granite surface plate

6

69camaro

Joined
Dec 7, 2006
Messages
35
Did I screw up? I went to an auction today that had a 24" square x 4" thick granite surface plate. It appeared to be in good condition with only a small chip on one corner. It went for $50.00. What should I expect to pay for one of these? Thanks in advance for the advice.
 
The plates are very nice to have and dont cost very much but the shipping is what kills the deal. A plate that size weighs in at about 200 pounds. I think you should have bid on it and let them load it for ya.
 
You should have picked it up. The plates are cheap enough for the ok quality ones. Usually it isn't the price of the plate that gets you, its the shipping. A nice big plate can get kind of heavy :) A high quality precision surface plate can cost some $$. The last shop I worked at had a pink granite surface plate so big I could drive my truck onto it. Thats if I would have put ramps up to it as it was about waist high :eek:
 
You didn't screw up. Perhaps not a steal, but a good value.
 
Surface plate prices really depend on the accuracy of the plate. Some are flat within a couple of Thousandth, these plates are very reasonably priced, others accurate within a couple of tenthousandth cost quite a bit more.
 
I use a granite surface plate with sheet abrasives to sharpen my knives. J&L Industries often has a 12"x9"x2" B grade granite plate for under $20.00, out the door, when they're on sale.
 
alright, so at an auction is there any easy way to tell the quality of the plate? I see on ebay that some are pink lab grade.
 
Me advise is simple: either buy it locally (they are real cheap these days)
OR buy one from Enco , using their "free shipping for orders of $50" deal.
These are ALWAYS on, just google the code . If the plate is less than $50,
throw in a $7 deburring set etc :)

24"x4" plate is GIANT and weighs a TON ! It will need a special stand. For my use, 12x18x2 (~$20 @ local suppliers) is more than adequate.
It will be accurate to .0005, more than adequate for any knifemaker or HSM.
 
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