How To Carbide Platen Prep

[fitzo]

Thanks for the responses about the lack of static, guys! I want one!

 

[ScarFoot]

Just a reference for those who haven’t used a glass platen or have not used one for very long, this is what the wear can look like. Those are actually grooves in the glass and over time it will dish out that area of the platen. Also noteworthy is how well it transfers that groove pattern to your grind when using finer grit J weight belts. It’s a pain when hand sanding.

 

[DevinT]

It will be a bit. I am just home from my 7th surgery in 13 months; knives are a hobby and on a back burner at the moment since I can't get down into my shop!
I'll be in touch eventually, I hope. I want one of these platens bad. My first gig after college was for a carbide company, VR/Wesson, as lab tech in R&D. I have have made, formed, ground, and polished a lot of carbide. My ears perked up immediately the first I heard of these.

Recover soon my friend.

Hoss

 

[fitzo]

Recover soon my friend.

Hoss

Thanks, Hoss! I had a really good anesthesiologist yesterday, who spoke of getting me back up without the brain fuzz. He was correct, I woke alert. None of these days of fogginess and 1000-yard stare like the other 6 times. A blessing. Considering this will be an ongoing issue for me (aggressive-form bladder cancer), I hope I see that fellow again.
Today is a pretty good day, though, and I might just order one of these platens on speculation I'll make a few more. I need to figure out what will fit on my two early KMG platens.
Thanks, again. I wish you the best with your health, too, Hoss.

 

[ScarFoot]

Here’s a before and after of the top edge and corners. I put a very slight radius on the edge. Doesn’t look like much but it feels much better. I’m going to start here and tune as needed. Hard to get decent pictures of the edge but I did the best I could. The tape and screws should show up this weekend so hopefully I’ll get to try it out soon.

 

[ScarFoot]

Thanks, Hoss! I had a really good anesthesiologist yesterday, who spoke of getting me back up without the brain fuzz. He was correct, I woke alert. None of these days of fogginess and 1000-yard stare like the other 6 times. A blessing. Considering this will be an ongoing issue for me (aggressive-form bladder cancer), I hope I see that fellow again.
Today is a pretty good day, though, and I might just order one of these platens on speculation I'll make a few more. I need to figure out what will fit on my two early KMG platens.
Thanks, again. I wish you the best with your health, too, Hoss.

I hate that you’re going through all of that, it’s nasty business. I appreciate all of the input/insight you’ve given over the few years I’ve been on here. Send me a message if you get a chance. It says your from Greentown IL, I have family in IL. Wasn’t sure if you’re actually from there or a Ray Bradbury fan or both or neither. I thought that town rang a bell and then I remembered I read “Something Wicked This Way Comes” over the summer.

Anyway, I think you’ve got more than a few left in you.

 

[fitzo]

I hate that you’re going through all of that, it’s nasty business. I appreciate all of the input/insight you’ve given over the few years I’ve been on here. Send me a message if you get a chance. It says your from Greentown IL, I have family in IL. Wasn’t sure if you’re actually from there or a Ray Bradbury fan or both or neither. I thought that town rang a bell and then I remembered I read “Something Wicked This Way Comes” over the summer.

Anyway, I think you’ve got more than a few left in you.

Thanks! You happen to be the first person who has mentioned the Greentown reference. Thanks!!
I think Bradbury actually used Green Town but I liked it better this way. I was born and live in Waukegan, IL, which is Bradbury's birthplace and his reference. It is pretty cool to actually know about some of the places in the stories, like the junkman who built a rocket ship. I know exactly where that junk yard was. As a lifelong sci-fi fan, the kid still in me found that so cool and still does. I started reading Bradbury in the '60s and still pull him out of the boxes once in a while. I've been wanting to watch Steiger in Illustrated Man again, lately.
And, thanks, I hope I have a few left, too. Every few months, they look and there's new cancer there. Scrape it out, cauterize, and it comes back somewhere else. Aggressive SOB tlhat's putting me through hell but it's gonna get worse so you just take it one day at a time, like all of life. It's in God's hands. I just do what I'm told for the most part and pray for the best.
If you're a sci-fi fan at all, I have the Dune Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear hangs next to my chair, along with a copy of the Serenity Prayer. Helps keep my head screwed on.

