Post by hh5 on Jun 19, 2018 15:52:40 GMT -5
Hi Everyone,
Not sure if anyone has shown this in the past and I did not find any articles on the site.
So this is how I converted a used 6" Raytech ray-tilt gem maker into an 8" flat lap.
These units have a constant full speed and a Variable speed control unit which is handy.
I just checked Ebay and there are none currently available (but I see them quite often) but
they usually sell anywhere from $100 to $150 plus shipping.
These are 6" units to begin with but if you cut a board to fit inside the tub, then put a small
bottle jack across the unit with the base of the jack sitting against the board and the piston
crossing over the top of the lap center bolt so that it pushes out the side closest to the lap (left side)
you can gently push out the left side a slight amount. This will allow the use of 8" laps.
I use 8" base laps and 8" faceting laps with the holes drilled out to 5/8 (Raytech has larger 5/8 shaft).
Also you might want to pick up a few spare belts from Raytech as this is a belt driven machine. I have only
broken 1 belt in 6 years with intermittent use.
Not sure if anyone has shown this in the past and I did not find any articles on the site.
So this is how I converted a used 6" Raytech ray-tilt gem maker into an 8" flat lap.
These units have a constant full speed and a Variable speed control unit which is handy.
I just checked Ebay and there are none currently available (but I see them quite often) but
they usually sell anywhere from $100 to $150 plus shipping.
These are 6" units to begin with but if you cut a board to fit inside the tub, then put a small
bottle jack across the unit with the base of the jack sitting against the board and the piston
crossing over the top of the lap center bolt so that it pushes out the side closest to the lap (left side)
you can gently push out the left side a slight amount. This will allow the use of 8" laps.
I use 8" base laps and 8" faceting laps with the holes drilled out to 5/8 (Raytech has larger 5/8 shaft).
Also you might want to pick up a few spare belts from Raytech as this is a belt driven machine. I have only
broken 1 belt in 6 years with intermittent use.
