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Post by 150FromFundy on Jan 27, 2014 19:03:51 GMT -5
Either me or my disks are well worn and slow to produce cabs lately. I'm hoping that it is my disks, because at least money can fix that!
Ameritool diamond disks are expensive (8" - $99) and their international postage rates are even more of a deterrent. Are their other disks out there that I should be considering? I noticed that Kingsley North has diamond on aluminium (1/2" arbour, 3/8" disk) for about half the price of Ameritool. Does anyone have an opinion on these?
With the high cost of international postage, I want to buy a quality disk that will last, so I don't have to do it again too soon. My last disks lasted for between 2 and 3 years.
Opinions welcomed.
Thanks.
Darryl.
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on Jan 27, 2014 21:29:03 GMT -5
I buy my non-PSA backed metal discs from JS Gems & Kingsley North. In the beginning I made the mistake of buying the PSA backed and they were a pain to get centered/balanced. Once they're glued in place, you can't remove them without damaging the disc. Only takes a few seconds to center them by eye ball, spinning the disc by hand. Plus you only need 1 backing plate. I also cab very hard agate/jaspers. The 180 took forever. Tried 100 but basically the same results. Start out with a 80 now and it's really fast. It is noisy though. Then I jump up to the 180 and so forth. Also recently bought the metal 3000 which is great. Takes care of those difficult to polish rocks. Final polish is done outside using my 8" expando drum with a felt belt, spraying cerium oxide using Covington's spray bottle kit.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 27, 2014 21:50:26 GMT -5
Best to buy just the top laps or "toppers" and use with plastic backers.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Jan 28, 2014 16:20:45 GMT -5
LarryS - Thanks for the reply. The first things I did with my Ameritool was rig up some flexible tube to a 5 gallon bucket for the drain as you mentioned in a previous post. The second thing I did with my Ameritool was get a #80 disk for the first grind and removing saw marks from flats. Between you and me, great minds think alike! Unfortunately, the women in our lives would probably make some disparaging remarks about fools seldom differing.
John - If I go the route of buying PSA "toppers", do I have to remove the existing diamond disk from the plastic backer, or do you simply apply the new topper over the existing one, or do I flip the plastic backer over and use the other side? Same question for the flexible PSA sanding disks if they are any different from the metal toppers.
Thanks!
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 2, 2014 12:14:30 GMT -5
I buy my non-PSA backed metal discs from JS Gems & Kingsley North. In the beginning I made the mistake of buying the PSA backed and they were a pain to get centered/balanced. Once they're glued in place, you can't remove them without damaging the disc. Only takes a few seconds to center them by eye ball, spinning the disc by hand. Plus you only need 1 backing plate. I'm so completely confused... and I've seen this idea mentioned a few times so now I have to buck up and ask for clarification. This reads to me like you're not ever gluing the metal disc to the backing plate. You just sandwich the two together, center them while the lap is spinning, and then tighten it down (  ). And then when you switch to the next grit your only taking off the metal disc (and making sure everything is clean of grit of course). My husband says I'm nuts and that what you mean is that you're using one full set of backing plates forever and just swapping out metal discs. (In hindsight, he also waves at a shop in Spokane WA whenever we drive by called The Nut Factory... say's "Aimee's coming home soon!!". So he might be biased.) |
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on Feb 2, 2014 12:41:53 GMT -5
Yep, the top plate is never stuck to the bottom plate. I center the topper by eye ball, spin it by hand while watching the edge making sure it's even all the way around and then tighten the nut. And actually you only need one bottom plate. I tell my wife the same thing because we both know the opposite is true! The stock Ameritool discs don't last very long. Think mine lasted about 6 months. The metal ones last for many years. Only had to replace 1, the 80 because I'm very rough with it. And it really didn't need replacing. Just the new ones grind like crazy and you have to be gentle with them because sometimes they grind too much. And I still wash the bottom plate while switching discs. Only takes a second and it's more because of habit than anything.
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 2, 2014 12:54:14 GMT -5
Wow, thanks!! I was thinking of swapping to all-metal discs in the future but thought it was pretty lame to have to buy whole new backing plates for each one.