 

[fitzo]

RD_knives I left you a PM with some measurements. I was pretty happy I wanted that liner so bad I managed to get downstairs and back up without too much hassle today, and neither one of my knees went out even once. That was cool. It's been since Thanksgiving, so I'm pretty thrilled. I'll be down there again tomorrow. <Simple Pleasures>

 

[ScarFoot]

Thanks! You happen to be the first person who has mentioned the Greentown reference. Thanks!!
I think Bradbury actually used Green Town but I liked it better this way. I was born and live in Waukegan, IL, which is Bradbury's birthplace and his reference. It is pretty cool to actually know about some of the places in the stories, like the junkman who built a rocket ship. I know exactly where that junk yard was. As a lifelong sci-fi fan, the kid still in me found that so cool and still does. I started reading Bradbury in the '60s and still pull him out of the boxes once in a while. I've been wanting to watch Steiger in Illustrated Man again, lately.
And, thanks, I hope I have a few left, too. Every few months, they look and there's new cancer there. Scrape it out, cauterize, and it comes back somewhere else. Aggressive SOB tlhat's putting me through hell but it's gonna get worse so you just take it one day at a time, like all of life. It's in God's hands. I just do what I'm told for the most part and pray for the best.
If you're a sci-fi fan at all, I have the Dune Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear hangs next to my chair, along with a copy of the Serenity Prayer. Helps keep my head screwed on.

My ex had family in Mchenry so I’ve visited that area a handful of times but it’s been quite a while ago. My parents live in southern IL so I’m much more familiar with that part of the state. I make it up there a couple of times each year.

My wife and 13 year old are huge dune (movie) fans. I’ve thought about reading the books but haven’t yet. I agree about reading stories that are based in your area. I’ve read a ton of southern gothic since I moved to AL 12 years ago. Something Wicked was my first Bradbury book and yes he used Green Town but I won’t tell anyone. I was aware of him and his impact on the genre but I hadn’t read anything of his before last summer. Having grown up in the Midwest it was easy to place myself in the setting of the story. I really enjoyed it. I enjoy multiple genres when it comes to books, mainly So. Gothic, sci-fi, horror, and true crime. Frankenstein is probably my favorite sci-fi/horror book. No movie adaptation has ever done it justice. If you’re remotely interested in true crime/historical non-fiction from your area I’d highly recommend “Devil In The White City”. It’s about HH Holmes and the Chicago Worlds Fair. Incredible account of each subject.

Hang in there on the health front. I’ve known too many people who’ve been through it. There’s a reason for everything whether we understand it or not. God bless!

 

[fitzo]

If interested in short stories, Bradbury’s “October Country” is an excellent exposition of who Bradbury was as a writer. Enjoyable read.

Dune is one of those series it is difficult to render the detail and richness of the novels. I watched the new Dune and, while I’ve enjoyed it immensely, repeatedly, I found myself saying, “That’s not how it goes,” enough times that I have gone back and started reading the entire series again. I finished the 8-book, roughly 4000 pages of the whole story across several thousand years and have now turned to the ancillary books penned by Herbert’s son and a second writer. They do a very admirable job. Very enjoyable universe, Or, the Duniverse, as the hardcores call it, I recently learned. Cute.

Again, thanks for the good wishes.

Sorry. for taking this OT, folks. I don’t get out much any more. LOL

 

[Lorien]

man, I feel for you!
I like your attitude, it's badass.

Thanks! You happen to be the first person who has mentioned the Greentown reference. Thanks!!
I think Bradbury actually used Green Town but I liked it better this way. I was born and live in Waukegan, IL, which is Bradbury's birthplace and his reference. It is pretty cool to actually know about some of the places in the stories, like the junkman who built a rocket ship. I know exactly where that junk yard was. As a lifelong sci-fi fan, the kid still in me found that so cool and still does. I started reading Bradbury in the '60s and still pull him out of the boxes once in a while. I've been wanting to watch Steiger in Illustrated Man again, lately.
And, thanks, I hope I have a few left, too. Every few months, they look and there's new cancer there. Scrape it out, cauterize, and it comes back somewhere else. Aggressive SOB tlhat's putting me through hell but it's gonna get worse so you just take it one day at a time, like all of life. It's in God's hands. I just do what I'm told for the most part and pray for the best.
If you're a sci-fi fan at all, I have the Dune Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear hangs next to my chair, along with a copy of the Serenity Prayer. Helps keep my head screwed on.

