A machine to grind flats for less than $100.00

FOG2

FOG2

Joined
Nov 1, 2007
Messages
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Does someone sell one of these Thats worth buying for $100.00 or less?

What im looking for is a machine to help *lap* things Flat w/precision. I would use it for
slipjoint springs as well as the flats on blades/knives and anything else that i need nice and flat.


Thanks,Bryce
 
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they also have a 4x24 with a 5" disc for 80$ or a 10" disc for 80$ also both are on the must buy list right behind the Kmg
 
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The cheapest way to go is get a 9' disk from Grizzly $29 plus shipping part # 21 0n this page http://www.grizzly.com/products/g1014z/parts. Then get appox a 1hp motor (you should be able to find a used one cheap TECF is best) that will run in either direction and wire it with a 2p2t switch (under $10) so a flip of the switch will reverse the motor. Wire the power to the motor to the center terminals on the switch then wire the power cord wires to an end set of terminals and a set of jumpers from those terminals that cross and connect to the other end terminals. You can mount the disk right on the motor. You might have to redrill the hole in the disk and file your key slot back in if your motor shaft is bigger than your disks hole. Cheapest way to go I think. This will give you a flat disk that turns in either direction which is big for doing the opposite flats. Or for more options get a couple pillow block bearings and 2 pulleys. I got my bearings on ebay. I turned my own shaft and milled the key way slots in it but you could get a piece of shafting with the same OD as the disks ID and get your bearings that size also. Then use an disk grinder to carefully grind the slots for the key ways. You could spend a bit more and get step pulleys for the shaft and motor and mount the motor on a hinge and have some speed control. I went whole hog and put a 12" disk on one end of the shaft and a 9" on the other mounted the pulley behind one of the disks and got a 3phase motor and a VFD. I have less than $400 in a kick butt disk machine. But, you can start with the disk, switch and motor, have what you need for now and just add to it as funds come in
 
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I guess i phrased the question wrong( told ya i shoulda been asleep).

What im looking for is a machine to help *lap* things Flat w/precision. I would use it for
slipjoint springs as well as the flats on blades/knives etc.

I have a 1x42 with a disc grinder but i cant get precise work using it.

Thanks for the replies tho !



P.S. I edited the original post
 
You really need a surface grinder for that! or a good rigid mill,which you would have to make fixtures for the parts you want to machine to size.
 
you are probably NOT going to be able to find a lapping machine for less than 1000.00 that is complete and in working condition. your cheapest option is going to be a surface grinder set up with a stone.
 
Im not really looking for a lapping machine per se, just something to lessen the time spent on the granite/sandpaper.

There arent sub $100.00 surface grinders that ive seen.But i would love to have one !
 
dmt makes a big lap for right at 100.00 that is the only way i have found to get something perfect. i have a precsion german surface grinder but you steel need to flat lap the side the magnet sticks to.
 
The cheapest way is to make a surface plate and hand scrape them flat.

Just get yourself a chunk of mild steel, say 1" thick x 10" x 10" (the actual size of the chunk doesn't matter). Take it to a machine shop and ask them to surface grind it as flat as possible. Then buy or make yourself a hand scraper. A hand scraper is like a gasket scraper, but has a rounded scraping edge, so that you only scrape off a tiny spot with each scrape ( you could actually make this tool, since you're a knife maker!). You'll need some bluing (prussian blue oil paint from any craft store will work).

How to produce a perfectly flat part with this set up.
  • Put an extremely light coat of prussian blue on the surface plate.
  • Gently place the part you want flat onto the plate and then move it ever so slightly to transfer prussian blue to the high spots of your part.
  • Pick the part up off the surface plate and secure it somehow (vise usually).
  • Then carefully scrape off just the prussian blue taking a small amount of metal with each scrape.
  • Then clean up the part and start at the top again, repeating the procedure over and over until you get about 90% or more blue up with no large holes in your blue pattern. This is as flat as any machine can make and puts a beautiful hand scraped pattern on the part. Also, each time your go through the actual scraping procedure step, change the angle of your scraping, so that you're not always removing material in the same direction.
 
I am currently in the process of making an angle holder for my belt sander. When I make it, I'll take pictures for each step, and make a thread about it. Estimated cost in supplies - $15
 
Lotsa of good info here THANKS to evryone who contributed.

I guess the answer is $100.00 WONT buy a POWER TOOL to get metal FLAT

GOMIKE im interested to see what you make and how well it works
 
I just got all of the materials needed, all together, full sized raw materials is about $25. Every step I do, I'll take a picture, with a list of supplies and costs, then post a new thread with it. I'll probably have it done (or mostly done) this weekend.
 
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