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on Feb 2, 2014 13:26:14 GMT -5
And you'll see it's a real pain to remove the old topper adheasive off the backing plates. I used a razor blade to get it started and pealed them off. Used acetone on the adheasive. The toppers are about 1/8" smaller than the backing plates. So while spinning them around trying to center them, just make it 1/16" all the way around. More you do it, easier it gets. On some of the original toppers I attached crooked, it couldn't run the machine full speed because it vibrated so much. Don't have that problem anymore. Also set the machine on a cheap small rubber backed bathroom throw rug from Wal Mart. Stays put.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 2, 2014 14:39:31 GMT -5
I buy my non-PSA backed metal discs from JS Gems & Kingsley North. In the beginning I made the mistake of buying the PSA backed and they were a pain to get centered/balanced. Once they're glued in place, you can't remove them without damaging the disc. Only takes a few seconds to center them by eye ball, spinning the disc by hand. Plus you only need 1 backing plate. I also cab very hard agate/jaspers. The 180 took forever. Tried 100 but basically the same results. Start out with a 80 now and it's really fast. It is noisy though. Then I jump up to the 180 and so forth. Also recently bought the metal 3000 which is great. Takes care of those difficult to polish rocks. Final polish is done outside using my 8" expando drum with a felt belt, spraying cerium oxide using Covington's spray bottle kit. I bought a metal psa 80 and got the damn thing on half cocked and now it is useless! I was really PO'ed abt that. I can't get the old one off for nothing. So, you just use yours on top of an old one or on top of a blank acrylic topper? |
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Thunder69
Cave Dweller 
Thunder 2000-2015
Member since January 2009
Posts: 3,105
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Post by Thunder69 on Feb 2, 2014 15:12:33 GMT -5
I just got an 80 grit disk from John.. JS Gems.. I also have an acrylic base..It is easier to swap than dealing with the glue...John
Just to add...He has really good pricing on them too...
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smokeyquartz
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2022
Posts: 9
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Post by smokeyquartz on Apr 21, 2022 12:48:38 GMT -5
Yep, the top plate is never stuck to the bottom plate. I center the topper by eye ball, spin it by hand while watching the edge making sure it's even all the way around and then tighten the nut. And actually you only need one bottom plate. I tell my wife the same thing because we both know the opposite is true! The stock Ameritool discs don't last very long. Think mine lasted about 6 months. The metal ones last for many years. Only had to replace 1, the 80 because I'm very rough with it. And it really didn't need replacing. Just the new ones grind like crazy and you have to be gentle with them because sometimes they grind too much. And I still wash the bottom plate while switching discs. Only takes a second and it's more because of habit than anything. Sorry to revive this dead thread but I feel the info is still current as it is exactly what I'm trying to figure out. Can anyone chime in on using non-PSA backed metal diamond discs with the Ameritool 8" flat lap? Anyone use this technique of sandwiching the disc to the backing plate without adhesive backing and just the screw holding it on? It seems like a great idea, easy to implement. Are these the non-PSA metal discs LarryS is referring to? Also if anyone could help comparing these diamond discs with the ameritool discs, I'd appreciate it! 8" Diamond Smoothing Discs
Ameritool 8" Sanding Discs |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 21, 2022 17:52:48 GMT -5
The Ameritool and Smoothing Discs (Hi-Tech Diamond) are the same thing. I buy the Hi-Tech ones because that's what I've always used (I have an All-U-Need) and I don't see any reason to pay more for the same thing. The Hi-Tech discs work perfectly fine.
Yes, you can use metal laps with a master lap. I do it all the time. I don't know that I'd use them all through the cabbing process though because having the give provided by the smoothing discs on top of a foam backer makes it easier to get a smooth dome a lot easier.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Apr 21, 2022 21:19:22 GMT -5
What you described, smokeyquartz, using disks on top of the Ameritool that are held down by the screw-on knob, is exactly what I do. If the disks are adhesive-backed I don't bother to remove the protective paper. I use them to smooth or flatten backs, shaping preforms, and sometimes doing initial, basic doming before heading to wheels, plus beveling edges. I’ve also found that they are more easily centered on the backing plate by holding them upside down, and looking through the hole from below in good light. Followed of course with a firm grip while placing the pair on the lap. |
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rixrocks
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2019
Posts: 51
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Post by rixrocks on Apr 22, 2022 8:57:35 GMT -5
To center the pad onto the backing plate, I use my socket set and find a socket that fits into the hole in the backing plate. Then I slide the polishing pad down over it so it will be centered on the plate.
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smokeyquartz
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2022
Posts: 9
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Post by smokeyquartz on May 1, 2022 14:57:13 GMT -5
I can confirm this technique of placing a non PSA disc on the backing plate and just tightening the screw works great! Centering is pretty quick too.
I’ll have to try that socket tip. Great idea!
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Post by victor1941 on May 1, 2022 16:55:24 GMT -5
150fromfundy, I use a method similar to rixrocks but use the brass nozzle end of a hand pump sprayer that fits the center hole. I slip the disc on, hold the backer plate and disc firmly together, remove the centering piece and insert and tighten the screw. I use discs from Jade Carver and never have had a balancing problem using my method.
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). And then when you switch to the next grit your only taking off the metal disc (and making sure everything is clean of grit of course).