 

[RD_knives]

Here’s a before and after of the top edge and corners. I put a very slight radius on the edge. Doesn’t look like much but it feels much better. I’m going to start here and tune as needed. Hard to get decent pictures of the edge but I did the best I could. The tape and screws should show up this weekend so hopefully I’ll get to try it out soon.
View attachment 2797736View attachment 2797737

Top and bottom side i found out its best to round off more to make it easier for the belts to run over.
Can be either done on a diamond stone or with a new 36 grit ceramic belt.

I use myself to prepare all platens a resin bonded diamond stone.

 

[ScarFoot]

Top and bottom side i found out its best to round off more to make it easier for the belts to run over.
Can be either done on a diamond stone or with a new 36 grit ceramic belt.

I use myself to prepare all platens a resin bonded diamond stone.

Okay, I’m using a 325 grit diamond sharpening stone that’s cutting it pretty easy so I’ll go a little farther with it.

 

[ScarFoot]

Top and bottom side i found out its best to round off more to make it easier for the belts to run over.
Can be either done on a diamond stone or with a new 36 grit ceramic belt.

I use myself to prepare all platens a resin bonded diamond stone.

I went ahead and radiused the top and bottom back to about half or more of the thickness of the platen. I think it should be good now.

 

[fitzo]

Two of you made my wife cry and even gave me a mist. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I didn't need that, but the unexpected kindness made my day and more to come. Thank you.

This little corner of the webz has been home to me for a long time. This is my social media. I love knife making and I love knife makers. I am grateful to the place and the people. Thank you, again, whomever you are. God Bless.

 

[RD_knives]

Two of you made my wife cry and even gave me a mist. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I didn't need that, but the unexpected kindness made my day and more to come. Thank you.

This little corner of the webz has been home to me for a long time. This is my social media. I love knife making and I love knife makers. I am grateful to the place and the people. Thank you, again, whomever you are. God Bless.

Another example of how great the knifemaking community can be!

Wish you all the best and will get your package shipped after the weekend

 

[ScarFoot]

Two of you made my wife cry and even gave me a mist. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I didn't need that, but the unexpected kindness made my day and more to come. Thank you.

This little corner of the webz has been home to me for a long time. This is my social media. I love knife making and I love knife makers. I am grateful to the place and the people. Thank you, again, whomever you are. God Bless.

I’m getting all misty eyed myself and I don’t even know what happened. Judging by RD_knives post I assume you’ll be finding your way to the shop soon?!?!

 

[fitzo]

I’m getting all misty eyed myself and I don’t even know what happened. Judging by RD_knives post I assume you’ll be finding your way to the shop soon?!?!

Unbeknownst to me prior, when I arranged the purchase with Robin he told me it had been pre-paid by two members. I was floored and remain so. Robin hasn’t told me who it was. My wife gasped and starting crying at the kindness of others. Now, I am financially set, so that didn’t have anything to do with this. This was just plain old flat out kindness of people on this forum and I am misting up again. Just plain good people, and I am grateful as can be to be in their company. You think the world sucks but then it gets down to the real stuff and you remeber just how good so many people actually are in this crazy world.
I’m real sick, but I’ve been sick for a long time and I’m still here. My old man lived with me his last ten years. He died from cancer with a dignity I can only hope to approach. He used to say, “I’m not dead today, “ and I’ve tried to emulate that attitude. I plan on getting some use out of that platen.
Again, my thanks to my mystery friends. I am floored by your kindness. And I’ll think of you every time I fire up that grinder.

 

[Lorien]

who knew that a thread about the humble platen could turn into something so much more?

 

[fitzo]

who knew that a thread about the humble platen could turn into something so much more?

I am still apologetic, though, that I took this thread so far OT and skranked it with my personal issues. Turned out pretty special for me, though, and, to be honest, it helped my head to get this stuff out.
Sorry, folks, but many, many thanks.