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Post by fernwood on Oct 14, 2019 2:27:43 GMT -5
My newly refurbished Lortone LU 6X Combo Unit was delivered yesterday. Many thanks to NDK . I want to attach a polishing head to the end. There are so many options and I need some help. The unit has a 80 and a 220 diamond wheel. A 3/4" Arbor that does not have a drilled/threaded end for attachments. The outside edge is threaded for the polishing head. My questions are. Which is preferred, a flat or convex head? A good adhesive to attach disks to the head? What sizes of disks are needed? How long do disks last? Does there need to be a water drip above the polishing attachment, or could I use a spray bottle? Yes, lots of questions, but I am trying to get the set up right the first time. Let me know if further info is needed. Thank you. 10-15 info. I learned how to cab using a home made, foot powered grinding cabbing apparatus. Think early 1900's design. Made of wood and iron. The only modern(?) element on this was that bicycle pedals were used to power the wheel. Various belts were attached for grinding/polishing. There was a pail of water hanging above the unit. Some home made and some purchased grits/powders were applied to various belts. It took a long time to make one cab. Since 2015 I have used diamond files, whet stone, drywall cloth, a Dremel and rotary tumbler for cabs.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Oct 22, 2019 0:32:36 GMT -5
Congratulations on your new acquisition! I purchased a Lortone SA-6 machine back in 1977 and used it for around 30 years. It was a painted steel model and it functioned fine and was still in fairly good condition when I finally sold it and upgraded to an 8" wheel unit. Those old Lortone machines can last a long time if cared for properly. For sanding and polishing with diamond compounds with that Lortone machine I purchased an adapter similar to the one pictured below to allow me to mount 6" discs with 1/4"-20 diameter threaded shafts on the end of the arbor. Back in those days Raytech made and sold an inexpensive kit with a set of six - 6" discs and with an aluminum disc stand. The 6" discs where made of thin stamped steel with a 1/4"-20tpi threaded arbor stud on the back and sponge rubber padded fronts. If I remember correctly these were called Rayspin Discs. And they were made for attaching canvas/resin sanding/polishing pads (to be charged with Crystallite diamond bort) or cloth backed diamond sanding pads to. The sanding/polishing pads were attached to the sponge rubber surfaces with a disc adhesive which allows the sanding/polishing pads to later be removed without destroying the sponge rubber surface. I used these for as long as I had the machine and they worked well. Just when using diamond bort had to be sure and clean the cabs well with NAPTHA between each grit stage to prevent contamination. While the Rayspins are no longer being produced I still see them from time to time so you may be able to acquire some on eBay or from an older local club member. If the sponge rubber is dried out that can be replaced for about $6 per disc. Or as another alternative, with a similar shaft adapter as shown above, the Diamond Pacific spin-on discs can be used on Lortone machines. Or the Kingsley North spin-on polishing heads. kingsleynorth.com/spinon-polishing-heads.html Any of these would be a less expensive alternative to having to purchase multiple cast aluminum Lortone sanding polishing heads. And IMO as far as 6" heads go, the flat ones work fine for polishing domed cabs. Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Oct 22, 2019 0:53:56 GMT -5
And to answer your other questions:
Q: A good adhesive to attach discs to the head? A: 3M Disc Adhesive
Q: What sizes of discs are needed? A: For a 6" unit no larger than 6".
Q: How long do discs last? A: Depends on what type of disc and how it's used. The Raytech Canvas resin discs and belts I used with diamond bort and using spray silicon as a lubricant lasted many, many years.
Q: Does there need to be a water drip above the polishing attachment, or could I use a spray bottle? A: Water drips on end discs can get messy. If using oxide polishes on leather, canvas, or felt pads a water spritzer bottle will be fine. For diamond on leather or canvas you'll just have to try it and see if it will keep the stone cool enough. As mentioned before for diamond bort on canvas/resin pads silicone spray will work (take care not to breath any of the silicone spray into your lungs though).
Or all things considered, if you like polishing with oxides and can find an old B&I Gem Maker horizontal unit (these were made in Burlington, WI and sold by Sears for around 40 years) at a good price then pick it up to use just for polishing. The housed horizontal lap is much less messy to use when polishing with oxides.
Larry C.
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