Lapidary wheel?

[Cosmo]

I'm looking to get a lapidary wheel. I'm not sure the style I'm looking for. I searched for "lapidary wheel" but came up with a lot of other stuff. The type I'm looking for is the style that has a flat disc that spins like a record player, and has a water reservoir that drips water onto the disc.

Any suggestions as to brand and/or where to find a good deal on one?

[Three Muses Glass]

Paulette has one in the garage sale right now. Or look at Kingsley North in their lapidary section for an All-In-One machine. They have both 6" and 8" in the catalog. I think the site is www.kingsleynorth.com but if that doesn't work a quick google should find it.

[paintingwithglass]

I purchased mine on eBay with Willamette Valley Rocks. He does not have any listed right now...but if you email him, he will probably list some. Fast delivery...awesome prices.

http://stores.ebay.com/Willamette-Valley-Rocks

[Cosmo]

Is there anything in particular I should look for? Features or anything? I'm looking for something large enough to do beads and cabochons. Nothing big.

[Dale M.]

I'm looking to get a lapidary wheel. I'm not sure the style I'm looking for. I searched for "lapidary wheel" but came up with a lot of other stuff. The type I'm looking for is the style that has a flat disc that spins like a record player, and has a water reservoir that drips water onto the disc.

Any suggestions as to brand and/or where to find a good deal on one?

What you really want to look for is a "Faceting Machine".....

Dale

[Cosmo]

All the faceting machines I've seen come with all the attachments to dial in the exact angles of the cuts. And most are $2000 and up. I don't need all that. I'm not trying to get faceted precision. Just flat sides.

[paintingwithglass]

Is there anything in particular I should look for? Features or anything? I'm looking for something large enough to do beads and cabochons. Nothing big.

flat lapidary grinder

I bought The Universal Heavy Duty Lapidary Grinding and Polishing Machine...comes in 6 or 8 inch.

[Three Muses Glass]

Chad, these are the ones I was meaning
http://www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/search_results2.php?catID=124

It looks like you'd pick one for either direct water hookup or the little cup kind. I have a big flat-lap for fusing, and I'd have to go look at the grits, but there is nothing over 600 grit. I'm pretty sure the 1200+ are for rocks. On mine, after 600 I go to the cork and/or felt disk with cerium oxide for a polish. I didn't do research on these smaller machines if a felt disk is available. Perhaps some of the people faceting beads are using the 1200? I don't know about that, all I know for sure is I don't use it when polishing my fused pieces. The felt and cerium works great.
To tell you the truth, I'd love to get one of these little flat laps. More tools! Ar ar ar.

[Toni Lutman]

I just got one at Arrow Springs after using them in Andrea Guarino's class.

http://www.arrowsprings.com/html/saws_and_faceting_equipment.html

[LoriGreenberg]

Hey Chad. What did you decide on?

I am looking for something similar so I can grind/flatten the back of somewhat already flat beads in order to set them, as well as flattening some sides. I have no clue where to start or how to do it but it sounds like you're interested in doing something similar.

[Cosmo]

I haven't decided yet. I'm kind of leaning towards a larger model now, since they aren't as expensive as I thought, and ours will probably see a lot of use once our studio gets open...

[Ellen Black]

Hi, I'm planning to get the one from Arrow Springs. Andrea Guarino did a demo, and recommended it. Comes with everything. Ellen

[LoriGreenberg]

I can't tell anything from that link. I wouldn't know what to get. ARGH! I'd love to be able to flatten things by grinding on a flat wheel as well as possibly cut some beads in half. I'm just clueless...but what's new?

[Juln]

I have a Crystal Master 6 Plus. It's great for bead sized items and can also grind medium sized paperweights (under 4 inches diameter...) . The 8 and 10 inch ones are great, but you start to pay a LOT for new discs, though they last longer. I wouldn't recommend getting the accessory kit with the Crystalmaster as it includes some stuff glass workers don't need and lacks other things. I do like this machine. I haven't tried the other brands, and I'm sure the larger Crystalite machines are spiffier (I used a 12 inch magnetic back one at Corning.. yes, that was spiffier!) but this one works fine and has been reliable.

I bought a 100 grit dot disc (fabulous for shaping quickly). I use that and then go to my dull 120, which is probably like 180 now. After that, theres a 300 and then 600 that came with the kit, sometimes I'll use those and then for to cerium and felt. Most of the time I just fire polish after using the dull 120. It was too rough to do that when the 120 was fresh, and the glass would boil. Not now, as the discs gradually yield a finer polish as they are used.

I obtained a large tile saw - 1 1/2 horse power, 10 inches. The blade that came with it was tolerable but things got better after I bought a non-segmented blade, a 'Dia-laser' straight form the 70s. I don't want to use rust inhibitor, or, God forbid, oil coolant, so I just use plain water and avoid blades that need oil. The 10 inch sizes gives me the ability to saw large things open and to cut split 40 mil rod for paperweights. This saw is disturbingly messy and I will be dying of silicosis soon.
Now, I much rather would have bought a small trim saw like they have at Kingsley North (http://www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/search_results2.php?catID=134) - a 4 or 6 inch table top model is what I would recommend. Glasscraft has a cute little 4 inch available. The spray of glass dust laden water is more easily contained from one of these table top saws, and also they can be approached more easily and thus you have more control over the cut. Any saw with a diamond blade and the accompanying coolant will work; sometimes there are ganky cheap tile saws at hardware stores for $100-something dollars that work just fine once you get a new blade.

[Kim V]

Morning,
I'm also in the process of trying to decide on what to purchase. Thanks for all the info. I have a question you all may be able to help with. Do you have to have a flat lap for this or would it be possible to buy diamond belts for a wet belt sander and use that. I ask because I already own a WBS which I use with fusing and it would help to eliminate another piece of equipment in the studio. Is this doable? Not that I have anything against another tool purchase, but space is becoming scarce in there.:biggrin:
Thanks,
Kim V