Glass or Steel what say you?

elementfe said:
...and in case no one mentioned it, the platen never seems to heat up if you use glass- there's just not enough friction (at least with the belts I use).
After four years of production grinding, I'm thinking about flipping my glass platen over, since ordering a new one would take effort, and I have to remove it anyway to put on the new one. :)
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The glass really doesn't seem to heat up, but the back of my platen (steel) seems to get pretty hot after a long while of grinding.
 
Ok as a newbie I use a Grizzly belt sander without glass. I'm hoping to replace with a VFD grinder soon. But as far as a glass platen I've heard of static shock being a problem. How do you all deal with that if it's a problem? Thanks.
 
It's usually just a problem for me during the dry months, but as for a solution, anti-static spray seems to work well for most makers.
 
Static is nice when using Scotchbrite belts :D
Our grinder becomes then Van de Graff generator :D

In new workshop I will have grounding for this.
 
Personally used Pyrocerm with the edges rounded to the shape I wanted the Plunges to be
Roughed up the platen a bit along with the Pyrocerm on one side. Co-Joined them with K&G slow cure epoxy 10yrs and never a problem.
Heat and double stick tape however might be an issue
Plenty of shocks though especially with 5% humidity (Desert) in the summer
 
Pyro is the best man. I have them on all my platens and never had to change them, just clean some gunk off thats about it. I use JBweld, no issue.
 
Guys I have been thinking about doing this for some time. Can some one shoot a pic of their ledge. My interpretation is probably wrong....thanks

always great info!

Bj
 
Static just is what it is. Find a way to come in contact with your machine while you grind (I usually rest a finger on the back of the platen or elsewhere as I'm grinding to brace myself),but when you can't just suck it up and take the shock. It'll slowly shock little holes on your fingers as you grind - kind of a knifemaker EDM machine, except it's eating knifemaker. Happens all the time. You just get used to it. At least, I do...
 
Static... If you wanna be crazy about it, you could probably mount some copper brushes to the back of your belt somewhere and then run a wire to ground the brushes. You'd essentially be grounding your belt. It might reduce belt life though....


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In electronics work, we wear wrist straps in order to avoid building up static when sitting at a workbench and dealing with static sensitive components. The wrist strap has a small metal contact that just presses against the skin. The contact connects to a wire in which the other end is clipped to the bench. This puts the technician, the bench and the electronic devices we're working on all at the same potential and bingo....no static build up.

I'm wondering if the the same thing wouldn't work here, where we would clip on to a convenient point of the belt grinder. The strap I'm sure can be positioned in such a way as to not interfere with the process, or perhaps even wear the strap further up your arm.

Here's a link to what I'm talking about: Grounding Wrist Strap

Just a thought for those bothered by static discharge.
 
I switched out to one of Nathan's end radius platens many months ago and just love it.
At first I was a little bothered that I couldn't use a magnet very well with it as it attracted the blade/magnet as well.
But that taught me to quit using the magnet, and I'm very grateful for that. It made me better at grinding. :)
I don't think I'll ever go back to glass and it looks like I am the lone voice.
 
Matthew Gregory said:
Static just is what it is. Find a way to come in contact with your machine while you grind (I usually rest a finger on the back of the platen or elsewhere as I'm grinding to brace myself),but when you can't just suck it up and take the shock. It'll slowly shock little holes on your fingers as you grind - kind of a knifemaker EDM machine, except it's eating knifemaker. Happens all the time. You just get used to it. At least, I do...
Click to expand...

To tell the truth, I'm the same way.

Funny story though: For the longest time I would feel little zaps and shocks when grinding. Like yourself, I'd just suck it up and keep grinding. I figured "if I'm not getting defibrillated every couple of passes, I ain't livin'!"

Until one day, I placed a hand on my aluminum topped work table where my grinder sits, and felt a good little zap with the grinder OFF. Turns out that between all the metal and carbon fiber I'd been grinding, I'd created a little dust bridge from my power strip (screwed to the side of my bench) and the aluminum top. That, coupled with a bad ground (read non-existing ground) on my outlet, ensured that I'd really be putting some feeling into my grinds.

And I thought the bright yellow sparks were from grinding steel... :eek:
 
How do you guys attach a the little ledge for the glass platen? It seems some people mileld theres out, and some people just screwed a small plate to the bottom
 
knife to a gunfight said:
Until one day, I placed a hand on my aluminum topped work table where my grinder sits, and felt a good little zap with the grinder OFF. Turns out that between all the metal and carbon fiber I'd been grinding, I'd created a little dust bridge from my power strip (screwed to the side of my bench) and the aluminum top. That, coupled with a bad ground (read non-existing ground) on my outlet, ensured that I'd really be putting some feeling into my grinds.

And I thought the bright yellow sparks were from grinding steel... :eek:
Click to expand...


So then we have at least ONE vote for making sure all equipment is properly grounded. :D Good story Drew! I don't think that there'd be many that would consider that iron dust can potentially make a connection back to the power source. All the more reason to keep our work areas clean...well, relatively clean anyways.
 
Greenberg Woods said:
How do you guys attach a the little ledge for the glass platen? It seems some people mileld theres out, and some people just screwed a small plate to the bottom
Click to expand...

I've done both of those way. You can also tack weld it in place, or just drill and tap some socket heat screws at the bottom for a ledge. The main concern is just having good, square, and even contact, along with a good adhesive for the ceramic glass.
 
Greenberg Woods said:
How do you guys attach a the little ledge for the glass platen? It seems some people mileld theres out, and some people just screwed a small plate to the bottom
Click to expand...

I got my glass platen delievered from USA Knifemakers and applied it with outdoor fiberglass carpet tape and install a small micarta ledge under it with the tape and then drill to holes, chamfered them and peened some brass rod.

It looks and works great.
 
only ledge i have is over flow of JB weld on top and bottom
i have thougth about milling a ldge into my steel backerr but knock on wood i have nto had a glass fail (even after it cracked ) in the last 8 years (maybe longer time seems lost to me )
 
I made one from hardened/low tempered D2 steel. Been using it 3, 4 days a week for over 8 months with no wear at all.
Scott
 
I've been told that the outside stuff shown here is a very good one. I'm still using up a roll that I can no longer get.
Yes, i turn almost all of mine over. A little heat and a putty knife and the old one will pop off.
Frank
 
Update:

I attached my glass platen using "Shurtape fiberglass outdoor carpet tape" purchased from Lowes. After some grinding I could see the entire platen was shifting about 1/16" to one side.

I took my heat gun and heated the back of the steel and removed the glass platen and tape. Cleaned it all up and applied JB weld and let it dry.

Now it is rock solid and is not going anywhere.

3M tape or the Duck Tape others have used seem to work fine. Stay away from the Suretape from Lowes.
 
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