Dumb question of the day - What do you use your rotary platen for?

[JMJones]

Does anybody know if Nathan the Machinist still stock the parts for his rotary platen?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Why not ask Nathan?

https://www.bladeforums.com/members/nathan-the-machinist.193594/#about

 

[JMJones]

Is there a way to message him on the page linked above. I don't see it but am sure I am missing it.

Thanks

John

 

[Richard338]

Carothers Performance Knives – Nathan “the Machinist” Carothers – Knifemaker, Machinist, Evil Genius

WELCOME TO CAROTHERS PERFORMANCE KNIVES, HOME OF: Nathan “the Machinist” Carothers – Knifemaker, Machinist, Evil Genius. Nathan “the Machinist” Carothers – Knifemaker, Machinist, Evil Genius. At Carothers Performance Knives, the design, materials, and manufacturing are all purpose driven...

carothersknives.com

They have a website going now.
They list cooled platen, radius platen, and flat platen with radiused ends, but not rotary.
They aren't stocking any of them at the moment.
Nathan the Machinist can hopefully weigh in on if/when...

 

[Troop]

I used JB Weld to attach the leather to my soft platen, and it works great.

Thank you.

 

[Troop]

I just use double sided carpet tape to stick it to a platen. I took some 2x2.5" 1/4" thick angle iron to make up spare platens for my AmeriBrade Combo Platen assembly. One is set up to help square hidden tang shoulders and rough hogging/profiling, one is S2-32 felt, one is S3 felt. 1/4" F3 (30-40 Durometer Shore A) from Amazon, 1/4" S2-32 from McMaster Carr (80 durometer Shore A). I tried some 3/8" thick F5 (20-30 Duro Shore A), but it is too soft and doesn't put much pressure on the belt until you lean into it a lot. The S2-20 (50 Duro Shore A) or S2-24 (55 Duro Shore A) from McMaster may be worth the look at instead of the F3 felt.

I just replaced the F3 felt on my platen and will do the S2-32 this week. I did several kitchen and camp knives with them. I did some profiling on my F3 one and it put a nice groove in it, which is why I changed it out.

The F5 has the adhesive on the back, but always seemed to come off, so I still used the double sided tape on it.

Some people use leather for a soft platen, some use a piece of scotchbrite between the leather and metal platen for some give. The leather may keep crisper plunge lines since the felt tends to roll at the edges more.

Thank you, great idea to use the carpet tape!

 

[N.W. Gean]

Thank you, great idea to use the carpet tape!

+1 on the carpet tape. I occasionally use it when I believe a leather platen will help me smooth a grind over.

 

[Signalprick]

Wanted to give a shout out the @sbuzfor the idea of using the rotary platen to shape bolsters. Makes for a much nicer rough finished product over the wheel. Thanks again Stan! I now have 2 uses for it in my shop.