Cheap Granite Surface Plate
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- Опубліковано 15 гру 2024
- In this video I go over a surface plate option that is on the cheaper side.
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Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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It can be great for lapping if flat enough.
Great idea. Wish you had check it with a 12" straight edge. That would be almost covering the whole plate.
I was also faced with the same dilemma. Wanted a surface plate for surfacing my 2-stroke engine cases, and the cylinder top, and the head. Could not afford the shipping from Grizley and really could not justify the cost vs. perhaps a one or 2 time use. I bought the straightest looking piece of 12 by 12 black granite floor tile as you did. Brought a bullet level to inspect it, but the eye is just as good I feel. It was a sample piece, but I wanted to pay for it, as I would normally pay for a quality tool. I gave them the 9 dollar a square foot price. Still have pieces of it for flat sanding. You can debur the edges with aluminum oxide sand paper. Keeps from gouging your piece on the rough edges.
Thanks for the info, I will try sanding the edges, they are pretty sharp. They would probably cut my hands if I were not careful. We are traveling to Missouri this summer and I plan on stopping by the Grizzly show room in Springfield. I will likely leave with a proper surface plate as this will probably be the only opportunity I have to get one for awhile.
Just would like to point out that you can buy an import, grade "b" surface plate, sized 9x12, for like 40 bucks from Penn tool and Travers. Also, look up Robin Renzettis videos on inspecting and reconditioning surface plates - that piece of sink cutout may be less flat than you think.
I know it isn't perfectly flat. It isn't even perfectly smooth either. Pits and chips.
The point is, most hobby machinist like myself rarely even have a use for genuine surface plate and can't justify forking over the cash for one. This is a cheap alternative for something that will get very little use.
Good idea, I could go for one of those.
Why not run an indicator over it rather than talking hands?
At the time I didn't have a surface gauge with an indicator attached, so talking hands it is. I have since bought a grizzly plate and have givin this plate to a friend.
I was just delivered from the cutting shop, a return, unfortunately it is quartzite granite, whish I just realized will/may pose some problems. It is 300 lbs, and 50" x 36" , approx 1.45" thick. and I can only hope to lower it from the vertical onto some 2x4's, run a straight edge guided Diamond blade to cut a more maneagable piece that I can then test. Surface Guage and dovetail indicator is on the current search tonight. But also will require Height gauge as well. No end to the tools.....
Then there is the parts for the 6 x 4 foot CNC Router that is being built on a shoe string
I hear ya...machining is a fun hobby and a very expensive one.
All probably too thin to be of any use, but to see some measurments so as to discount altogether
I would like to have access to Grizzly products but currency conversion and shipping are repressive. As it is we are working with a 1970's Gorton Knee Mill as yet to be delivered. My list of items to support this from square one are numerous as you might imagine.
So show us your new surface plate when you get it
How often do you put out videos ?
I have been busy with a new job and haven't had time to make new videos. I hope to get back to it soon.
alot of places that make counter tops throw away pieces.dumpster dive.....you can square up well cut with diamond blade in disc grinder go slow use a mask.and goggles
I am in the same boat, Working with older machines that have been rode hard and put away wet, I will never require nor achieve the accuracy that a true granite surface plate will give. I was wondering if a sink cut out with a polished top would provide a half way decent surface for layout. A quick youtube search and BAM, there it is...
Thanks for the vid man...
Glad I could help. The sink cut outs work great. The place I bought mine from had hundreds of these one foot square samples with just as many colors. A regular smorgasbord. I went there looking for a sink cut out and saw these small square pieces and it is perfect for the space I have to work with.
I watched another vid after yours where the tested a countertop that had been installed and used for 6 years. Not sure I would put much faith in that test as there is bound to be residues on the counter, some spots were spot on and as he moved his guage around he was seeing .001" or .002" deviation. For my little hobby shop, I can live with that.
I just did a quick measurement of my plate. I don't have the proper instruments to measure the flatness. What I did was take my dial indicator on its mag base and slid it around. The largest deviation I came up with is .0005". Not sure if my quick test holds water or not, but it may give you an idea of what to expect.
Thats great, I'd be more than happy to work to a 1/2 thou.
think if you order more items the shipping cost mai not be offset as mush
+watahyahknow
Sorry, I missed this comment. That may be true for some companies. However, with Grizzly the shipping would be separate. You would be charged the freight for the surface plate then standard shipping for the small items.
Have a granite countertop showroom sample. Much flatter than my bench top and will suffice until I outgrow its limitation, not likely at my age with waning dexterity and vision.
That is exactly what mine is, a showroom sample. Works great and is more accurate than I will ever need it to be.
WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG! You need to pay out for a true surface plate and pay out for some rando to come and inspect, resurface it and legally certify it as flat and organic up to NASA standards. I guarantee you none of you are using these or have any idea what tolerances you need to work to. and could probably get away with a flat edge and a flashlight. making a square and X across your work surface. If a photon can get thru that means its not flat and who knows if that's out of tolerances. Baby boomers and fudds are obviously manufacturing zero tolerance equipment in their basement now for discontinued NASA projects and no engineer has come up with a work around. Like lets say a gasket.
I hope that is sarcasm because that is funniest thing I have read all year.
recently bought granite surface plate from kbc tools 12 x 12 x 3 @$ 85.00
8.95 flat rate shipping up to 50 pounds
$109.13 shipped from toronto ont. to st johns newfoundland
not going to get much cheaper than that right to your door 1/4 way cross country for 50 pound rock
The surface plate I wanted, 12 x 18 x 3, shipping weight is over 50lbs, so a freight charge would have applied.
We took a vacation in Missouri last year. We stopped by Grizzly on the way home and I picked one up, been very happy with it so far.