novas last a long time.
I bought an 80 grit end lap that has lasted for a while. It is not as aggressive as an 80 grit wheel and loses it's bite fairly quickly. I use it to flatten backs. Ideally the flat side is the bottom but when I want to make the flat top the bottom, I get close using a wheel and then get it perfectly flat using the lap.
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lapidary1234
spending too much on rocks
"If you like rocks you can't be all bad!!" ~ old timer quote
Member since October 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by lapidary1234 on Jun 14, 2024 22:14:18 GMT -5
The Nova that wears out fasted is the 220/280 Nova because they are overused. My other Novas last a long time. I bought an 80 grit end lap that has lasted for a while. It is not as aggressive as an 80 grit wheel and loses it's bite fairly quickly. I use it to flatten backs. Ideally the flat side is the bottom but when I want to make the flat top the bottom, I get close using a wheel and then get it perfectly flat using the lap. Thanks stardiamond (and everyone else who replied!). That was the information I am hoping to glean about the cutting action of the end plates! I would say I am a moderate camber, definitely not commercial but probably more than your average hobbyist (call me a fanatic!). Between the great job that the kingsley north notched "house" saw blades do and the low price of the Chinese products im willing to roll the dice on mo hans flat lap end plates. I suppose my next question would be whats a good grit to get to Really Chomp away at rough pieces to flatten them out. I believe I can get as low as 46 grit. I'd suppose these cause chipping but progressing with finer grits on a large enough piece I'd think this would be manageable. How low is your lowest grit for doing severe preforming? Thanks! ~Josh |
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 15, 2024 14:01:29 GMT -5
I flatten using an 80 grit wheel to remove most of the material; circular and figure eight motion. The lap is only to get the back perfectly flat since it is slow.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,538
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Post by realrockhound on Jun 17, 2024 12:42:19 GMT -5
Years. All in how you cut and how much you cut.
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Jun 17, 2024 18:05:58 GMT -5
You bought magnetic Nova disks? I’m curious what kind of machine you are using. I don’t think I’ve seen this.
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lapidary1234
spending too much on rocks
"If you like rocks you can't be all bad!!" ~ old timer quote
Member since October 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by lapidary1234 on Jun 19, 2024 17:31:50 GMT -5
You bought magnetic Nova disks? I’m curious what kind of machine you are using. I don’t think I’ve seen this. Diamond pacific sells what i believe is a steel master lap, it attaches to the genie with a 1/4×20 screw. They also sell magnetic nova discs. These are different from the spin on nova discs in that they don't have the foam backing so they work better on slabs/flats. They are still slower than I had expected which is why I'm looking at getting a magnetic flat lap to hog away material. Thk (treasure Hong kong) sells these as well as mo han (china) i think I've seen as low as 46 grit. You can also get magnetic "dot" discs from one of these companies, I forget which. In due time I will be ordering a few magnetic flat laps as well. Cheers ~ Josh |
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lapidary1234
spending too much on rocks
"If you like rocks you can't be all bad!!" ~ old timer quote
Member since October 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by lapidary1234 on Jun 19, 2024 17:41:04 GMT -5
Also I've mentioned these magnetic nova discs a few times in various posts. Search "magnetic" in the lapidary equipment forum and you should find reference to it!
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Jun 19, 2024 18:06:46 GMT -5
Ok thanks… interesting, I need to get more familiar with more types of equipment.
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