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Men,
For awhile now I've used a piece of MDF as my "lapping station" and put down some sticky back sandpaper and went to work... both to flatten back of irons and smoothing plane bottoms.
I accidentally bought some dang resin glue backed paper... lol that stuff aint comin off... Don't have any more MDF in the shop, and instead of buying some, I thought I'd do it right and get a piece of float glass.
Local glass shop can cut me a piece of 3/8" glass, 36" long, and 12" wide for around $60.
Would I be happy with this? Or is there a better alternative? (I am only vaguely worried about the cost... I know I can probably find something for free, but my free time is limited...)
My plan calls for this to be a semi permanent setup on a spare counter top over in the corner of the shop.
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(10-04-2017, 10:24 AM)Strokes77 Wrote: Men,
For awhile now I've used a piece of MDF as my "lapping station" and put down some sticky back sandpaper and went to work... both to flatten back of irons and smoothing plane bottoms.
I accidentally bought some dang resin glue backed paper... lol that stuff aint comin off... Don't have any more MDF in the shop, and instead of buying some, I thought I'd do it right and get a piece of float glass.
Local glass shop can cut me a piece of 3/8" glass, 36" long, and 12" wide for around $60.
Would I be happy with this? Or is there a better alternative? (I am only vaguely worried about the cost... I know I can probably find something for free, but my free time is limited...)
My plan calls for this to be a semi permanent setup on a spare counter top over in the corner of the shop.
A granite sink cutout would probably be cheaper, but they are quite heavy to move around. A cabinet-top shop would have them. If you live close to Chicago, I'll give you one.
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(10-04-2017, 10:37 AM)Mike Brady Wrote: A granite sink cutout would probably be cheaper, but they are quite heavy to move around. A cabinet-top shop would have them. If you live close to Chicago, I'll give you one.
I'll check on this. Thank you. I assume this would be "flat enough"?
and by flat I mean... woodworker flat. I don't own feeler gauges.
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A polished granite tile from the big box store will be, over the width of a plane iron, most probably as flat as a tool room grade surface plate.
Typically obtained for around 4 to 5 bucks. Spring for some adhesive backed rubber feet, probably another 1$ and you'll be all set.
Ron
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10-04-2017, 11:14 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-04-2017, 11:16 AM by AUswimKC.)
(10-04-2017, 10:24 AM)Strokes77 Wrote: Men,
For awhile now I've used a piece of MDF as my "lapping station" and put down some sticky back sandpaper and went to work... both to flatten back of irons and smoothing plane bottoms.
I accidentally bought some dang resin glue backed paper... lol that stuff aint comin off... Don't have any more MDF in the shop, and instead of buying some, I thought I'd do it right and get a piece of float glass.
Local glass shop can cut me a piece of 3/8" glass, 36" long, and 12" wide for around $60.
Would I be happy with this? Or is there a better alternative? (I am only vaguely worried about the cost... I know I can probably find something for free, but my free time is limited...)
My plan calls for this to be a semi permanent setup on a spare counter top over in the corner of the shop.
https://www.woodcraft.com/products/grani...-2-a-grade
or enco has some as well
This will serve you for more than just lapping blades. And you know it to be flat. I tried a sink cutout and was disappointed
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(10-04-2017, 05:07 PM)Admiral Wrote: Grizzly got some that are good enuf
http://www.grizzly.com/products/9-x-12-x...rizzly.com
Plus 1. Works great for scary sharp.
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!" Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson
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I am with Ron, get a granite tile at a big box. I have a couple of granite surface plates, awfully heavy to move around. I put some lapping film on a piece of granite cutoff, even that is pretty heavy. I bought two pieces of granite tile, and use them all the time, easy to put on the bench and put back when done.
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(10-04-2017, 07:30 PM)barryvabeach Wrote: I am with Ron, get a granite tile at a big box. I have a couple of granite surface plates, awfully heavy to move around. I put some lapping film on a piece of granite cutoff, even that is pretty heavy. I bought two pieces of granite tile, and use them all the time, easy to put on the bench and put back when done.
My concern with a tile is not being large enough to lap a plane sole. Not that a #4 is big, but I seem to do a lot of these, and I feel like longer strokes are more efficient for me.
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I use a piece of melamine that's around 48 inches long and around 20 inches wide. Don't know if I got lucky, but it's flat and it's easy to move around. I rehab a fair amount of planes and the length allows me to use nice, long strokes which I find helps me keep it square. The Psa sandpaper peels off pretty easily and a little 409 takes care of any residual adhesive.
Currently a smarta$$ but hoping to one day graduate to wisea$$
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