ceramic platen liners

I

inzane

Joined
Jul 26, 2006
Messages
106
Hey guys i was having some trouble with my caftsman 2x42 grinder with belt bump and certain grinds so i ordered a ceramic platen liner, i received it today and was very surprised when i opened it. It seemed to be like it was just a peice of glass the was 3/16 inch thick and 2x7. Is there any difference between the platen liner and a peice of glass? thanx in advance
 
They are are actually borosilicate glass,just like labratory glass.They are much stronger than normal glass and can take higher and lower temps without cracking.make sure there is something under the glass to keep it from being thrown if the glues bond should break.
 
Tape or otherwise immobilize the ceramic platen when you epoxy it to the steel. It tends to move while it is drying especially if you use JB weld. It works well. They are no fun to move after they set up.

Fred
 
Sorta like Pyrex ovenware. It will break, but not as easily as a window pane. It withstands much more heat generated by grinding and belt friction against it.

Like McAhron said, you need something to support it in case your adhesive turns loose. You can tack weld a piece of 1/4" diameter rod to the platen. That will help.

Robert
 
thanks alot for the good info one more question though, the platen liner is very very smooth should i do anything to slightly roughen up the side ill be glueing down to make it hold better or will it be ok?
 
I am about to set my Wilton Squarewheel platen up with a piece of pyroceram also. I need to grind away the edge of the platen to fit the angle in, there's not a lot of room between the metal and the wheel on this sucker.

I don't weld (learning this fall.........)so I was thinking of drilling and tapping it and using flathead allen screws, so I could screw a piece of angle on from underneath, with a 1/8" edge, to support the pyroceram, should the adhesive let go suddenly. (Whewwwwwww too many commas!)

Any reason not to do it this way? Any other modifications I should make to this platen before I glue the glass on?

Syn
 
synthesist said:
I am about to set my Wilton Squarewheel platen up with a piece of pyroceram also. I need to grind away the edge of the platen to fit the angle in, there's not a lot of room between the metal and the wheel on this sucker.

I don't weld (learning this fall.........)so I was thinking of drilling and tapping it and using flathead allen screws, so I could screw a piece of angle on from underneath, with a 1/8" edge, to support the pyroceram, should the adhesive let go suddenly. (Whewwwwwww too many commas!)

Any reason not to do it this way? Any other modifications I should make to this platen before I glue the glass on?

Syn
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I'm not even familiar with the Square Wheel configuration, but it sounds like you have the right idea. I have a Bader, and welded a little ledge.
Weld, screw - same thing.
It's all insurance!
I've had mine on for over four years with not the first issue. Held on with 3M Exterior Mounting Tape - double side adhesive industrial tape. No friggin' epoxy and JB Weld, etc, etc. NOTHING is trying to pull it OFF! The belt is holding it on and YOU are pushing against the belt!
The only thing you need to be concerened with is having it slide down and the ledge takes care of that.
 
hnschwartz i believe it is the right size for that grinder, i have been using it for almost a month and i havent had a problem, i decided on that size because that is the same size as the metal platen that is already on
 
I just got a platen liner for my 2x42 craftsman. What I didn't realize was that the platen isn't perfectly flat (slight angle around the middle)....and the liner is. Needless to say, I ended up tightening down some clamps on the two during epoxiing and pop goes the platen. I ordered another one and will smooth out the platen on a perfect flat surface first. Hope this helps you folks with the craftsman.

BTW I used a 2x6 liner but I did this to leave some room for extra support on the bottom in case the JB gives out during grinding. The 2x7 will work but without as much play at the bottom.

This is my first post. I've been lurking for a long time but didn't have anything of use to say until now. Good luck.
 
Use JB Weld to attach the ceramic piece to the platten....it works well.
Also round the upper and lower edges of the ceramic so the belt will slide over the edges smoothly...
Also understand that you CAN score the ceramic as hard as it is so keep it clean at least every time you change a belt...or more....that is experience talking....
It is a definite improvement over a steel platten alone....
 
JarHeadRot said:
I just got a platen liner for my 2x42 craftsman. What I didn't realize was that the platen isn't perfectly flat (slight angle around the middle)....and the liner is. Needless to say, I ended up tightening down some clamps on the two during ep oxiing and pop goes the platen. I ordered another one and will smooth out the platen on a perfect flat surface first. Hope this helps you folks with the craftsman.
Click to expand...

Couldn't you just put the new one on with epoxy and "clamp" it with a couple of wraps of masking tape? The epoxy will fill the dip in the platen solid and you wouldn't have to mess with making it perfectly flat.
 
lukus said:
Couldn't you just put the new one on with epoxy and "clamp" it with a couple of wraps of masking tape? The epoxy will fill the dip in the platen solid and you wouldn't have to mess with making it perfectly flat.
Click to expand...

The problem is that the high spot is in the middle of the platen. So the liner rocks like a teeter totter on it. Although I could goop on a ton of JB weld to make it somewhat even, I think that it may be stronger if the liner and the platen are equally parallel on the flats(makes lining it up easier). Plus, altough masking tape may work, I prefer to clamp it down somewhat firmly. Not too much that it would crack(although it did when I did it with the high spot not ground down) but enough that when the JB weld dries, there is no movement of the liner. The last thing I want is a crooked liner. Then I'd have to remove the liner and redoe the whole mess.....again. If I think of it, I'll take some pics when I get to working on it.
 
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