Forums Beginner Questions Spindle too big?

Tagged: , ,

5 replies, 5 voices Last updated by willowdalecat 3 years, 3 months ago
Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #6178

    willowdalecat
    Participant
    @WillowdaleCat

    I’m having trouble getting my laps all the way down over the spindle of my machine (a new Graves Mark 5XL) past the threads. My new Greenway lap just plain won’t go past the threads at all.

    Should I use sandpaper to just widen up the bottom of the hole in the lap slightly? I’ve never seen this come up before. Thanks.

    #6180

    Frankwood
    Participant
    @Frankwood

    If the hole in the lap is to small to go on the shaft, which will almost certainly be ½”. Then you will have to bore it out, a pistol drill will do the job.

    #6181

    duncanmiller
    Participant
    @DuncanMiller

    I have had the same problem with a Gearloose lap, made to a very fine tolerance. Just ream out the hole a bit with coarse sandpaper on a dowel rod.

    #6182

    davidechols
    Participant
    @davidechols

    Or round file.

    #6183

    Lowjiber
    Participant
    @Lowjiber

    Lightning Laps always need a little “love” with 400 sandpaper on a dowel to fit my two Polymetric machines.

    #6185

    willowdalecat
    Participant
    @WillowdaleCat

    Thank you, I’m always relieved to learn it’s not something I’m doing wrong. Sandpaper on a dowel it is. The laps are all the proper size, just a bit snug.

    I finished my first pavilion last night on a pretty rhodolite and I’m over the moon. I really love this machine, it was really easy to “find” all the facets to polish them, which I had been afraid of because I had moved the collar on the shaft (delrin collar that supports the facet head) and it’s not marked. But it was easy to just set the correct angle for a facet and lower until I heard it touch and the digital display changed just slightly. I know that’s the most basic thing in the world but it felt like a revelation to me. 🙂

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.